Canada
United States
New Zealand
Australia
Ireland
New information surrounding Amber Heard has reinvigorated the #JusticeForJohnnyDepp movement on social media, with supporters of Johnny Depp rallying behind him once again.
The Highly-Publicized Court Case
Last summer, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard found themselves at the center of a highly-publicized court case.
It all began when Heard penned an Op-Ed in The Washington Post in 2018, detailing her experiences as a victim of domestic violence.
In response, Depp filed a $50 million defamation suit against the actress.
Heard retaliated by countersuing Depp for $100 million. The legal battle unfolded with both parties presenting new evidence in an attempt to sway Judge Penney Azcarate.
The defamation case eventually went to a jury trial in Fairfax County, Virginia. Notably, the trial attracted significant attention, with high-profile individuals such as Elon Musk and James Franco making appearances.
Depp’s legal team, consisting of Camille Vasquez and Benjamin Chew, and even Kate Moss, were all involved in the proceedings, which garnered millions of online viewers.
The Verdict and Fallout
After an intense six-week trial, the jury found both Depp and Heard guilty of defamation.
However, Heard faced a more severe penalty, with a disclaimer added to her original Op-Ed, highlighting the defamatory aspects for which she was found guilty.
Depp, on the other hand, was found to have defamed Heard through his then-lawyer, Adam Waldman.
This defamation trial followed Depp’s earlier libel trial in the United Kingdom, where he sued The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, for referring to him as a “wife-beater.”
The outcome of that trial saw Justice Andrew Nicol ruling in favor of The Sun, stating that many of the abuse allegations against Depp were “substantially true.”
Consequently, Depp faced repercussions, losing his roles in both the Fantastic Beasts series and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
Casting Changes and Future Projects
Mads Mikkelsen replaced Depp as Gellert Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022).
Additionally, reports initially surfaced of Margot Robbie taking over the lead role in a female-driven sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film, but the project’s status remains uncertain.
However, producer Jerry Bruckheimer has hinted at a potential return for Depp. Presently, Depp resides in Somerset, England, distancing himself from the Hollywood spotlight.
His next project will see him portraying King Louis XV in Jeanne du Barry (2023).
Meanwhile, during the defamation trial, much focus was placed on Depp’s exclusion from Hollywood, while Heard managed to maintain a presence in the industry despite counter-abuse claims.
Heard’s most commercially successful role to date was in the billion-dollar hit Aquaman (2018), where she starred as Mera, opposite Jason Momoa’s Arthur Curry/Aquaman.
Aquaman Sequel Confirms Heard’s Return
Speculation arose regarding Heard’s involvement in the upcoming Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023).
Recently, during CinemaCon, a teaser trailer confirmed her return, as Mera made a brief appearance in an intense fight scene, validating her continued presence in the film.
The confirmation of Heard’s role reignited the long-standing #JusticeForJohnnyDepp movement on social media.
Supporters of Depp voiced their discontent, expressing their belief that an alleged abuser should not be allowed to continue working in the industry.
They cited Depp’s alleged false allegations and criticized the contested donations she pledged to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
