Johnny Deppis thanking his fans after his legal win againstAmber Heard.
Alongside a video posted to hisnewly created TikTok accounton Tuesday, the 58-year-old actor wrote, “To all of my most treasured, loyal and unwavering supporters. We’ve been everywhere together, we have seen everything together. We have walked the same road together. We did the right thing together, all because you cared. And now, we will all move forward together.”
Johnny Depp.Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images
Depp was found to have defamed Heard, 36, on one of three claims in a countersuit theAquamanactress brought against her ex-husband. She was awarded $2 million in damages.
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Just before the verdict, Depp wasseen mingling with fansat a pub in the U.K., where a staffer told PEOPLE thePirates of the Caribbeanstar was “very down to earth and a very nice bloke.”
Deppwas not present when the verdict was readin court in Fairfax, Virginia, on Wednesday, and has beenperforming onstage with Jeff Beckoverseas since Sunday. He said in a statement that the “best is yet to come” for him after the verdict.
“Six years ago, my life, the life of my children, the lives of those closest to me, and also, the lives of the people who for many, many years have supported and believed in me were forever changed. All in the blink of an eye,” he said. “False, very serious and criminal allegations were levied at me via the media, which triggered an endless barrage of hateful content, although no charges were ever brought against me. It had already traveled around the world twice within a nanosecond and it had a seismic impact on my life and my career. And six years later, thejury gave me my life back.”
“I am truly humbled,” Depp continued, in part. “My decision to pursue this case, knowing very well the height of the legal hurdles that I would be facing and the inevitable, worldwide spectacle into my life, was only made after considerable thought. From the very beginning, the goal of bringing this casewas to reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome. Speaking the truth was something that I owed to my children and to all those who have remained steadfast in their support of me. I feel at peace knowing I have finally accomplished that.”
Heard said in her own statement following the verdict (which her lawyer Elaine Bredehoft said onTodayThursdayher client plans to appeal), “The disappointment I feel today is beyond words. I’m heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence and sway of my ex-husband.”
“I’m even more disappointed withwhat this verdict meansfor other women. It is a setback,” she added. “It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously.”
“I believe Johnny’s attorneys succeeded in getting the jury to overlook the key issue of Freedom of Speech and ignore evidence that was so conclusive that we won in the U.K.,” Heard continued. “I’m sad I lost this case. But I am sadder still that I seem to have lost a right I thought I had as an American — to speak freely and openly.”
The pairwed in February 2015after meeting while making 2011’sThe Rum Diary. Heard thenfiled for divorceand adomestic violence restraining orderin May 2016. Depp has maintained that he never abused his ex-wife.
Depp’s win in the defamation trial comes 19 months afterhe lost his U.K. libel suitback in November 2020. He sued British tabloidThe Sunfor calling him a “wife-beater.” Heard testified to back up the claims, and a London judge upheld the outlet’s claims as being “substantially true.” In March 2021, his attempt tooverturn that decision was overruled.
source: people.com
