The verdict in the defamation case against Johnny Depp and Amber Heard was announced on Wednesday.
Depp was unable to make the announcement due to scheduling conflicts. Insider According to reports, Depp’s absence from the court is due to a work commitment.
According to sources, Depp was in the UK for an originally planned work commitment. According to them, “Due to previously scheduled work commitments made before the trial, Mr. Depp will not be physically present for today’s 3 p.m. verdict and will be watching from the United Kingdom.”
Depp has been appearing across the pond during several Jeff Beck concerts over the past few days, according to Silver Screen Beat news.
Depp was not present in court Wednesday due to Heard’s rep (the proceedings took place in Virginia). According to her spokesperson, “Your presence shows where your priorities are. Johnny Depp plays guitar in the UK while Amber Heard waits for a verdict in Virginia.”
They also accused the Pirates of the Caribbean star of “taking his snickering and lack of seriousness on tour.”
As previously stated, Depp was not present to hear the verdict on Wednesday. The jury found Heard guilty of defaming Depp after she wrote a piece about him.
She wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post accusing him of being abusive throughout their relationship. He was later awarded $10 million in compensatory and $5 million in punitive damages. However, due to Virginia’s cap, this figure was raised to $350,000.
“Six years ago, my life, the life of my children, the lives of those closest to me, and also, the lives of the people who for many, many years have supported and believed in me were forever changed. All in the blink of an eye,”Depp’s statement is read after the verdict.
“False, very serious, and criminal allegations were levied at me via the media, which triggered an endless barrage of hateful content, although no charges were ever brought against me. It had already traveled around the world twice within a nanosecond and it had a seismic impact on my life and my career.
”He wrote that he was still writing. “truly humbled” and That he was awarded his reward by the jury “life back.”Heard made a statement about her verdict, just like her ex-husband.
“The disappointment I feel today is beyond words,” Her statement began. “I’m heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of my ex-husband. I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. It is a setback.”
Heard continued, “It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously. I believe Johnny’s attorneys succeeded in getting the jury to overlook the key issue of Freedom of Speech and ignore evidence that was so conclusive that we won in the UK.”
The Aquaman star ended her message with the following: “I’m sad I lost this case. But I am sadder still that I seem to have lost a right I thought I had as an American – to speak freely and openly.”
