Art & Entertainment

Johnny Depp Wins The Defamation Case Against Amber Heard

Johnny Depp won the defamation suit against him and said, "The jury gave me my life back."

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Johnny Depp Wins The Defamation Case Against Amber Heard
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Actor Johnny Depp had filed a defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife and actress Amber Heard, who wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post back in 2018 in which she portrayed herself as "a public figure representing domestic abuse." After a long and much-talked about trial, the court has ruled in favour of Depp. 

Depp filed a $50 million lawsuit against the actress, while Heard filed a $100 million countersuit against the actor, according to a report by The Times of India. Her ex-husband was accused of directing a "smear campaign" against her, and his lawsuit was described as a continuation of "abuse and harassment."

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The jury has unanimously decided in Depp's favor. The five-man, two-woman jury, after deliberating over three days, determined that Heard had defamed Depp and that her op-ed in the newspaper earlier was malicious and directed at Depp.

Depp was granted $15 million in total compensation ($10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages).

Heard was also defamed when Depp's lawyer declared her assault charges a fake, according to the jury, who awarded her $2 million.

The trial, which had been carried on television for several weeks, has come to a conclusion with the verdict.

"The disappointment I feel today is beyond words," Heard said in a statement. "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." She further added, "I'm even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. It is a setback. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously."

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Depp, on the other hand, celebrated his victory. 

On the professional front, both their acting careers were affected in a negative way.

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