In a significant ruling, actor Johnny Depp faced a setback in his libel lawsuit against the British tabloid The Sun, which referred to him as a “wife beater” during his tumultuous marriage to ex-wife Amber Heard. Depp’s legal team argued that he deserved substantial damages due to the harm to his reputation.
British Judge Andrew Nicol noted there was “overwhelming evidence” indicating Depp had assaulted Heard multiple times throughout their relationship. In dismissing the case, Nicol stated the publication’s assertions were “substantially true,” mentioning incidents of physical violence, including hitting Heard and pulling her hair. The judge remarked, “I accept that Mr. Depp put her in fear of her life.”
Depp had initiated the lawsuit against News Group Newspapers, which publishes The Sun, and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, after Wootton wrote an article in 2018 claiming Depp had been violent on numerous occasions. Both Depp and Heard testified in a lengthy three-week hearing at London’s High Court, recounting various instances of alleged abuse. Depp claimed Heard had frequently assaulted him and even described an incident where he lost part of his finger due to a vodka bottle thrown by her. However, his former partners, Vanessa Paradis and Winona Ryder, provided statements asserting that he had never been violent towards them.
Women’s advocacy groups welcomed the verdict, emphasizing its importance in validating survivors of domestic abuse. Lisa King, a representative for Refuge, a charity supporting domestic violence survivors, stated, “This is an important ruling and one which we hope sends a very powerful message: Every single survivor of domestic abuse should be listened to and should be heard.”
Judge Nicol’s written judgement indicated that most of Heard’s allegations against Depp were proven to the civil standard. Depp’s legal representative, Jenny Afia, criticized the ruling as deeply flawed, suggesting it would be unreasonable for Depp not to appeal.
In addition to the libel case in the UK, Depp is suing Heard for defamation in the U.S. over an opinion piece she wrote for The Washington Post, which he claims resulted in his removal from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Heard’s attorney, Elaine Charlson Bredehoft, mentioned that they would be presenting additional evidence in the U.S. legal proceedings, asserting their commitment to seeking justice for Heard.
Heard has alleged that Depp repeatedly threatened her life and subjected her to various forms of physical abuse throughout their relationship.
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In summary, Johnny Depp’s libel case against The Sun resulted in a judge ruling that the claim of him being a “wife beater” was largely true, based on compelling evidence of his abusive behavior towards Amber Heard. This verdict has sparked discussions around domestic violence and the importance of believing survivors.
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