Topline
Lawyers representing Johnny Depp and Amber Heard in his $50 million defamation lawsuit over a 2018 op-ed Heard wrote, in which she called herself a “public figure representing domestic abuse,” presented their closing arguments Friday, bringing the televised civil case that’s captured the attention of millions for six weeks to a close and leaving it to the jury to decide.
Actors Amber Heard and Johnny Depp watch as the jury leaves the courtroom for a lunch break at the … [+]
Key Facts
Depp’s lawyer Camille Vasquez said Heard’s claims he abused her “ruined his life,” and accused Heard of faking bruises on her face when obtaining a restraining order against him under false pretenses, saying she was the real abuser in the relationship and he was the victim.
Vasquez replayed recordings for the jury, in which Heard can be heard yelling at Depp and calling him names, saying she wished she punched him instead of hitting him, and said Heard was “violent,” “abusive” and “cruel.”
Heard’s lawyer, pointing to the 2018 op-ed at the center of the suit, told the jurors that the article was not a hit piece about Depp, and that her claims in it, including in the headline, were not false.
Heard’s team encouraged the jury to “stand up for victims of domestic abuse” and for freedom of speech.
Depp’s lawyers argued that, unlike other alleged abusers “canceled” by the #MeToo movement, no one else has come forward accusing him of abuse, while Heard’s team claimed that Depp’s team is “victim blaming” and sent a message to other victims that they have to be “perfect” in order to speak out about their domestic abuse experiences.
Key Background
After Heard, 36, and Depp, 58, divorced in 2016, she received a temporary restraining order against him. Heard did not name Depp in the 2018 Washington Post opinion piece that sparked the lawsuit, but his lawyers argued that the insinuation he abused Heard destroyed his reputation and cost him his film career. Heard countersued him for $100 million over claims made by his lawyer that her allegations were a hoax. Over the course of the trial, jurors heard from dozens of witnesses, including Depp and Heard themselves, about the couple’s toxic and tumultuous relationship. Depp denied ever laying a hand on Heard or anyone, and described times in which he claimed Heard hurt him. Heard said he sexually abused her and “tried to kill her,” and said she only hit him in self-defense. Heard and Depp told different stories about the same incidents, including fights that took place in 2015 at their penthouse and in Australia, with each painting the other as the aggressor.
Big Number
Over 1.4 million. That’s how many people were watching a livestream of the closing arguments at one point on Friday.
Further Reading
Amber Heard Trial: Kate Moss Finally Testifies Depp Never Pushed Her Down Steps (Forbes)
Kate Moss’ Connection To The Johnny Depp Amber Heard Defamation Trial, Explained (Forbes)
Amber Heard’s Sister, Former Friend Say They Saw Signs Of Johnny Depp’s Abuse (Forbes)
Amber Heard Says Johnny Depp ‘Tried To Kill Me’ As Cross-Examination Ends (Forbes)
Amber Heard Accuses Johnny Depp Of Sexual, Physical Abuse On Stand In Defamation Trial (Forbes)
Amber Heard ‘Felt Nothing’ For Elon Musk, Psychologist Testifies During Defamation Trial (Forbes)
Musk Likely Paid Portion Of Amber Heard’s Pledged ACLU Donations, Exec Testifies (Forbes)
Johnny Depp Defamation Trial: Here Are The Key Moments From The Actor’s Testimony (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisadellatto/2022/05/27/johnny-depp-amber-heard-defamation-trial-handed-off-to-jury/