The verdict of the highly publicized trial that captivates the United States has finally been delivered after six weeks of hearings. Actor Johnny Depp and his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, defamed each other, the jury finds. But the star of Pirates of the Caribbean emerged largely victorious.
With our correspondent in Washington, Guillaume Naudin
” The jury gave me my life back “, reacts Johnny Depp after the verdict. The actor accused his ex-wife of having defamed him by presenting himself as a victim of domestic violence in a op-ed published by the Washington Post, which is why the trial took place near the American capital. He demanded 50 million dollars.
Experts said at the helm that Johnny Depp suffered a shortfall of more than 22 million dollars by losing his role in the sixth installment of the adventures of Jack Sparrow following statements by Amber Heard. The actress’s lawyers, however, produced witnesses assuring that her ex-husband’s star had already turned pale long before that due to a “ unprofessional behavior “, linked in particular to his consumption of alcohol and narcotics.
The jurors finally awarded 15 million dollars to Johnny Depp, an amount reduced to just over 10 million by the judge, because the law of Virginia limits the damages. Amber Heard, who had counter-attacked by accusing her ex-husband of defamation as well and demanded 100 million from him, only got 2.
Two doomed but only one victor
Both are therefore doomed, but Johnny Depp, his team of lawyers, communicators and, perhaps, his many fans have obviously been more convincing. The six weeks of trial, a hundred hours of testimonies in total, the mutual accusations of violence, the unpacking of a toxic relationship against a background of consumption and abuse of drugs and alcohol were followed live at the television by fans of the rich and famous.
Amber Heard speaks of inexpressible disappointment, but says she is even more disappointed by what this verdict means for other women. According to her, this is a real setback, a throwback to a time when women who spoke out could be publicly humiliated.