Johnny Depp won all three defamation counts in his case brought against ex-wife Amber Heard over her 2018 op-ed about coming forward with domestic abuse allegations. She’ll have to pay $15 million in damages.
After closing arguments from both sides were made on Friday, the jury entered deliberations and then resumed Tuesday morning after the Memorial Day holiday.
Then on Wednesday afternoon, after more than 12 total hours of deliberations behind closed doors, the verdict was unanimously reached and read aloud in the Fairfax County, Virginia, courtroom.
Depp, 58, was not present for the reveal, instead watching from the U.K., where he’s been performing rock concerts with Jeff Beck since Sunday night. Heard, 36, showed up in person for the verdict.
The seven person jury — whose names will remain sealed for at least one full year, Judge Penney Azcarate previously ruled — reportedly consisted of five men and two women.
The verdict was expected to be read right at 3 p.m., but the judge noticed the jury forgot to fill out on the forms what the damages would be. They were sent back to complete that portion, causing a delay in the proceedings.
In regards to Heard’s countersuit brought against Depp, he was found to have defamed her on one of three counts. He will pay $2 million in damages.
In her Washington Post op-ed published in December 2018, Heard did not mention Depp by name but wrote, “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.”
The pair wed in February 2015 after meeting while making the 2011 film The Rum Diary. She then filed for divorce and a domestic violence restraining order in May 2016.
During his time on the stand, Depp testified that he was physically abused by Heard, and he said multiple times under oath that he never struck her or any woman.
The star categorically denied Heard’s “insane” testimony, saying, “I don’t think anyone enjoys having to split themselves open and tell the truth.”
