Johnny Depp’s friend Isaac Baruch weeps in stand during Amber Heard defamation trial
Johnny Depp’s multi-million defamation lawsuit against his former wife, Amber Heard, continues in Virginia. The court has heard from the actor’s sister Christi Dembrowski, who also acted in part as his business manager, and his artist friend and neighbour Isaac Baruch, who gave especially colourful and emotional testimony.
Depp claims a 2018 article written by Heard in The Washington Post – in which she spoke about domestic violence towards women – implied Depp, her former husband, was an abuser.
Although the 35-year-old did not name the actor, lawyers for Depp say Heard’s allegations have made it difficult for the 58-year-old to land roles he previously did.
Depp is known for starring in films such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Sweeney Todd and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Heard has appeared in titles including Aquaman and Drive Angry.
He is asking for $50m (£38.2m) in damages during the trial in Fairfax County’s district courthouse. Heard has meanwhile filed a counterclaim of defamation against Depp, who she divorced from in 2017, for nuisance.
Depp has previously lost a defamation case in the UK against British newspaperThe Sun regarding the claims in Heard’s 2018 article.
ICYMI: ‘I continue to pay the price’ says Heard
In a statement on Saturday, Heard said she was continuing “to pay the price” for being a woman “speaking out against men in power” and that she was dissapointed her and Depp’s life would again play out in front of a court.
“I never named him,” said Heard on Saturday. “Rather, I wrote about the price women pay for speaking out against men in power.”
“I continue to pay the price, but hopefully when this case concludes, I can move on and so can Johnny,” she added of her former husband, who she said she has “always maintained a love for”.
Heard’s lawyers will likely argue that she is “immune” from liability during the trial because her opinion article in The Washington Post was a matter of public concern.
The article, which was published in 2018, was titled: I spoke up against sexual violence – and faced our culture’s wrath. That has to change. It did not name her ex-husband.
Oliver O’Connell14 April 2022 12:00
ICYMI: Depp’s team react to explosive new sex assault allegations made in court
Explosive new allegations were made by Amber Heard about her ex-husband, Johnny Depp, during the opening arguments of his defamation trial.
Ms Heard’s attorney, Elaine Bredehoft, claimed that Depp sexually assaulted Ms Heard using a liquor bottle during a black-out drunk episode.
Depp was visibly skeptical as Ms Bredehoft made the claims, and shook his head “no” after her comments.
Now the actor’s team has issued a statement in response to the “erroneous” claims.
“These fictitious claims were never made at the onset of Amber’s allegations in 2016, and only advantageously surfaced years later once she was sued for defamation after noting in her op-ed that she was a victim of ‘sexual violence.’ Words are key in a defamation case and conveniently, this allegation only came after that. This follows a pattern of her elaborate, erroneous claims which have continued to change and evolve over time for the purpose of Hollywood shock value of which Amber has mastered and used to exploit a serious social movement.” a spokesperson for Depp told The Independent.
Oliver O’Connell14 April 2022 11:00
ICYMI: Heard accuses Depp of sexual assault with liquor bottle
Explosive new allegations have been made by Amber Heard about her ex-husband, Johnny Depp, during the opening arguments of his $50m defamation trial.
Ms Heard’s attorney, Elaine Bredehoft, claimed that Mr Depp sexually assaulted Heard using a liquor bottle during a black-out drunk episode.
Oliver O’Connell14 April 2022 10:00
ICYMI: Opening statements -…
Read More: Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial live: Depp texted a friend about Heard’s ‘rotting