However, Heard has claimed that his finger was cut when he smashed a phone against a wall repeatedly. Depp won $10 million in compensatory damages and, $5 million in punitive damages.. If it were me, I would want to do drug checks. How humiliating to have your therapist testify to the world what awful spouses you were. On Weekend Edition Sunday, sociologist Nicole Bedera, who specializes in sexual violence, spoke to NPR about the trial and its implications for discussions about intimate partner violence and why social media seems to have far more sympathy for the former Pirates of the Caribbean star than for his ex-wife. Opinion: Guns are the biggest public health threat kids face. If Heard wanted out of such a marriage, she certainly had good reason. Statistics paint a big picture but they dont tell us what did or did not happen between two people. Thats disgusting.. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely her own. When Depp testified, the hashtags #AmberTurd and #MePoo shot across the internet. Amber Heard testifies that Johnny Depp hit her on May 4, 2022. But it doesnt work that way, Amber Heards defense team raises lurid details of Johnny Depps alleged drug use, Johnny Depp alleges Amber Heard hit him repeatedly, details finger-disfiguring fight, Letters to the Editor: Yes, L.A. drivers are getting worse. Depp is suing Heard for $50 million over a 2018 op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in which she described herself as a "public figure representing domestic abuse." Though Depp was not. On Monday, actor Johnny Depp is scheduled to return to the stand in the defamation trial between him and his former wife, Amber Heard, that is taking place in Fairfax County, Va. Depp. And even Depps daughter is being targeted for online abuse by Depp fans who believe she is insufficiently supportive of her dad. She is sitting in a high-pressure role. Online, theres a level of industrial-scale bullying directed at Heard that puts all previous social media pile-ons to shame. 2ND UPDATE, 1:23 PM: "I tend to be quite expressive in my writing," a halting Johnny Depp said Tuesday on the stand of his $50 million defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard. Heard did not name Depp in the Post essay, but Depp says his professional reputation was hurt nonetheless. And so what's sort of, like, on display is the dynamics of our, you know, cultural fandom sort of interacting with how, you know, we as a society view women. Depp is suing Heard for defamation after she stated in a 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post that she had become a public figure representing domestic abuse. They originally awarded him $15 million, but because of, you know, certain laws in Virginia, the judge amended that down to just over $10 million. However, Ahouraian noted, Depps legal team made sure to address Heards allegations against him head-on, giving his perspective on what happened. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Rihannas zodiac sign reveals secrets to her Super Bowl 2023 success, A lousy Valentines season for some of Hollywoods heartbreakers, Johnny Depp attorney Camille Vasquez getting cold shoulder from fellow NBC staffers: report, Devastated Johnny Depp at Jeff Becks bedside before his death: report, has shown how vast his base of supporters and fans is. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. This trials has drawn reactions from experts, celebrities, and more! (Jim Watson/Pool/AFP), Constantine added that she thinks Heard either has "borderline personality disorder" (BPD) or "some emotional insecurity issues. Johnny Depp's latest appearance in court seems to be swaying public opinion as the actor took the stand on Tuesday in his multi-million dollar defamation suit against his ex-wife, Amber Heard. This case is about using the courts as a platform to tell his side of the story and clearing the record and swaying the court of public opinion, Ahouraian said. Lau said the timeline of events leading to Heard's accusations and inconsistencies in her story may be swaying the public to sympathize with Depp. Hyper-organizing" and described the actress as "belligerent and abusive.". The 58-year-old famously lost a defamation case in the U.K. against the British tabloid The Sun in 2020 after a judge found that the allegations of domestic abuse against him were "substantially true." Editors Note: Jill Filipovic is a journalist based in New York and author of the book OK Boomer, Lets Talk: How My Generation Got Left Behind. Follow her on Twitter. Depp is suing Heard, his ex-wife, for $50 million over a 2018 op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in which she described herself as a "public figure representing domestic abuse." Though . He is suing his ex-wife for $50 million, alleging she defamed him in her 2018 Washington Post op-ed in which she described herself as a victim of domestic abuse. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Dont these institutions have an obligation to first determine the truth behind the charges and if they find reason for concern, how serious the misdeed? The video ends when he sees that she is recording him and furiously grabs the phone. Meanwhile, the couple's former marriage counselor Dr. Laurel Anderson said in her testimony that the pair engaged in "mutual abuse". Their tumultuous short-lived marriage has resulted in years of acrimony and courtroom drama spanning two continents. No matter the outcome of this trial, he testified Wednesday, the second those accusations were made against me, and they metastasized as fodder for the media, I lost and Ill carry that for the rest of my life.. Recordings of their bitter fights have been played. The volatile actress who at times was violent toward Depp, and who never made good on a promise to donate her entire divorce settlement to charity is very far from a perfect victim. This was a he hit her, she hit him story, and The Post was remiss for publishing Heards unverified claims without a response from the other side. (Reuters/Jonathan Ernst/Pool), She aslo claimed that Depp's apparent vulnerability and embarrassment while speaking about his struggle with substance abuse is indicative of "someone that was a survivor.". The "Aquaman" actress, 36, took the witness stand in a Fairfax, Virginia, courtroom for the first time Wednesday after the "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor, 58, completed his testimony on Tuesday. