The jury determined that Amber Heard and Johnny Depp were defaming each other in their respective lawsuits. After reviewing all testimonies and evidence, the panel concluded that both former spouses presented false statements.
Depp was awarded 15 million dollars in compensatory damages, while Heard received 2 million dollars in compensatory damages. Initially, Depp sought 50 million dollars, and Heard had requested 100 million dollars.
The actor attended the final hearing and avoided eye contact as the verdict was read. Depp did not appear in court for the proceedings.
Following the ruling, Heard spoke of heartbreak and disappointment. She said the magnitude of the evidence still could not counter the perceived influence and power of her ex-husband. She added that many women may be discouraged by a decision like this and emphasized that violence against women must be addressed seriously.
Depp released a letter stating that the jury had given him his life back. He described the case as a truth-seeking effort from the outset and noted that false and harmful accusations were spread through the media, which generated a constant flood of negative content about him. His legal team expressed gratitude to the jury, the judge, and court staff for the extensive deliberations and resources devoted to the case.
How did the trial begin The two met on the set of The Rum Diary in 2009 and married in 2015. By 2016 divorce proceedings had begun with Heard alleging ongoing physical and emotional violence by Depp. A court later barred Depp from approaching Heard. Eventually the parties reached a settlement in which Depp dropped certain charges and agreed to pay Heard seven million dollars in support.
In 2018 Heard published a Washington Post article describing her experience with domestic violence without naming Depp directly. Around the same time a tabloid published a controversial article accusing Depp of misconduct in relation to the Fantastic Beasts franchise.
In 2019 Depp sued Heard for libel to prove that she was making false claims and that he was the abusive party. He asserted that he never hit Heard and provided photographs of injuries he claimed to have sustained. Heard responded with a countersuit over remarks by Depp’s lawyer describing the allegations as a hoax. The trial faced postponement due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The trial lasted seven weeks and was held in a Virginia court that houses the Washington Post’s printing and distribution offices. The case did not name the newspaper as the defendant. Both sides presented photographs, audio, and video evidence to support their assertions. Laurel Anderson, a clinical psychologist who worked with the couple in 2015, testified about the relationship, describing it as mutually violent.