Amber Heard has lost the defamation trial between her and Johnny Depp – and according
to some commentators, she might still lose a lot more.
The defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard is finally over after six grueling
weeks in court.
The seven-person jury decided that Heard is liable for defaming Depp in the Washington
Post op-ed piece she wrote in 2018, where she established herself as a "public figure
representing domestic abuse."
Depp claimed that he lost contracts, despite not being named in the piece.
Heard countersued, also for defamation, regarding statements made by Depp's former lawyer that
she claimed damaged her own career.
The jury agreed that Heard defamed Depp in three statements within the piece, awarding
him $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages.
On the flipside, Heard won one of the three claims in her countersuit and was awarded
$2 million.
Depp said in a statement he posted to Instagram,
"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."
Depp's lawyers spoke directly to the media at the conclusion of the trial.
"We were honored, truly honored, to assist Mr. Depp in ensuring that his case was fairly
considered throughout the trial."
The weeks-long trial had become a spectacle around the world, with both parties airing
the good, the bad, and the ugly about their relationship.
There's no doubt that their statements had skewed the public's opinion of them, but many
are wondering about the aftermath of the trial, especially the impact on their careers.
The jury siding with Depp may give him a better chance of returning to the spotlight, but
in Heard's case, experts say she may not even have a career to return to anymore.
According to former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani, president of West Coast Trial Lawyers,
the trial will ultimately have a massive adverse impact on Amber Heard's career, as the hearings
made spectators turn against her.
He told Nicki Swift,
"The verdict was a complete and total vindication for Johnny Depp.
Especially after the U.K. failure, this trial was nothing short of an extraordinary legal
and public relations comeback.
Depp's career is restored, and I expect him to be acting for major Hollywood studios again."
Rahmani continued to say,
"Amber Heard's fledgling acting career is likely over, as she is one of the most despised
women in America and no longer the face of the #Me Too movement, but false accusations."
Meanwhile, Juda Engelmayer, a crisis public relations expert, told Insider that, while
Heard's career had been undoubtedly tainted even more because of the trial, it's still
likely to turn out fine, especially since she had shown in the courtroom that she's
headstrong.
He said,
"She comes out as a woman who is speaking out and speaking her truth.
She'll be picked for movies too.
And the box office will judge both of them on that."
And, as the experts in the field have differing opinions, so do the spectators watching the
case.
While the legal system may have come down on Johnny Depp's side at the end of his trial,
the jury is largely still out on the future of Amber Heard's career.
Heard has already alleged that her screen time in the Jason Momoa-led "Aquaman 2" was
significantly diminished compared to the first movie, but that doesn't mean that she doesn't
have other projects in the pipeline.
In February, Variety reported that Heard had been cast in "In The Fire," a thriller set
in 19th century Colombia.
The actor has also been attached to "Run Away With Me," a romantic thriller, since 2018,
according to Variety.
Despite the projects in the pipeline, trial spectators online don't seem too hopeful about
the prospects of Heard's career — whether they support her or not.
One critic tweeted,
"This is not [a setback for women] but a victory for domestic abuse survivors ... This is only
a set back for amber heard and her career that she voluntarily ruined."
Another wrote,
"Amber Heard says Johnny Depp ruined her career.
Can someone please help find her career cause I don't know where it is."
However, others were more sympathetic to Heard and her position.
One wrote
"I think it was a terrible relationship and I feel sad for Heard regardless.
Career over, and the whole thing an absolute gift to misogynists."
Even if people think they know how this saga will finally shake out, only time will truly
tell.
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