Actor Johnny Depp walks out of court as a big winner. He won the defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife Amber Heard. This is how his prominent colleagues react to the court decision.
The jury’s verdict was clear. After a grueling mud fight in front of the cameras, they agreed with the actor Johnny Depp and in return found his ex-wife Amber Heard mostly guilty in the defamation trial. The jury concluded that Heard made allegations against Depp “with actual malice.” She is now said to be paying her ex-husband $15 million. In return, Heard was awarded $2 million in damages for defamatory statements made by Depp’s attorney. In a statement released afterwards, Depp said, among other things, that the jury had given his life back to him after six years of fighting.
Not only Depp himself celebrated the victory in court. Many celebrities responded to the statement with benevolence, including US musician Ryan Adams. The singer-songwriter didn’t say much, but commented with a series of emojis, such as a heart and a flame. This has a smack because Adams herself has been accused of harassment and manipulation by several artists in the past. Which the internet community also commented on.
Johnny Depp win: “Justice done”
Ashley Benson, known for the role of Hanna Marin in the US series “Pretty Little Liars”, even posted a photo of Depp on Instagram, which she commented on with a capital letter “Yes” and a series of hearts. Actress Laurie Holden went further, tweeting that the verdict in the trial served as justice. “The jury verdict is a message to the world that abuse has no gender and that facts do matter,” she wrote. And model Naomi Campell left three hearts under the statement.
Sharon Osbourne, presenter and wife of Ozzy Osbourne, was surprised by the verdict on Piers Morgan’s talk show: “Wow, that wasn’t what I expected. I mean, I wanted Johnny to win, but I did not expected to do it.” Other celebrities were more reserved, only leaving an approving “Like” under Depp’s statement. For example, the American actor and musician Eli Brown, who is known from the series “Gossip Girl” among other things, as well as other colleagues such as Gemma Chan, Riley Keough and Chase Stokes.
Depp also received encouragement from the son of the former US President. Donald Trump Junior tweeted: “15 million for Depp, maybe a case that could end the fanatical feminist notion that every man is guilty before proven innocent.”
From narcissists and manipulative women
Most celebrities avoided at least public speaking before the verdict was announced, while others were less careful with their judgement. Comedian Chris Rock is said to have said on one of his shows: “Believe all women, believe all women. Except for Amber Heard.” Podcaster Hoe Rogan called her a “crazy lady” and Ireland Baldwin said the actress was a “terrible person”. She knows women who are like her, manipulative, cold and they use their femininity to play the victim, says Baldwin. Actress Eva Green shared a picture of herself and Depp during the ongoing trial and commented, among other things, “I have no doubt that Johnny will emerge from the trial with his good name and beautiful heart.”
But Amber Heard is not alone either. Even before the verdict was announced, she received encouragement from radio host Howard Stern, who described Depp as a great narcissist. And actress Julia Fox publicly doubted that Heard had the power to abuse Depp. She even went so far as to suggest that the actor is still in love with his ex-wife. Fox said, “This is clearly a sick way of still controlling her life by suing her all over the world.”
In Heard’s statement after the verdict was announced, she spoke of having lost a right she firmly believed in, “the right to speak freely and openly”. The verdict is a step backwards. It destroys the idea that violence against women is taken seriously. Comedienne Amy Schumer seems to have a similar view. While she made no direct reference to Johnny Depp or Amber Heard, she posted a quote from US journalist Gloria Steinem on her Instagram channel after the verdict was announced: “Every woman who chooses to be like a full human being be warned that the armies of the status quo will treat them as some kind of dirty joke.”
Johnny Depp was not present in court when the verdict was announced. He has toured abroad and supported musician Jeff Beck on several gigs in the UK.
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