The Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial, which began on April 11, has captured the world’s attention — for the second time.
Depp is suing his ex-wife for $50 million, claiming that a Washington Post op-ed written by Heard in which, without naming names, she describes herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse”, is libellous.
Now in its sixth week, the court proceedings, which are being streamed live, have seen the ratings of small cable networks skyrocket, creating legions of armchair jurors — most of them in favour of Depp.
In spite of losing a similar case in the UK, where it is significantly easier to win defamation cases, Depp chose to pursue a second case against Heard.
In the UK case, Depp sued the publisher of the tabloid The Sun for calling him a “wife beater”.
Unlike the current trial, there were no cameras and no jurors, and only one judge rendering his verdict, in which e found 12 of the 14 alleged incidents of domestic violence had occurred.
The judge said The Sun had proved what was in the article to be “substantially true” and made reference to the couple’s now infamous row that took place in Australia in 2015, where Depp was filming a fifth instalment of the Pirates of the Caribbean.
“It is a sign of the depth of his rage that he admitted scrawling graffiti in blood from his injured finger and then, when that was insufficient, dipping his badly injured finger in paint and continuing to write messages and other things,” the judge said after rendering his final verdict.
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Johnny Depp performs with his band, Hollywood Vampires, at Hessentags-Arena in 2016 during the 56th Hessentag in Herborn, Germany. Getty Images -
Depp attends the 'La Hija / The Daughter' premiere during last year's 69th San Sebastian Film Festival in San Sebastian, Spain. Getty Images -
Depp poses for photographers with his girlfriend, Vanessa Paradis, in 1999 after he was honoured with the 2,149th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California. Photo: Online USA / Newsmakers -
Depp attends the Tokyo premiere of 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest' on July 10, 2006. Getty Images -
American author and journalist Hunter S Thompson and Depp attend a book party at the Players Club in New York in 1997. Getty Images -
Depp travels to Belgrade, Serbia, to meet Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in 2021. Getty Images -
Depp attends the 'Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds With Shane Macgowan' premiere during the 68th San Sebastian International Film Festival in San Sebastian, Spain. Getty Images -
Depp and actress Winona Ryder attend the 48th Annual Golden Globe Awards on January 19, 1991, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Ron Galella Collection / Getty Images -
Depp, Benicio Del Toro and model Kate Moss attend a screening of 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' at the 51st Cannes film festival in 1998. AFP -
Depp at the 'Alice In Wonderland' Tokyo premiere at Ebisu Garden Place. Getty Images -
Depp lost his 2020 libel case in the UK against News Group Newspapers, publishers of 'The Sun', which called him a 'wife beater'. Getty Images -
Depp attends the 'Minamata' photo call during the 70th Berlinale International Film Festival at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Berlin, Germany in 2020. Getty Images -
Depp attends the 'Crock of Gold: A few Rounds with Shane McGowan' premiere in Zurich, Switzerland in 2020. Getty Images
“I accept her evidence of the nature of the assaults he committed against her. They must have been terrifying.”
Judge Penney Azcarate on Tuesday rejected a motion from Depp's lawyers to toss out Heard’s $100m counterclaim against Depp, which claims the actor's then-lawyer, Adam Waldman, defamed the actress when he called her abuse allegations “a hoax”.
Ms Azcarate said there is enough evidence to allow it to go forward and had earlier ruled that Depp could be held responsible for statements made by his lawyer — a principle Depp's team disputes.
Depp has denied that he ever struck or abused Heard.
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Actor Johnny Depp watches as the jury of 11 men and one woman arrive in the courtroom of Fairfax County Circuit Court in Virginia. Depp is suing his former wife, Amber Heard, for $50 million, claiming that her accusations of domestic abuse in a 'Washington Post' opinion piece libelled him and caused him to lose work. AFP -
Actor Amber Heard watches the jury arrive for day 20 of the case. Reuters -
Depp arrives in the courtroom for day 20 of his $50 million defamation suit against his ex-wife. AFP -
Heard arrives to hear day 20 of evidence. AFP -
Richard Moore, a doctor, testified that Depp's severed finger was likely caused by an accordion door or a car door being slammed on it. Reuters -
Heard listens in the courtroom as jurors see an X-ray of Depp's severed finger. AFP -
Depp looks at his finger. AFP -
Depp gestures to the gallery as he leaves for a break. EPA -
According to a friend's testimony, Depp called his fans remoras, 'which is a type of suckerfish that attaches itself to the hull of a ship and puts a hole in it and then sinks it'. EPA -
David Spiegel, a psychiatrist, testified that he twice requested a meeting with Depp and was denied. EPA -
Heard arrives in the courtroom after a break. AFP -
Lawyer Camille Vasquez sits next to Depp in the courtroom. Reuters -
Dr Spiegel testified that Depp has a 'severe substance abuse disorder'. AFP -
Heard listens in the courtroom. EPA -
Depp’s glasses, beverage and sketchbook in the courtroom. AFP -
Depp talks to his attorney Ben Chew. EPA -
Heard arrives into the courtroom after a break. EPA -
Producer Kathryn Arnold testified that Depp's lawsuits did not help his waning reputation in Hollywood. AFP -
Depp carries his notebook and phone in the courtroom. AFP -
Ms Arnold testified that Depp's 'erratic behaviour' was only part of his undoing in the eyes of studio executives. AFP -
The court gallery watches as Depp leaves the courtroom. EPA
Despite a parade of expert witnesses and mutual friends giving evidence that Depp’s drug and alcohol abuse turned him into “a monster” and that his consequent behaviour led Hollywood to turn their backs on the star, his legions of fans are sticking with him.
The trial is taking place in Fairfax County, Virginia, about 4,300 kilometres from Depp’s home in Los Angeles, California. He chose to file there as it is the corporate home of The Washington Post, which is owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos.
