As the dust settles after a UK court's ruling against Johnny Depp, fans are now joining the fray on social media. They want to fight for him, no matter what! What are the latest updates in the Amber Heard - Jhonny Depp slander saga?
Johnny Loses the First Round in Libel Suit
Actor Johnny Depp has resigned from his role as Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts film franchise after Warner Bros. allegedly pushed for his departure. He made the announcement last week in a statement posted on his Instagram account.
Johnny Formally Resigns as Grindelwald
“I wish to let you know that I have been asked to resign by Warner Bros. from my role as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts and I have respected and agreed to that request,” Depp wrote.
Admirers Rush to Support Johnny Depp in the Controversy
Fans have been completely disturbed by the one-sided job consequences they have seen in the business. One fan wrote: "This Amber Heard seems to be playing the victim card, seems like she's out to destroy Johnny Depp's career."
Amber Becomes the Subject of a Huge, Negative Petition
More than a million people tried to lobby the studios to drop Amber Heard from the Aquaman sequel. After leaked tapes appeared online showing an ugly side of the actress, fans sought justice through a petition! Only time would tell if it would really work.
Johnny is Stunned by the UK Court Decision
Depp also thanked his fans for their unwavering support and promised to seek an appeal. "The surreal judgment of the court in the U.K. will not change my fight to tell the truth and I confirm that I plan to appeal," wrote Depp on Instagram. "My resolve remains strong and I intend to prove that the allegations against me are false.”
The Series Fully Moves on With Him
Warner Bros. confirmed the news of Depp's exit via a statement, noting the role of Grindelwald would be recast for the film franchise's third installment. "Johnny Depp will depart the Fantastic Beasts franchise. We thank Johnny for his work on the films to date. Fantastic Beasts 3 is currently in production, and the role of Gellert Grindelwald will be recast."
Producers Ignore Johnny's Role in Franchise Profits
Depp appeared in 2016's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them as the powerful dark wizard Grindelwald then starred in the 2018 sequel The Crimes of Grindelwald. A spinoff of the Harry Potter series, the Fantastic Beasts franchise has proven lucrative, grossing nearly $1.5 billion worldwide between the two films.
The Reason He Sued Was Libel
The actor’s dismissal comes days after he lost his highly-publicized libel case against News Group Newspapers. Depp sued the publisher of The Sun for defamation over an April 17, 2018, column headlined "GONE POTTY: How can JK Rowling be 'genuinely happy' casting wife-beater Johnny Depp in the new Fantastic Beasts film?"
In Divorce, Happy Image Was Exposed as Acting
The gossip-packed trial that made global headlines for weeks and put the tumultuous relationship between Johnny and his ex-wife, Amber Heard, under close scrutiny. Though Johnny’s fans were rooting for him, Judge Andrew Nicol dismissed the libel suit on Monday. The case shed light on the former couple’s fractious relationship and was followed with dogged intensity by local and international media.
Food Fight in Divorce Court Shocks Observers
Depp, 57, admitted in court that he and Heard had a number of drunken arguments, but he denied physically harming her. At the conclusion of the 16-day trial in the Royal Courts, Judge Nicol noted that the Sun’s article was “substantially true.” Depp’s lawyer called the ruling “perverse” and confirmed they would be seeking an appeal.
UK Imposes Financial Consequences for Loss
Depp, best known for his roles as the flashy Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise, will have to pay millions of dollars worth of legal costs as a result of the loss of his libel suit. It could also deliver a serious blow to his acting career.
People Turn on Amber, Big Time
The verdict was a hard-fought victory for Heard and may help her restore her stature. While she has campaigned against domestic abuse, Depp and many witnesses described her as a deceptive liar and a gold-digger.
Johnny is Accused of Cocaine Abuse
During the July trial, Johnny and Amber appeared in the witness box for an emotional showdown of accusations and counter-accusations. This led to the revelation of disturbing details about their lives, such as Depp’s $30,000 monthly wine and cocaine binges.
Amber Claims Constant Beatings
Thirty-four-year-old Heard, who testified for the defense, claimed that her ex-husband assaulted her on 14 occasions during their relationship. The judge supported her allegation with a finding that there was enough proof to verify her complaints in about 12 incidents.
Remembering How They Originally Met
Depp and Heard met about a decade ago while co-starring in The Rum Diary. They married in 2015 but divorced the next year. They don’t have any children together.
Amber's Career Had Been Climbing
The American actress developed a name for herself through supporting roles in Informers, Zombieland, and the stoner comedy Pineapple Express. She recently appeared as Mera in the blockbuster Aquaman, a film that lifted her profile even more. In recent years, Heard has been raising awareness about sexual and domestic violence while also campaigned for women's and LGBT+ rights.
