On Wednesday, June 1, 2022, a jury ruled in favor of actor Johnny Depp in his libel lawsuit against his ex-wife and actress Amber Heard. In its verdict, the jury vindicated the actor’s stance that Amber fabricated claims that he abused her before and during their marriage.
The jury unanimously agreed that Amber labeling Johnny a sexual abuser was defamation and also found her accusations in a Washington Post article she wrote in December 2018 to be malicious. Therefore, the jury awarded Johnny $10 million in compensatory damages. They also awarded the actor $5 million in punitive damages.
Meanwhile, Amber won her defamation countersuit with the jury awarding her $2 million. The defamation was based on Johnny’s attorney accusing Amber and her friends of making up a story for the police under the direction of her lawyer and publicist.
Eventually, the judge reduced the $5 million punitive damage the jury awarded Johnny. This is because Virginia law’s cap for punitive damages in cases like these is $350,000. All of these put together mean Amber now owes her ex-husband $8,350,000.
Johnny Depp Reacts To The Verdict
Following the jury’s verdict and the judge’s ruling, Johnny took to his Instagram page to post a statement that read,
“Six years ago, my life, the life of my children, the lives of those closest to me, and also, the lives of the people who for many years have supported and believed in me were forever changed. All in the blink of an eye.”
The Pirates of the Caribbean actor said the jury’s verdict humbled him and had given him his life back. He also said his decision to pursue the case despite the odds came after considerable thought. Johnny added,
A post shared by Johnny Depp (@johnnydepp)
“From the very beginning, the goal of bringing this case was to reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome. Speaking the truth was something that I owed to my children and to all those who have remained steadfast in their support of me. I feel at peace knowing that I have finally accomplished that.”
Johnny said the love and support he received worldwide overwhelmed him. He hoped that his quest to make the truth known would help others in similar situations. He also hoped that the position would return to innocent until proven guilty both within the court and media.
Amber Heard Expresses Her Disappointment
Amber also released a statement after the verdict and expressed her disappointment. She said she was heartbroken that the “mountain of evidence” was not enough to stand up to Johnny’s power, influence, and sway.
The Aquaman actress also expressed disappointment at what the verdict meant for women. She described it as a setback, adding,
“It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously. I believe Johnny’s attorneys succeeded in getting the jury to overlook the key issue of Freedom of Speech and ignore evidence that was so conclusive that we won in the UK.”
Amber concluded that she was sad about losing the case but sadder that she seemed to have lost a right she thought she had as an American to speak freely and openly.
A post shared by Amber Heard (@amberheard)
Many people have reacted to the jury’s verdict, and there is a certainty that more reactions will follow in the coming days. With the case now over, one can only hope that Johnny Depp and Amber Heard will ease back into their normal lives after a torrid past few weeks.
