American actor Johnny Depp has won a defamation case between him and his ex-wife Amber Heard. Johnny Depp gets damages of $15 million. Amber Heard also won a part of her libel case and she has awarded $2 million in damages.
American actor Johnny Depp has won a famous defamation case between him and his ex-wife Amber Heard. The jury in Fairfax, Virginia started deliberating on this case on last friday and gave the final verdict on wednesday.
Johnny Depp gets damages of $15 million. Amber Heard also won a part of her libel case and she has awarded $2 million in damages.
Johnny Depp sued the Amber Heard for USD 50 million when she wrote an op-ed for ‘The Washington Post’ in 2018 in which she called herself a ‘public figure representating domestic abuse.’
Amber Heard countersued Johnny Depp for USD 100 million in which she claimed that she has faced domestic violence during their 15-month of marriage.
After many years of dating, they had got married in 2015 in their home in Los Angeles in a very private ceremony. In May, 2016, Heard filed for divorce from Depp. She alleged that Johnny Depp physically abused her during their relationship and it was usually while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Johnny Depp released a statement after winning the case
After the verdict, Johnny Depp released a statement on his official instagram account. He wrote, “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,” he said.
“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, he added.
“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 numquara perit. Truth never perishes,” Johnny Depp added further in his post on instagram.
Amber Heard expressed disappointment after the verdict
Disappointed after the verdict, Amber Heard also wrote on twitter which read, “The disappointment I feel today is beyond words. I’m heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of my ex-husband”
“I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. It is a setback. 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,” she added.
“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”
“I’m sad I lost this case. But I am sadder still that I seem to have lost a right | thought I had as an American – to speak freely and openly,” Amber Heard further added.
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