Jury Rules In Favor Of Johnny Depp And He Will Receive $15 Million In Compensation From His Ex-Wife Amber Heard
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard have been in a legal battle over the last several weeks. Depp sued his ex-wife for defamation after she wrote an op-ed about her experience being abused, although his name was never explicitly mentioned in the article.
Each took the stand and told their side of the story. Heard claimed that Depp had physically abused her in the midst of his struggles with drug addiction. Depp claimed that Heard was lying about the alleged abuse and that she herself was actually abusive. After several weeks of deliberation, the jury has come to a decision.
Johnny Depp Won His Case and Is Awarded $15 Million in Compensation
The civil jury consisted of five men and two women, and they decided in favor of Depp on all three counts brought by his legal team. The jury began deliberating on Friday and came to the decision today. Although Depp sued for $50 million, the jury has awarded him $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages.
Depp is celebrating his victory, and he released a statement stating his deep gratitude for 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,” the statement read. “It had already traveled around the world twice within a nanosecond, and it had a seismic impact on my life and my career.”
“And six years later, the jury gave me my life back. I am truly humbled,” the statement continued. “I am, and have been, overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and the colossal support and kindness from around the world. I hope that my quest to have the truth be told will have helped others, men or women, who have found themselves in my situation, and that those supporting them never give up. I also hope that the position will now return to innocent until proven guilty, both within the courts and in the media.”
Depp acknowledged the “noble work of the Judge, the jurors, the court staff and the Sheriffs” who sacrificed their time to arrive at this point. He also thanked his “diligent and unwavering legal team” for his win.
“The best is yet to come and a new chapter has finally begun,” the statement concluded.
Many of his fans are celebrating online after the verdict was released and even more people are commenting on what Depp's win means for our culture.
Depp was not present in the courtroom when the verdict was read, but is looking forward to having his life back. Heard was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages.