After weeks of explosive testimony, the jury finally decides on the defamation case between actors Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard.
Depp filed a lawsuit against Heard over an opinion piece he wrote for The Washington Post in December 2018 in which he described himself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse.”
Heard did not name Depp to the piece, but sued her to make it appear that he was a domestic aggressor and is seeking $ 50 million in damages.
Heard sued for $ 100 million, alleging “physical violence and rampant abuse.”
These are some of the highs and lows of the highly successful test.
The tip of the finger cut
Hours of testimony during the six-week trial were spent in a horrific incident in March 2015 in Australia, where Depp was filming the fifth installment of “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
Depp’s right middle finger was cut during a heated argument with Heard at his rented house.
Depp said it happened when Heard threw him a bottle of vodka.
Heard said he didn’t know how it happened, but maybe it was when he broke a wall-mounted phone.
They both agreed, however, that Depp used his bloody digit to draw cryptic messages on the walls, screens, and mirrors of the home.
Among the many strange incidents cited during the trial was a story about feces deposited one day next to Depp from the couple’s bed.
Depp said he was shown a photograph of “human feces” in bed after he and Heard argued during their 30th birthday party.
Heard tried to blame his dogs, Depp said, but “they’re teacup Yorkies, they weigh about four pounds each.”
Heard said the dog had intestinal problems after eating some of Depp’s marijuana when he was a puppy.
As for the dogs, Heard accused Depp of once grabbing one of them by the window of a moving car while “pulsing like an animal.”
The dog was unharmed.
The witnesses
Both sides presented multiple testimonies, although the rumored testimony of billionaire Elon Musk, Heart’s ex-boyfriend, and his co-star James Franco eventually did not materialize.
But there were celebrity appearances.
Kate Moss, Depp’s ex-girlfriend, broke a long-standing rumor that the British model had once thrown down a flight of stairs.
Moss said via videolink that it never happened.
Actress Ellen Barkin, another ex-girlfriend, said Depp was jealous, controlling and drunk “most of the time,” and once threw a bottle of wine into a hotel room.
Other witnesses included bodyguards, agents, business executives, psychiatrists, doctors, friends, relatives, even the former doorman of the luxury penthouse complex where the couple once lived in Los Angeles.
Goalkeeper Alejandro Romero probably spoke to many involved in the case when he said, “I’m very stressed. I don’t want to worry about that anymore.”
The evidence
Audio and video recordings of heated and blasphemous arguments between Depp and Heard were also presented as evidence.
In a video recorded by Heard in his kitchen, Depp is seen screaming, smashing glass and pouring himself a huge glass of red wine.
Both Depp and Heard sent photos of injuries claiming the other inflicted.
Heard’s lawyers also filed photos claiming to show that Depp fainted after drinking too much or using drugs.
Text messages were displayed between Depp and several people in which he described in harsh, violent language what he would like to hear from Heard.
Depp’s lawyers downplayed the texts, saying he only had one colorful way of writing, similar to that of his late friend, journalist Hunter S. Thompson.
Depp fans
Depp fans lined up for hours each day to get the coveted seats in the public gallery for the trial in Fairfax, Virginia.
While the majority of the spectators behaved, Judge Penney Azcarate threatened to expel them at one point from Heard’s testimony.
“If I hear another sound, I will clean up the gallery and continue this testimony without anyone in the room,” Azcarate warned. “Understand?”
Depp fans also campaigned en masse on social media in support of the actor with the hashtag “#JusticeForJohnnyDepp”.
Heard said he had received thousands of death threats. “People want to kill me and they tell me every day,” he said.
Damaged Hollywood careers
Both Depp, a three-time Oscar nominee, and Heard claimed their careers had been damaged.
Heard, who starred in “Aquaman”, one of the highest grossing films in history, said she had to fight to keep a role in “Aquaman 2” and Depp tried to get Warner Brothers to remove her from the sequel.
Heard’s legal team presented an entertainment industry expert who estimated that he had suffered between $ 45 million and $ 50 million in lost papers and endorsements on film and television.
An industry expert hired by Depp said he has lost millions due to allegations of abuse, including a $ 22.5 million payday for a sixth installment of “Pirates.”
But Tracey Jacobs, Depp’s former agent, said there was never a formal agreement for another “Pirates” movie.
Jacobs also said that the actor’s star had begun to darken since 2010 due to “unprofessional behavior” that included drinking and using drugs … AFP