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. And in the op-ed, she wrote that she was scared to go public with this information because of all the public scrutiny she'd face and the possible roles she'd lose out on. "I just stood there while he did that. Johnny Depp's defamation trial against Amber Heard was one of the biggest pop culture moments of 2022, and in the midst of his legal battle, he issued a warning about cancel culture, saying: What does she wear? Behavioral analyst Susan Constantine, who specializes in reading body language and detecting deception, says she does "not believe" Johnny Depp "was abusive with" his ex-wife, Amber Heard, based on both of their testimonies during Depp's defamation trial against Heard. He admitted to head-butting her, though he said it was an accident. The problem of choosing facts to believe is not confined to celebrities. Tables: Results for every question, broken down by attributes such as race, age, gender, and political party Moving fast, not making a lot of sense. A makeup brand even took part in the anti-Heard melee, posting a TikTok video meant to contradict her lawyers description of how she covered up bruises. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. (She is countersuing for $100 million.). Her father had beaten her, she was not going to end. Depp claims that Heard falsely and maliciously accused him of domestic abuse, damaging his career and. Their marriage counselor testified that both abused each other. ", TOP 5 TAKEAWAYS FROM JOHNNY DEPP DEFAMATION TRIAL, She said he shoved his fingers insider her. Their marriage counselor testified that both abused each other. Copyright The Mining Journal | https://www.miningjournal.net | 249 W. Washington, Marquette, MI 49855 | 906-228-2500, public figure representing domestic abuse., I felt as though I was on trial in the court of public opinion., nor have I ever struck any woman in my life.. MARTINEZ: What has Amber Heard said about the verdict? Fine, I do drugs, I battled addiction since I was young, but I am not a wife beater. And thats all hes trying to say.. From the beginning of his testimony, Depp emphasized that he brought the lawsuit to clear my name, for his sake and that of his children, Lily-Rose, 22, and Jack, 20, as well as for those in the movie industry who trusted him. Sources reveal how the trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard will play out over the next few weeks and why each side is out for blood. Actor Johnny Depp waves to the gallery as he leaves for a break Monday during his defamation trial in Fairfax, Va. against his ex-wife, Amber Heard. First Amendment scholars say the battle between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard is unlikely to have any deep significance for the law. The bottle shattered and the broken glass severed and shattered the bones of his right middle finger. So what's this all about? ", Amber Heard enters the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Virginia, on May 3, 2022. Depp didn't appear to look at Heard a single time during her afternoon on the witness stand. A public spectacle that's proving as dangerous as it is divisive. Engelmayer also said he believes Heard could still continue her career after the trial with studios that want to be on the right side of social history giving her roles in smaller films. Copyright 2022 NPR. Its more important than the actual lawsuit, Ahouraian said. Ms. Heards lawyers say she will outline the physical, sexual and emotional abuse he inflicted on her when she testifies (she had not yet taken the stand as I wrote this). The trial of Depp's defamation case against Heard entered its 15th day on Thursday. Keep your Opinions sharp and informed. "He rips my underwear off and then he proceeds to do a cavity search. He said she might fling an ashtray at his head or hit him with her high heel or a telephone or whatevers handy., In our house, he said, we were never exposed to any type of safety. Sign up today. Some domestic violence experts consider mutual abuse a myth, arguing that while both partners in a toxic relationship can behave terribly, one usually exercises power over the other. Heard countersued Depp after his lawyer said her claims were false in statements to the press. "Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love," the pair said in a joint statement at the time. Heard defamation trial; a court case intended to determine whether Amber Heard had defamed her ex-husband, Johnny Depp, in an op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in 2018 in which she. LIMBONG: Yeah, it was. Hes trying to be witty, hes trying to be funny., Thats his way of winning over audiences whether hes on stage or in front of a camera or in front of a jury.. But the impact of this trial isnt limited to its outcome or what that says about the story either side is telling. By 2012, she was "walking on eggshells" but didn't know what she'd done wrong. (Jim Watson/Pool/AFP). Heard supporters are routinely attacked and abused online; their accounts are mass reported and sometimes suspended, and they are subject to streams of misogynist vitriol, all, apparently, to make the case that Depp isnt an abuser. California entertainment lawyer Mitra Ahouraian added that the case isnt really about winning a defamation claim but about clearing Depps name in the public sphere, as hes said. All Rights Reserved. And the reality is that Johnny Depp is facing a lot of consequences for committing acts of violence, not just to Amber Heard but also for volatile behavior on set. Heard won $2 million in compensatory damages. Ahouraian was a little more skeptical about Depps marketability going forward. Depp denies all claims of abuse and is suing Heard for $50 million, seeking to prove she damaged his career with the Post piece. "[T]he question is, was he abusive with Amber? BENJAMIN CHEW: We are also most pleased that the trial has resonated for so many people in the public who value truth and justice. Heard wrote that Depps alleged use of drugs and alcohol periodically led to violence, after which he would sober up and apologize. