Amber Heard has described the verdict as a “setback” for women, after Johnny Depp successfully won his defamation case against her, with a jury awarding him $US10.35 million ($AUD14.45 million) in damages.
Releasing a statement to Twitter, Heard said that her disappointment is “beyond words” and that she’s heartbroken that the evidence shared wasn’t enough to “stand up to the disproportionate power, influence and sway of my ex-husband”.
“I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. It’s a setback. It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly humiliated. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously.”
After the six-week trial, the jury of seven found in favour of the 58-year old on all three counts. Depp’s lawyers successfully proved that Heard had made false and defamatory statements in her Washington Post op ed, and had done so with “actual malice” — a higher threshold for cases involving public figures.
But Depp’s win was not absolute, with the jurors awarding Heard on one count of her countersuit, where she argued she was defamed by Depp’s press agent who accused her of roughing up their apartment for police to look worse and calling her allegations “an abuse hoax” seeking to capitalise on the #MeToo movement.
The 36-year old actress was awarded US$2 million (AUD$2.79 million).
“I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. It’s a setback. It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly humiliated. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously.”
Source: ‘Setback for women’: Amber Heard issues statement after Johnny Depp’s defamation win