In this file photo taken on May 3, 2022, actor Johnny Depp looks on during a hearing at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia. Image: AFP/Jim Watson
Naomi Campbell, Sharon Osbourne and Aerosmith’s Joe Perry were among the celebrities who showed support for Johnny Depp following the verdict in his defamation case against his ex-wife Amber Heard.
After a widely publicized six-week trial on the former couple’s past relationship, a Virginia jury ruled last Wednesday, June 1, that Heard had defamed Depp. The jury also ruled in favor of some aspects of the actress’ counter-suit against her ex-husband. Depp was awarded $10.35 million (around P547 million) in damages, while Heard was awarded $2 million (around P106 million).
After the verdict, Depp released a statement saying the jury “gave [his] life back,” as seen on his Instagram page yesterday, June 2. His fellow celebrities then joined him in celebrating his victory via comments on his statement.
Model-actress Campbell sent Depp red heart emoji, while Perry commented blue hearts and thumbs up emoji. Russian-German DJ Zedd and “Pretty Little Liars” star Ashley Benson followed suit by sending heart emoji as well.
Image: Instagram/@johnnydepp
Image: Instagram/@johnnydepp
Image: Instagram/@johnnydepp
Image: Instagram/@johnnydepp
Benson also showed a photo of Depp on her Instagram page on the same day, accompanied by a string of heart emoji and the word “yes.”
Meanwhile, Osbourne spoke about the verdict in a phone interview with broadcaster Piers Morgan, as seen on the YouTube channel of “Piers Morgan Uncensored” today, June 3.
“It wasn’t what I was expecting. I mean, I wanted Johnny to win but I wasn’t expecting him to,” she told Morgan.
She expressed confidence that Depp would “get his career back” and admitted that she felt bad for Heard since “every penny she earns is going to go someplace not in her bank account.” She also believes that the former couple were both “very abusive” to each other.
Given the verdict, Heard’s lawyer Elaine Bredehoft stated that the actress is unable to pay Depp more than $10 million in damages. Bredehoft added that the “Aquaman” star wants to appeal the jury’s verdict and has “excellent grounds” for it.
The defamation case centered on a 2018 opinion piece by Heard on The Washington Post in which she described herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse.”
While the article did not mention Depp by name, he sued her for implying he was a domestic abuser. Heard’s legal counsel argued that she told the truth and her opinion was protected by free speech.
Meanwhile, in 2020, Depp lost a libel case against the British tabloid The Sun after it labeled him a “wife beater.”
Depp and Heard were married in February 2015. Their divorce was finalized two years later. /ra
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