Actor Johnny Depp has released a statement after the verdict in the defamation trial against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, was pronounced in his favor
Actor Johnny Depp has released a statement after winning the defamation trial against his ex-wife, Amber Heard. Depp and Heard married in 2015 after meeting on the set of The Rum Diary in 2011. Heard filed for divorce in 2016 and later penned an opinion piece for the Washington Post alleging that Depp was abusive in their relationship, though not specifically named in the article. The British newspaper The Sun later published an article describing Depp as a "wife-beater", prompting the actor to sue them for defamation. Depp lost that track, which was a major setback and led him to sue Heard directly for defamation.
Since his legal troubles began, Depp has cited losing multiple roles as a result of being defamed by Heard, including as part of Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts franchise, as well as the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, which he claims would have paid him $20 million for the sixth film in the series. Heard said her legal troubles with Depp cost her a diminished role in Aquaman 2, although DC Films president Walter Hamada testified that this was not the case for her diminished role in the sequel. The trial has been ongoing since April and reached its verdict on Wednesday, June 1st.
The jury ruled in Depp's favor, awarding him more than $10 million in damages, while also ruling in Heard's favor for being defamed by Depp's lawyer, who accused the actress of vandalizing an apartment to make it look worse for the police. Heard was awarded $2 million in damages, while Depp was supposed to receive $10 million in punitive damages and $5 million in damages. Depp, now acquitted by the result, released a statement (via Variety) saying he was "humbled" by the jury verdict, saying they gave him his life back. The actor says the case aimed to "reveal the truth" and says he is "at peace" knowing he's done it. Read the full statement below:
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, many years have supported and believed in me were forever changed.
All in the blink of an eye.
False, very serious, and criminal allegations were levied at me via the media, which triggered an endless barrage of hateful content, although no charges were ever brought against me. It had already traveled around the world twice within a nanosecond and it had a seismic impact on my life and my career.
And six years later, the jury gave me my life back. I am truly humbled.
My decision to pursue this case, knowing very well the height of the legal hurdles that I would be facing and the inevitable, worldwide spectacle into my life, was only made after considerable thought.
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 I have finally accomplished that.
I am and have been, overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and the colossal support and kindness from around the world. I hope that my quest to have the truth be told will have helped others, men or women, who have found themselves in my situation, and that those supporting them never give up. I also hope that the position will now return to innocent until proven guilty, both within the courts and in the media.
I wish to acknowledge the noble work of the Judge, the jurors, the court staff, and the Sheriffs who have sacrificed their own time to get to this point, and to my diligent and unwavering legal team who did an extraordinary job in helping me to share the truth.
The best is yet to come and a new chapter has finally begun.
Veritas numquam perit.Truth never perishes.
Depp's recent projects include voiceover work for the Puffins animated series, but he did not appear in the live title role in the 2020 Minimata. His last appearance was as The Wizarding World villain Grindelwald in 2018's Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, the part that went To Mads Mikkelsen for the latest entry in the series, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, which was recently released to the fading. Box office and cash appeal. Depp's next live role will be that of Louis XV in Jean de Bary's piece from the director's period.
Depp and Heard may have a tough road back after this long and very public trial, although it may work in their favor, too. The highly-publicized trial played like a courtroom drama to many spectators, and certainly captured the attention of audiences, making it worthy of a newscast of the personal lives of celebrities, for better or worse. Hollywood is often quick to cash in on this kind of publicity, so it can help actors get back into action sooner rather than later and perhaps better than ever. Truth can be stranger than fiction, especially in Tinseltown.