Introduction
For years, domestic violence has been a hidden epidemic, with few victims coming forward to seek help or justice. But in recent years, the Me Too and Times Up movements have given rise to a new wave of survivors who are speaking out and demanding accountability from their abusers. One such case is that of Amber Heard vs Johnny Depp. For those who are unfamiliar with the case, here is a brief overview: Amber Heard is an American actress who married Johnny Depp, an actor, in 2015. In 2016, Heard filed for divorce and obtained a temporary restraining order against Depp after alleging that he had physically and verbally abused her during their marriage. Since then, the case has made headlines around the world as both Heard and Depp have engaged in a very public battle, both in and out of court.
What led to the case?
The Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard case has been a long and tumultuous one, with both sides accusing the other of abuse. The case began in 2016 when Heard filed for divorce from Depp, and she also obtained a temporary restraining order against him. She claimed that during their marriage, Depp had been physically and emotionally abusive towards her.
Depp denied these allegations, and counter-sued Heard for defamation. In 2018, after a lengthy trial, the judge ruled in favour of Heard and granted her a permanent restraining order against Depp.
Depp’s claims
In 2016, Depp filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against Heard after she wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post in which she described herself as a victim of domestic abuse. Depp denied the allegations and accused Heard of fabricating them as part of a “calculated and sinister hoax” to damage his career and reputation.
Heard’s allegations were backed up by multiple witnesses, including her sister, who testified that she saw Depp hit Heard on multiple occasions. A number of Depp’s former partners also came forward to say that he had been physically abusive towards them in the past.
Depp’s case was ultimately dismissed in 2020, with the judge ruling that Heard’s op-ed was not defamatory.
Heard’s claims
Heard’s claims against Depp have been widely publicised, with the actress alleging that her former husband was physically and verbally abusive towards her during their marriage. In May 2016, Heard filed for divorce from Depp, and obtained a temporary restraining order against him.
In her filing, Heard claimed that Depp had smashed cellphones, hit her, pulled her hair, and thrown objects at her during fights. She also included a photo of herself with a bruised face, which she claimed was the result of an incident in December 2015 in which Depp allegedly threw an iPhone at her face.
Depp denied all of Heard’s allegations of abuse, and accused her of fabricating them as part of a “determined hoax” to secure a financial settlement from him. He also suggested that Heard may have been motivated by revenge, due to his decision to end their relationship.
The verdict
The final verdict in the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard case was handed down today, with the judge ordering Depp to pay $7 million to Heard. The decision comes after a long and bitter legal battle between the ex-couple, who split in 2016 after just 15 months of marriage.
Heard had accused Depp of domestic abuse during their relationship, and filed for a restraining order against him shortly after their split. Depp denied the allegations, and counter-sued Heard for defamation.
The judge ruled in favour of Heard today, finding that her allegations of domestic abuse were “substantially true”. Depp was ordered to pay $7 million to Heard, which is less than the $9 million she had originally sought.
The ruling is a victory for Heard, and a blow to Depp’s already damaged reputation. It also means that he will have to pay millions of dollars in legal fees, on top of the settlement amount.
Aftermath
Immediately after the allegations came to light, Depp’s career took a significant hit. He was dropped from his role in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and lost roles in other high-profile projects. His personal life also unraveled; he divorced Heard and struggled with alcoholism.
In 2020, Depp launched a $50 million defamation lawsuit against Heard, claiming that she had fabricated the abuse allegations as part of a “calculated and premeditated hoax” to damage his career and reputation. The case is still ongoing.
Events of the trial
The trial of Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard lasted for three days, from January 11-13, 2017. Heard testified first, followed by Depp. The trial was presided over by Judge Robert A. Cohen.
Heard alleged that Depp had been physically abusive towards her on multiple occasions during their relationship, including throwing a cellphone at her face and hitting her with a wine bottle. Depp denied these allegations, claiming that it was Heard who had been abusive towards him.
During the trial, both Heard and Depp presented evidence in support of their respective claims. Heard presented photos of herself with bruises on her face, which she claimed were caused by Depp hitting her with a wine bottle. Depp’s evidence included text messages sent by Heard which appeared to show her admitting to hitting him.
After hearing both sides’ evidence and arguments, Judge Cohen ruled in favor of Depp and ordered Heard to pay him $7 million in damages.
Conclusion
It’s been nearly four years since Amber Heard accused Johnny Depp of domestic abuse, and the case is still making headlines. The trial has been full of twists and turns, with both sides accusing the other of lying. In the end, the judge ruled in Amber Heard’s favor, ordering Johnny Depp to pay her $7 million in damages. However, the story is far from over — both Johnny Depp and Amber Heard have continued to speak out against each other, and it doesn’t seem like they’ll be stopping anytime soon.