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. By Jessica Winter May 23, 2022 Update: On June 1st, the jury awarded. Depps former lawyer characterized Heards claims as an abuse hoax. Maybe, maybe not. In the article, Heard claimed she was a victim of domestic violence . Our weekly mental wellness newsletter can help. In 2018, The Sun, a British newspaper, called Depp a wife beater, and he sued for libel. A judge, evaluating 14 incidents of Depps alleged abuse of Heard, found that 12 of them had occurred and concluded that The Suns words were substantially true., Now Depp is suing Heard in Virginia for $50 million, saying that she defamed him when she described herself, in a Washington Post opinion essay that didnt mention Depp, as a public figure representing domestic abuse. His case seems absurd, since even if he were entirely innocent, the British verdict was well known, and Heard was referring to what she symbolized, not what she allegedly endured. Actor Johnny Depp attends his defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard, at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, U.S., April 27, 2022. He also has a long history of temperamental outbursts in 1989, when he starred in 21 Jump Street, he pleaded guilty to assaulting a security guard. And, you know, we heard those cheers at the top - right? Johnny Depp looks on in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Virginia, on May 3, 2022. the behavioral analyst said. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously." Depp is pictured testifying during the trial at Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia on April 19, 2022. I do not believe that he was abusive with Amber," Constantine told Fox News Digital. The question is whether or not there should be consequences for that violence. "He ripped my dress," she recalled, fighting back tears. Depp's reputation in Hollywood has already taken a hit. Looks like he knew his audience. John C. Depp v. Amber Laura Heard (Depp v Heard) is an ongoing defamation trial in Fairfax County, Virginia that began on April 11, 2022. Depp has also launched a $50m case against Heard in the US over a column she penned for the Washington Post about her experience as a victim of domestic violence. At the time, he blamed the destruction on an armadillo hiding in the closet. Heard, 36, countersued for $100 million, claiming Depp defamed her when he said she was lying about her abuse allegations. ", "In a defamation case, the jury needs to ascertain the truth of the underlying statements," Lau continued. For too many social media users, Depp fandom and a bizarrely inflated sense of purpose and self-righteousness around this trial have become pretexts for a familiar hobby: harassing women online. (Elizabeth Frantz/Pool/AFP). Its OK to not know the answer to a question as complicated as what happened inside the Depp-Heard relationship. He twisted his fingers around.". "This is not one of these Johnny Depp performances. That could pose risks to accusers who are not as high-profile as Depp and Heard. To a casual observer, the case seems to be about two deeply dysfunctional people who both saw their emotional dysregulation made exponentially worse by their romantic relationship. Photos introduced as evidence depict a gruesome injury. Winning it would just be icing on the cake for him because his main goal for filing the defamation lawsuit was to clear his name and to appeal to the court of public opinion.. When you look at this parroting of how they're dressed alike, this definitely is a power-play between the two of them. There is a still a group of women out there, a group of supporters and people who believe that she is righteous for coming out with her voice and her truth and strong enough to sit there and take the public abuse and humiliation during the course of the trial, Engelmayer said. To find out more about Froma Harrop and read features by other Creators writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators webpage at www.creators.com. The ruling was made in 2020. ", Then in 2018, Heard published an op-ed in The Washington Post titled: "I spoke up against sexual violenceand faced our culture's wrath. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Then in 2020, Heard countersued Depp, claiming his former attorney defamed her when he said her abuse allegations were a sexual violence hoax, ginned up to attract attention for her movie Aquaman, which premiered three days after her essay ran in the Post. Why are we still having these debates? Johnny Depp won his defamation trial, and Amber Heard has partially won her countersuit against Depp. Actor Johnny Depp is suing his ex-wife Amber Heard for $50 million over a 2018 op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post, which chronicled her experiences as a domestic abuse survivor. Constantine also said Heard's and Depp's respective attires represent a "power-play.". The jury in the defamation trial in Virginia between the actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard found that Mr. Depp had been defamed in a 2018 op-ed, a verdict that handed . 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