Now That Johnny Depp Has Won In Both Courts
Some important takeaways from the trial and what the verdict signifies to the sides
Long before the verdict was delivered at the Fairfax county courtroom awarding him $15 million in his defamation suit against his ex-wife, Johnny Depp had already won in the court of public opinion.
The latter verdict, I dare say, seemed the more important of the two. This is if you take into account that from the beginning, Johnny Depp made it clear that the suit was was not just about the money. And when he declared, post-verdict, "I've got my life back", it's hard to imagine that a man like him was talking about the moderated $10.35 million award.
However, the jury essentially found both sides liable for defamation when they ruled that Amber Heard was also defamed on one occasion and awarded her $2 million in damages. A partial victory of sorts.
And when he declared, post-verdict, “I’ve got my life back", it’s hard to imagine that a man like him was talking about the moderated $10.35 million award.
The takeaways from the trial:
- Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence. The trial demonstrated that, like women, men too can be victims of violence in its different forms — physical, verbal, emotional, and sexual, despite the general assumption that only women were victims. Mr. Depp’s side put ample evidence before the jury portraying Ms. Heard as an aggressor in various instances during their tumultuous relationship.
- Don’t make false allegations of domestic violence because there can a price. These kinds of allegations are harmful and are capable of causing damage to another person’s reputation and livelihood. False allegations themselves are arguably a form of abuse because they are intended to bring untold suffering to the wrongly accused and their loved ones. “They are saying that men can be victims of domestic violence, and as an attorney, I have seen that happen when women lie.” — Lara Yeretsian.
- The myth of the perfect victim perpetuates. This is sad because victims of domestic violence don’t have to be angels who did no wrong and do everything right to gain credibility, the law’s protection, or our sympathy. In fact, this demand for perfection could very well deter real victims from coming forward with disastrous consequences. Heard wasn’t perfect and she perhaps did not deserve all the extreme negative reactions following revelations at the trial. She didn’t have to be faultless and lovable to be believable as a victim.
The significance of the verdict
- On the one hand, some, including Ms. Heard, believe the verdict is “a setback”. In her own words, “it sets back the clock to 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.”
- For Mr. Depp the verdict has given him his life back years after Ms. Heard’s allegations seismically impacted his life and career. “Six years ago, my life, the life of my children, the lives of those closest to me, and also the lives of people who for many. Many years have supported me and believed in me were forever changed.”
- From a different perspective, there are those who have always maintained that regardless of who got the favorable verdict one thing was clear, it will be a victory for victims of abuse. Contrary To the usual assumption that it was always the man who was the aggressor, the Depp legal team made sure the court got hear evidence of Ms. Heard admitting to hitting Depp and saw pictures of the aftermath of her physical attacks including graphic images of Depp’s severed finger.
“I hope that my quest to have the truth told will have helped others, men and women, who have found themselves in my situation, and those supporting them to never give up.” - Johnny Depp
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