Questions around the cultural ramifications of the decision remain.
.%0A%0AThe%20jury%20awarded%20Heard%20%242%20million%20in%20compensatory%20damages%20for%20her%20counterclaim.%0A%0AJohnny%20Depp%20sued%20Amber%20Heard%20for%20%2450%20million%20for%20defamation%20over%20an%20essay%20she%20wrote%20for%20The%20Washington%20Post%20in%202018,%20where%20she%20discussed%20being%20a%20victim%20of%20abuse,%20without%20mentioning%20Depp’s%20name.%20Prior%20to%20this,%20Heard%20received%20a%20restraining%20order%20against%20Depp%20after%20accusing%20him%20of%20domestic%20violence%20when%20she%20filed%20for%20divorce%20in%202016%20(they%20were%20married%20in%202015).%0A%0AThe%20court%20case,%20part%20of%20a%20longstanding%20legal%20battle%20between%20the%20ex-spouses,%20has%20morphed%20into%20a%20cesspit%20of%20internet%20chaos%20in%20recent%20weeks.%20And%20while%20the%20announcement%20of%20the%20verdict%20for%20Depp%20v%20Heard%20will%20hopefully%20bring%20the%20mayhem%20to%20a%20close,%20questions%20around%20the%20ramifications%20for%20MeToo%20and%20the%20influence%20of%20social%20media%20on%20the%20case%20remain.%0A%0ADepp%20was%20not%20present%20at%20the%20reading%20of%20the%20verdict.%0A%0AWith%20files%20from%20Natalie%20Michie%0A%0AThis%20is%20a%20developing%20story.%20More%20to%20come. %0A%0A ){kind=link}
More than three million people tuned into the Law&Crime Network’s live stream of the verdict for the high-profile defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, Depp v Heard. And it’s swung in Depp’s favour to the tune of $15 million (all figures USD).
The jury awarded Heard $2 million in compensatory damages for her counterclaim.
Johnny Depp sued Amber Heard for $50 million for defamation over an essay she wrote for The Washington Post in 2018, where she discussed being a victim of abuse, without mentioning Depp’s name. Prior to this, Heard received a restraining order against Depp after accusing him of domestic violence when she filed for divorce in 2016 (they were married in 2015).
The court case, part of a longstanding legal battle between the ex-spouses, has morphed into a cesspit of internet chaos in recent weeks. And while the announcement of the verdict for Depp v Heard will hopefully bring the mayhem to a close, questions around the ramifications for MeToo and the influence of social media on the case remain.
Depp was not present at the reading of the verdict.
With files from Natalie Michie
This is a developing story. More to come.