…By Joseph Benjamin for TDPel Media.
After dominating the news in the summer of 2022, Channel 4 has recently released a new documentary delving into the highly publicized Johnny Depp v Amber Heard defamation trial in the United States.
The trial, which revolved around their defamation case, was broadcasted almost daily from the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Virginia, attracting millions of viewers worldwide.
Depp’s Lawsuit and the Washington Post Article:
Johnny Depp filed a $50 million lawsuit against Amber Heard, primarily based on a Washington Post article she authored titled “I spoke up against sexual violence – and faced our culture’s wrath.
That has to change.”
Although the article did not explicitly mention Depp’s name, his legal team argued that it falsely implied he had physically and sexually abused Heard during their relationship.
This US trial took place two years after Depp’s unsuccessful libel case against News Group Newspapers in the UK, related to an article published in The Sun that labeled him a “wife beater.”
Background of Depp and Heard’s Relationship:
The couple first met in 2009 on the set of the film The Rum Diary and reportedly began dating in early 2012, according to The Manchester Evening News.
They eventually got married in 2015, but Amber filed for divorce just a year later.
The US Trial and Witness Testimonies:
During the extensive six-week trial in the US, both Johnny Depp and Amber Heard accused each other of domestic abuse.
Various witnesses, including family members, friends, colleagues, employees, and even British supermodel Kate Moss, took the stand to testify.
Verdict and Settlement:
After 13 hours of deliberation, the jury ruled in favor of Johnny Depp, declaring him the winner of the case.
He was granted $10 million in compensatory damages and an additional $5 million in punitive damages.
Following the trial, Amber initially planned to appeal the verdict but ultimately chose to settle with Depp.
As reported by The Daily Mail, she has since relocated to Madrid with her two-year-old daughter.
Johnny Depp’s Post-Trial Activities:
Following the conclusion of the case, Johnny Depp announced his UK tour with his band Hollywood Vampires.
In May 2023, he made an appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, where he expressed his disconnection from Hollywood.
Depp stated, “I don’t have much need of Hollywood because it’s a weird time .
Everyone wants to be themselves, but they can’t because they feel they have to fall in line.”
Continuation of the Depp v Heard Saga:
The Channel 4 documentary, “Depp V Heard,” will continue airing at 10 pm on Monday, May 22.
Viewers can catch all three episodes on All4, Channel 4’s streaming platform.