Amber Heard has granted her first interview following the verdict in the defamation suit filed by her ex-husband Johnny Depp.
In May, a jury in Fairfax, Virginia, ruled in favor of Depp, 58, and ruled that he had in fact been defamed in a 2018 Washington Post opinion piece written by Heard, 36. The jury awarded him $ 10 million in compensatory damages and $ 350,000 in punitive damages (all U.S. dollars).
Heard also received a partial victory, receiving $ 2 million for a 2016 statement from Depp’s former lawyer and press officer that the jury found false and defamatory.
Read more: Jurors “have fallen asleep” during Johnny Depp’s trial against Amber Heard, says stenographer
Heard sat down for an interview with NBC Today presenter Savannah Guthrie to discuss the verdict, the trial process, and the role of social media in shaping an overwhelmingly pro-Depp public opinion.
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On social media platforms like TikTok, most users are vehemently opposed to Heard. As of June 13, #justiceforjohnnydepp has more than 20.7 billion views, while #justiceforamberheard has 92.4 million.
. @ savannahguthrie sat down for an exclusive conversation with #AmberHeard. “You can’t tell me you think this has been fair,” Heard shared, referring to social media representation. pic.twitter.com/56Ju7pYg1x
– TODAY (@TODAYshow) June 13, 2022
“Even someone who is sure I deserve all this hatred and vitriol, even if you think I’m lying, you still can’t look me in the eye and tell me you think there’s been a fair on social media. Representation.” , said Heard. “You can’t tell me you think this was fair.”
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The Aquaman actor added that he does not feel offended by much of the public’s resentment towards her.
“I don’t care what anyone thinks of me or what judgments you want to make about what happened in the privacy of my home, in my marriage, behind closed doors,” Heard said. “I don’t suppose the average person should know these things. And so I don’t take it personally.”
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Read more: Amber Heard’s lawyer claims Johnny Depp “demonized” ex-wife and suppressed evidence in defamation lawsuit
In the interview, Heard adds that he does not “blame” the jury for being unanimously on Depp’s side.
“I don’t blame them,” he said. “I really understand him. He’s a beloved character and people feel they know him. He’s a fantastic actor.”
In an additional statement from a spokeswoman for Amber Heard, the actor explained his reasoning for appearing on the Today program.
“Johnny Depp’s legal team covered the media for days after the verdict with numerous statements and interviews on television, and Depp himself did the same on social media,” the statement said. On Wednesday, Depp launched his first TikTok, thanking his “most beloved, loyal and unwavering supporters.”
@Johnny Depp
To all my most beloved, loyal and unwavering followers. We’ve been everywhere together, we’ve seen it all together. We went the same way together. We did the right thing together, all because you cared. And now, together we will move forward. You are, as always, my business people, and once again, I have no way of thanking you, but just thanking you. So thank you. My love and respect, JD
♬ Strange – Love Joys
“Madam. Heard simply intended to respond to what they did aggressively last week; he did so by expressing his thoughts and feelings, many of which he was not allowed to do in the witness stand,” the statement concluded. ‘Heard.
On June 2, Heard’s attorney confirmed that he would appeal the verdict, alleging that Depp’s legal team had “demonized” Heard in public and suppressed evidence in court.
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Today’s interview with Amber Heard will air Tuesday and Wednesday. A one-hour special will also air on Friday on Dateline.
1:32 Amber Heard’s lawyer speaks and says court cameras turned trial into “zoo” Previous video Next video
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