Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard: end of high-risk lawsuit
After more than three weeks of confrontation in London, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are preparing to complete their testimonies in the libel lawsuit launched by the actor against the tabloid "The Sun".
Johnny Depp's trial against the British tabloid "The Sun" is coming to an end. For three weeks, the 57-year-old actor has increased appearances before the High Court in London, strongly rejecting the accusations brought against him by the publication which had established in one of his articles that he had "beaten his wife" , actress Amber Heard. The latter accuses him of domestic violence since their shattering divorce in 2016. What Johnny Depp has always refuted, assuring for his part that he is the one who was abused by his ex-wife.
Cited as a witness in this whole affair on the side of the tabloid, the 34-year-old actress has not budged. During the weeks that this trial lasted, Amber Heard reaffirmed that she had been repeatedly beaten and abused by Johnny Depp during their four years of relationship (2012-2016), regularly under the influence of alcohol or drugs. During a testimony, she also said that she feared for her life, terrified that her ex-partner would end up killing her. For his part, Johnny Depp returned to the many arguments and violence supposedly inflicted on Amber Heard, from a severed finger to bruises in the face. The actor denied ever having raised his hand against a woman, supported by the written testimonies of his former companions Vanessa Paradis and Winona Ryder. On the contrary, he argued, it was Amber Heard who was angry and violent, portraying her as a “narcissistic and sociopathic” calculator seeking to advance her career at her expense.
"Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are BOTH going to lose"
By attacking "The Sun", the ex-star of "Pirates of the Caribbean" and interpreter of Grindewald in the saga "Fantastic Beasts", already in financial difficulty after risky wealth management, had the firm intention of protect its reputation. But the three weeks of confrontation in London, with debauchery of gloomy revelations about his private life and his marriage to Amber Heard, may cost him dearly. And the L'Oréal muse, which should appear in a second installment of the blockbuster "Aquaman", is not immune to a disaster either. "It doesn't matter who wins this sickening battle, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are BOTH going to lose" summed up the "Daily Mail" on July 9th.
It is that such a trial obviously involves heavy risks for the reputations and the respective careers of the two protagonists. "They have so unpacked and washed their dirty laundry in public, literally and figuratively that the damage is already done, whatever the verdict," said public relations expert Mark Borkowski, interviewed by AFP. According to him, "the lawsuit made matters worse by providing the public with a far-reaching narrative" on their private issues. The case shows, "as much for Johnny Depp as Amber Heard, that fame is toxic". But according to Emily Cox, a lawyer specializing in defamation suits, Johnny Depp had no choice but to take this whole case to justice. “If he had left these serious accusations of domestic violence unchallenged, they would have been associated with his name forever. It would undoubtedly have a bigger impact on his career than revealing unflattering details, ”she also told AFP.
"He made Amber Heard a martyr"
The lawyer considers the revelations about his drug use as a lesser evil, because "an actor who suffers from addiction will be considered much better than an actor who hits his wife". For her, it might even earn her Hollywood "compassion" if he tried to break out of his addiction. "If Johnny Depp wins his case, it could give new impetus to his career and increase his popularity, as a person unjustly accused of domestic violence," even the lawyer judges. More pessimistic, Mark Borkowski thinks it will be difficult to really “prove” his innocence and predicts the actor “a Pyrrhic victory”. “He made Amber Heard a martyr. She has become a totem of current struggles, the emblem of those who suffer from an abusive partner, ”he added.
For Amber Heard, "credibility is just as much at stake", the defense of the tabloid "The Sun" based entirely on the accusations made by the actress. "If the Sun loses her case, she could well find herself ostracized by Hollywood," reiterates Emily Cox. On the other hand, if the tabloid wins, Amber Heard "will be considered the brave knight who has embarked on a crusade against domestic violence," admits the lawyer. In this case, the consequences for Johnny Depp will be “catastrophic for his career” and his name will remain “forever marred by these accusations”. “It could also have an impact on her defamation claim against Ms. Heard in the United States, putting an end to her reputation,” Emily Cox concluded. “For a major franchise, with a lot of money at stake, it could then be a danger (to recruit him),” confirms Mark Borkowski. The latter believes, however, that the career of Johnny Depp could recover from it and find outlets in particular on the side of "independent producers or large European producers". “On these subjects, people tend to suffer from amnesia,” he concluded.
