After capturing the attention of the world the jury in the 6 week long defamation trial has delivered its verdict and it’s time to celebrate with a ‘megapint’ for team Depp.
The jury found that Mr. Depp was defamed by Ms. Heard when she described herself in an op-ed as a “public figure representing domestic abuse,” but also that she had been defamed by one of his lawyers.
The jury awarded Mr. Depp $15 million in compensatory and punitive damages, but the judge capped the punitive damages total in accordance with legal limits, resulting in a total of $10.35 million. The jury awarded Ms. Heard $2 million in damages.
The jury’s decision came after a six-week trial that transfixed the nation, with millions of people watching it on television or streaming it online as the two major Hollywood stars made charges and countercharges of physical abuse against one another in court, sometimes in lurid detail. It was one of the highest-profile civil cases of the #MeToo era to go to trial.
In a bizarre intrusive view into the privileged and bizarre world of the super celebrity, we had a dramatic inside view into a truly bizarre and dysfunctional relationship. More Greek tragedy than soap opera this tale had it all. Celebrity excess, extra-martial, cheating, beauty, fame, alleged extreme sexual violence, drug abuse, mental illness, even scatology.
It will be hard for either Depp or Heard to ever be in such lascivious drama again.
Let’s hope they both get help and heal, as we all do.
Family and domestic violence support services:
- If you need help immediately call emergency services on 000
- 1800 Respect National Helpline: 1800 737 732
- Women’s Crisis Line: 1800 811 811
- Men’s Referral Service: 1300 766 491
- Mensline: 1300 789 978
- Lifeline (24-hour Crisis Line): 131 114
- Relationships Australia: 1300 364 277
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