Amber Makes More Accusations of Violence Online
Heard accused Depp of verbal and physical abuse. She claimed that her ex-husband head-butted, slapped, kicked, and choked her. She also said that there was a time when Depp had been throwing liquor and wine bottles at her “like grenades.” She alleged that he was frequently drunk and high on drugs while they lived together in Los Angeles, Australia, and London.
Johnny Claims Amber Was the Only Physical Abuser
Depp admitted to his problematic liquor and drug use but repeatedly denied violence against Heard. He alleged that he was the real victim of physical abuse, saying that Heard had punched him in the face several times and that his fingertip was cut after she threw a bottle at him.
Johnny's Exes Testify to His Kind Character
During the trial, actress Winona Ryder and French singer Vanessa Paradis, both former partners of Depp, submitted witness statements saying that the award-winning actor had never displayed hostile behavior toward them and that Heard’s description of him did not match their experiences.
Winona Disputes the Negative Descriptions of Johnny
“I understand that it is very important that I speak from my own experience, as I obviously was not there during his marriage to Amber, but, from my experience, which was so wildly different, I was absolutely shocked, confused and upset when I heard the accusations against him. The idea that he is an incredibly violent person is the farthest thing from the Johnny I knew and loved,” Ryder wrote.
The Judge Completely Sides with Amber
In a 128-page ruling, the judge said that he believed Heard’s allegations against Depp, writing that the great majority of his assaults “have been proved to the civil standard.” The judge also discredited Depp’s description of Heard as a “gold-digger,” noting that her “$7 million donation to charity is hardly the act one would expect of a gold-digger.”
Johnny is Taken Out of Context in Court
Furthermore, the judge also quoted in his ruling a 2016 email Depp sent that read: “I have no mercy, no fear and not an ounce of emotion or what I once thought was love for this gold-digging, low level, dime a dozen, mushy, pointless [person]. . . . I can only hope that karma kicks in and takes the gift of breath from her... ”
The Newspaper Claims Triumph and Truth
The Sun responded to the ruling, declaring that the paper “stood up and campaigned for the victims of domestic abuse for over twenty years.”
“Domestic abuse victims must never be silenced, and we thank the Judge for his careful consideration and thank Amber Heard for her courage in giving evidence to the court,” the paper added.
Johnny's Lawyers Attack the Ruling as Baseless
Jenny Afia, one of Depp’s lawyers, said that the judgment against her client was “as perverse as it is bewildering.” She slammed the judge for relying heavily on Heard’s testimony against what she described as “the mountain of counter-evidence from police officers, medical practitioners, her own former assistant.”
It’s not clear whether the ruling will have any impact on Depp’s decision to pursue Heard for $50 million in a different defamation case in the US.
Johnny Has a Few More Suits Planned
In a trial set for 2021, Depp is suing Heard for defamation over a 2018 column she wrote for The Washington Post. While she did not mention Depp by name, she discussed being a “public figure representing domestic abuse” and feeling “the full force of our culture’s wrath for women who speak out.”
He Faces an Uphill Battle, According to Some
Legal officials say Depp could encounter a more difficult task in a courtroom in the United States, where the burden of proof is on the party suing and where free-speech protections are more powerful.
Johnny is Still Determined to Legally Clear His Name
In Britain, the burden of proof is on the company or person being sued. Since his case has already failed under those terms, it seems Depp will have his work cut out for him in the US. Still, he seems determined to prove that his ex-wife was aware that she published false statements.
Johnny Maintians Strong Fan Support Around the World
Amber Heard actually got plenty of hate online, from men and women alike. Millions were convinced she was the real abuser after listening to the leaked tapes of their fights. But how did Johnny's coworkers publically react to the legal case and firing?
J.K. Rowling Refuses to Denounce Him
According to Johnny: “J.K. has seen the evidence and therefore knows I was falsely accused, and that’s why she has publicly supported me. She doesn’t take things lightly. She would not stand up if she didn’t know the truth. So that’s really it.”
Jude Explians Show Business is a Business
Fantastic Beasts costar and rational man Jude Law reacted to the business decision: “In a franchise like this, the studio and the company make the big decisions and you have to go along with those because, you know, we’re just a member of the team.”
Amber Heard Has Not Been Banished From Hollywood
And Amber? No consequences so far, at least on the screen. Recently, the actress announced: "I'm super excited about the amount of fan love and the amount of fan appreciation that Aquaman has acquired...I'm so excited to film that."
Johnny Depp Gets a Big Payout for His Exit
The reality is, Johnny is not going to be in the Beasts franchise anymore. He received $10 million for one scene of filming, as per the contract. And in the meantime, he vows to appeal the ruling. Will Warner Bros. work with him again? Only time will tell!