Johnny depp, an american actor, and musician who is well known for eclectic and unconventional film choices won a defamation suit against his former wife amber heard on wednesday after the jury found that she had defamed depp by saying that he had abused her over the course of their relationship.
After the six long weeks trials -with a week’s break in between jury announced their decision on depp’s behalf. the judge ordered amber pay him $10.35 million (roughly 10 million euros) in damages. the jury had recommended $15 million. the jury also found in favor of heard in some aspects of her counter-suit against depp, specifically that he defamed her, through his attorney, and awarded her $2 million.
“The jury gave me my life back. i am truly humbled,” depp who wasn’t in court for the verdict, said in a statement. heard said she was heartbroken by the verdict. “i’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. it’s a setback. it sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly humiliated. it sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously,” she said in a statement posted on her twitter account.
Eric rose, a crisis management and communications expert in los angeles, told the associated press that both actors stand to lose out from the weeks of contentious court scenes.
“from a reputation-management perspective, there can be no winners.” he said.
Rose added that studios will have hard time hiring either heard or depp “because you are potentially alienating a large segment of your audience who may not like the fact that you have retained either johnny or amber for a specific project because feelings are so strong now.”
