Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp is suing his ex-wife Amber Heard for libel in the US state of Virginia, over an article she wrote for the Washington Post in 2018.

In July 2021, Heard announced she had welcomed a baby daughter earlier in the year, reportedly via surrogate. Heard obtained a restraining order against Depp in May 2016 after accusing him of abuse, which he denied. Lasting for three weeks, Depp's libel case against the publisher of The Sun took place at the Royal Courts Of Justice in London in the summer of 2020.

Johnny Depp's lawyers gave their opening statement in a $50 million defamation trial, saying Amber Heard faked abuse to advance her career.

“Ultimately this trial is about clearing Mr. Depp’s name of a terrible and false allegation.” “The article isn’t about Johnny Depp,” he argued. “The evidence will show that was a lie.” It’s up to you, ladies and gentlemen, to make him do that.” Her attorney, Elaine Bredehoft, went through many of the allegations in detail in her opening statement, including one occasion when Depp allegedly sexually assaulted her with a liquor bottle. Her attorney Ben Rottenborn argued that Depp is seeking to ruin Heard’s life by pursuing the lawsuit.

Film star Johnny Depp is suing his ex-wife Amber Heard over a newspaper article she wrote in which she claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse.

Heard has filed a $100m counterclaim alleging Depp had “coordinated a campaign aimed at smearing her”. Before the trial over the restraining order could begin, however, the pair issued a joint statement that said: “Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love. At the time it was dubbed “the trial of the century”, but the courtroom dramatics seem to be far from over.

Johnny Depp's attorneys told jurors that "his name is associated with a lie," characterizing his ex-wife Amber Heard's claims of domestic abuse as false ...

“And the evidence will show that Ms. Heard’s false allegations had a significant impact on Mr. Depp’s family and his ability to work in the profession he loved, and loved to bring joy to everyone.” “The evidence will show that Ms. Heard showed up with a mark on her face that mysteriously appeared six days after she last saw Mr. Depp and six days before she publicly filed a request for a domestic violence restraining order alleging abuse.” Another attorney for Depp, Camille Vasquez, said that Depp himself was a survivor of his mother’s angry rages. As Chew spoke, Heard was on the other side of the courtroom, peering down at a legal pad. As she described Depp’s injuries, he flinched for a half second. The evidence will show that Mr. Depp learned that the best way to deal with violence was to leave. “But that’s going to come out over the course of this trial.” It is about the evidence. But this trial is about the evidence. Depp sued over Heard’s December, 2018, Washington Post op ed, which described herself as an abuse survivor but did not name her ex husband. “The evidence will show that six days after Mr. Depp requested a divorce, and he did so politely, and three days after Ms. Heard’s lawyer threatened Mr. Depp with claims of abuse if he did not agree to her financial demands, Ms. Heard arrived at the courthouse in Los Angeles, California to file for a restraining order alleging abuse,” Chew said. “The evidence will show that Disney had a dossier on him, that had articles from the press, had other information about Mr. Depp and they didn’t have this article at all in their files, didn’t register with them, just as it didn’t register with the public.”

Johnny Depp's $100million defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard began with opening arguments Tuesday in Fairfax, Virginia.

Depp dismisses Heard's abuse allegations as a 'hoax' and claims he was actually the victim of her violence. Depp and Heard reach a $7 million divorce settlement which the actress promises to give to charity. The Pirates of the Caribbean actor was seen entering court in Fairfax, Virginia, Tuesday wearing a navy blue suit and shades. After lengthy delays due to the Covid pandemic, the former flames finally lock horns in Fairfax County, Virginia where the Washington Post servers that published the disputed op-ed are based. 'Two years ago, I became a public figure representing domestic abuse, and I felt the full force of our culture's wrath for women who speak out,' reads the headline. Johnny Depp was seen entering court in Fairfax, Virginia, Tuesday wearing a navy blue suit and shades. 'Miss Heard tried to avoid public humiliation and present herself as a noble survivor and representative of the MeToo movement. 'Quite simply Miss Heard had publicly cast herself in the role of a domestic abuse survivor. The evidence will show that was a lie' After she received a $7million settlement from Mr. Depp she released a statement claiming she wanted nothing from him and would donated it to the Children's Hospital Los Angeles and ACLU. But then she did not make the donations. When Mr. Depp stood up for his good name, Miss Heard couldn't back down.' Vasquez said, 'She became outraged at the suggestion that Mr. Depp might leave her.

Both the actor and Amber appeared in person on Tuesday, with fans gathering outside hoping to catch a glimpse of the former Hollywood couple walk into court.

Johnny lawyers say one of the reasons they brought the case in Virginia is because the state’s anti-Slapp law is not as broad as the one in California. The actress’s lawyers are expected to argue she should be immune from the libel suit because of a Virginia law known as an anti-Slapp provision (strategic lawsuit against public participation). On the first day of the trial a jury panel of 11 people were sworn in, with potential candidates asked a series of questions on subjects including the MeToo movement, their links to the entertainment industry, and their opinions of the Washington Post.

A jury in Virginia is scheduled to hear opening statements in a defamation lawsuit filed by Johnny Depp against his ex-wife, Amber Heard.

But a judge ruled that Depp was within his rights to bring the case in Virginia because The Washington Post’s computer servers for its online edition are located in the county. The trial is expected to last for more than a month. FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — A jury in Virginia is scheduled to hear opening statements Tuesday in a defamation lawsuit filed by Johnny Depp against his ex-wife, Amber Heard.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard were both present for the first day of the defamation case opposing them in Virginia, Clémence Michallon reports from Fairfax.

How many of them had read about Depp? How many of them had seen his movies? The Depp v Heard trial is expected to last a total of six weeks. Lawyers’ attempts to suss out each person’s knowledge and possible bias led to some awkwardness: imagine having to state publicly, in front of Johnny Depp, whether you like or dislike Johnny Depp for any reason, or how many of his movies you’ve seen, or whether you’ve heard of him before. Depp sat to the left of the courthouse, surrounded by a group of legal advisers; Heard sat to the right with her own team. Some of the potential jurors summoned on Monday for jury duty had an inkling they might be asked to sit on the Depp v Heard case; several said they had no knowledge of the case prior to Monday morning. This setup was specific to day one, and to the jury selection; in the coming days and for the duration of the trial, members of the public will be allowed inside the courtroom, from which the case will be televised.

Heard's counsel presents Depp as an 'an obsessed ex-husband hellbent on revenge'

Why, I’m not sure, because the evidence isn’t pretty for Mr Depp.” “She has been living and breathing this lie for years now,” she said. “But that’s going to come out over the course of this trial.” “Today, his name is associated with a lie. “She is preparing to give the performance of a lifetime in this trial.” Heard’s attorneys, meanwhile, argued that her allegations are true, she had a right to express her views, “and all Mr Depp has wanted to do is humiliate Amber, to haunt her, to wreck her career”.

Amber Heard "concocted a role as a victim", the former spouses' defamation trial is told.

She did not name Johnny Depp, she did not write the headline and in America there is a special constitutional protection for words written in the newspapers. "She has been living and breathing this role for years now and she is preparing to give the performance of her life." Yes, she had accused him of abuse but that was not what her article in the Washington Post was about. Before court proceedings began they were warned to keep phones hidden, to not take pictures, there would be no shouting of 'we love you, Johnny.' But as it began there was not a murmur or a sign of movement. Johnny Depp may have lost his case in London, this they feel will be different. "Mom would, she would scream, she would yell.