Because Johnny Depp, after six weeks of trial (“of the horrors”), won the libel case against Amber Heard? Because the Fairfax, Virginia jury ruled that yes, the actress defamed the star in the now infamous editorial on the Washington Post of 2018, in which – although not naming it openly – did she tell of having suffered violence and abuse at the hands of her ex-husband? The reason for the sentence is all in the “actual malice “(actual malice): Heard that is, according to the jurors, he lied about his marriage affairs, knowing he was lying, only to cause harm to the ex-husband. In America about public figures (not about private citizens) one can say and write almost everything without fear of legal consequences. TO unless a jury recognizes that the criticisms were made, in fact, with “actual malice”, with actual malice. Lying knowing that you are lying for the sole purpose of doing damage to the target. For this reason, on paper, the lawsuit brought by Depp seemed, to many analysts, impossible to win. Instead, Depp’s lawyers, led by Camille Vasquez, they made it. Johnny he won and his ex-wife was sentenced to pay $ 15 million in compensation (he had asked for $ 50). Figure then reduced by the judge to almost 10.4 million.
Many analysts now wonder how much the choice to broadcast the hearings in live streaming has influenced the outcome of the trial. And how much influenced the “jury” of social networks. Species on Tik Tok il divo de Pirates of the Caribbean he had won well before the sentence. Most of the videos, on the social network, have proposed clips of the depositions in court presented in a way that arouses empathy and sympathy towards Johnny, ridiculing and humiliating Amber.
On June 1, with Johnny’s victory, one of the most violent trials in the Hollywood world ended. But maybe the word “end” is only provisional. Amber, after having publicly expressed all of her “disappointment“For the sentence -” I am heartbroken by the fact that the mountain of evidence was not enough to counteract the disproportionate power of my ex-husband “- is ready to appeal. She stated it to the New York Times a spokesperson for the actress, Alafair Hall. While Heard’s lawyer, Elaine Bredehoftspeaking to NBC, he made it known that the actress is “absolutely unable to pay the $ 10.4 million in compensation“. According to Bredehoft, Amber “has been demonized”. And the court was “transformed into a zoo”, put under pressure by the trial that took place on social media“Couldn’t they escape it, how did they do it?” They went home every night, they had families, family members were on social media. It was impossible not to be influenced. I was against the cameras inside the court, but it was useless ». The lawyer now has a certainty: “That’s not all. Because most defamation cases are decided on appeal“. The trial has just ended, but apparently the six weeks of hearings in which Depp and Heard have fed the world the gruesome backstory of nightmare wedding based on violence, blood and decay, you are just the beginning …
Other stories of Vanity Fair that may interest you:
Johnny Depp won libel suit against Amber Heard
The reactions of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard after the verdict
How much damage did the Amber Heard editorial (really) do to Johnny Depp’s career?
Source: Vanity Fair