And every day since the trial began, legions of Depp fans have queued up for an opportunity to be seated in the courtroom, some of them sleeping on the pavement to guarantee their space in line.
Others come dressed in elaborate costumes, such as Tina Rhinehart, a hairdresser from Fairfax, who came as Depp's beloved character Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean.
The lifelong Fairfax resident said the trial was the most excitement the Washington suburb had ever seen.
“There has never been anything like this in Fairfax and I don’t think there will be anything like this again. We don’t get movie stars in Fairfax,” Ms Rhinehart told The National.
If they are unable to be admitted, fans gather in the courthouse cafeteria or remain outside in hopes of catching a glimpse of Depp.
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Amber Heard at the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival on May 15, 2019 in Cannes, France. Getty -
Heard attends the 'GQ' Men Of The Year Awards at The Star in Sydney, Australia. Getty -
Heard attends the 67th Annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France. Getty -
Heard at the Giffoni Film Festival 2019 in Giffoni Valle Piana, Italy. Getty -
Heard leaves the Martinez Hotel during the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival in 2019. Getty -
Heard at the 71st annual Cannes Film Festival in 2018. Getty -
Heard at The Royal Courts of Justice in London, England, in July 2020. Getty -
Heard's former husband Johnny Depp sued News Group Newspapers and the 'Sun's' executive editor, Dan Wootton, over an article published in 2018 that referred to him as a 'wife beater' during their marriage. He lost. Getty -
Heard in Cannes, France. Getty -
Heard is countersuing Depp for $100 million. Getty -
Jason Momoa and Heard in a scene from the film, 'Aquaman'. Photo: DC Entertainment -
Depp's lawyers called a witness to say that Heard and Momoa did not have on-screen chemistry. Getty -
'Aquaman' was the highest-grossing Warner Bros-DC title yet, with a final gross of $1.1 billion worldwide. Getty -
Several friends of the couple testified that Depp was abusive during their short marriage. Getty -
Heard in the Fairfax County courtroom. EPA
One woman brought her pet alpacas dressed in pirate costumes.
Sophia Kang, a lifelong fan of Pirates of the Caribbean, held a sign reading “Justice for Johnny”. The Fairfax resident was convinced of Depp’s innocence.
“I just hope that Johnny Depp gets the justice he deserves,” she said.
Deep in the recesses of the Fairfax County Circuit Court, three college students sat at a table in the cafeteria gossiping about the trial.
The three young women queued up at 12.45am to get a seat in the courtroom.
“It was kind of like The Hunger Games,” said one of the young women, who identified herself only as Abigail.
“They told us we weren't allowed to run but everyone just started sprinting, because it was all the way down the other end … it was a madhouse.”
A lone woman, Christina Taft of Los Angeles, holds up a sign supporting Heard. Using a bullhorn, Ms Taft voices her support for women who are the victims of abuse — and when she does, she is quickly surrounded by Depp supporters whose shouts drown her out.
Closing arguments are set for Friday and then the jury, comprised of mostly men, will decide Heard’s fate.
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This photo was taken at the Los Angeles courthouse the day Heard filed her domestic violence restraining order against Johnny Depp. AP -
Evidence showing pictures of injuries to Heard appear on a screen. EPA -
Actor Johnny Depp is seen laying in a hospital after his finger was injured while he and his ex-wife Amber Heard were in Australia in March 2015. Photo: Johnny Depp Legal Team / Reuters -
Evidence presented by US actress Amber Heard showing a bald spot in her head. AFP -
Evidence showing US actress Amber Heard's hair she testified was pulled out by her ex-husband Johnny Depp. AFP -
Evidence showing pictures of US actress Amber Heard's injuries presented in court. AFP -
Evidence showing pictures of US actress Amber Heard appear on a screen during a defamation trial. AFP -
More evidence showing pictures of US actress Amber Heard. AFP -
Johnny Depp reportedly wrote messages in his own blood to his former wife Amber Heard. EPA -
Pictures of shattered glass presented as evidence by Amber Heard's defence team. EPA -
Photo presented as evidence by Amber Heard's defence team. EPA -
This is a photo of the ping pong table where Amber Heard testified she was sexually assaulted by her former husband Johnny Depp. EPA -
Johnny Depp's scribblings presented as evidence by Amber Heard's defence team. EPA -
Evidence appears on a monitor during the Depp vs Heard defamation trial. EPA -
Evidence appears on a monitor during the Depp vs Heard defamation trial. -
A photo of Johnny Depp that Amber Heard says she took of him whilst he was passed out. EPA -
Communications presented as evidence by Amber Heard's defence team. EPA -
Evidence appears on a monitor in the courtroom during the 50 million US dollar Depp vs Heard defamation trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Virginia, EPA -
More evidence was shared in the courtroom in the US actor Johnny Depp/Amber Heard trial. EPA -
Johnny Depp's emails were submitted as evidence in today's trial. EPA -
An image taken by US actress Amber Heard of her former husband, Johnny Depp, passed out was submitted as trial evidence. EPA -
Johnny Depp testified that these pictures were taken during the period when he had 'fallen off the wagon'. EPA -
Evidence shown in today's proceedings. When asked if he would often drink whisky in the morning, Mr Depp replied: “Isn’t happy hour anytime?” -
US actress Amber Heard reacts as she listens to an audio recording of she and US actor Johhny Depp arguing. AFP -
US actor Johnny Depp testifies during the 50 million US dollar Depp vs Heard defamation trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Virginia. EPA -
US actress Amber Heard during the trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Virginia. EPA -
Images of Amber Heard admitted as evidence. AP -
Images of Amber Heard admitted as evidence. AP -
Images of Amber Heard admitted as evidence. AP
