Amber Heard has scrapped a key member of her legal team and brought in 2 new attorneys…
This comes as the actress is currently appealing the Johnny Depp verdict.
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Depp recently won the highly publicized domestic abuse trial against his ex-girlfriend, Amber Heard.
But it doesn’t seem like the trials are over entirely.
Back then, Depp released a statement saying the jury had given him his life back.
Heard can’t exactly say the same.
At first, this coupling seemed to be at the start of a promising relationship.
After meeting on the set of The Rum Diary in 2011, the actor started dating Texan actress and model, Amber Heard, shortly after calling it quits with his long-term partner, Vanessa Paradis.
They announced their engagement in 2014…
And, not ones to waste any time, they hastily tied the knot just one year later in February 2015.
However, it was here when things started to go a little ship-shaped.
Their honeymoon period was rather short-lived as, just months after their marriage, Depp reportedly suffered a hand injury as a result of “smashing bottles and windows” during a heated argument with his wife.
For the next year, various reports of abuse between the pair continued to surface…
So it came as no shock when Heard filed for divorce in March 2016, just fifteen months after the couple had initially exchanged their “I do”s.
At first, the divorce seemed unsuspicious…
Many news outlets reported that Heard had cited “irreconcilable differences” while filing the divorce petition.
But, only a few months into their separation…
Heard filed a restraining order against Depp, claiming that he had previously assaulted her.
It was a big allegation to make…
So people were confused when Heard retracted her allegations just one day before the hearing was due to be held.
But this didn’t stop the world from turning against Depp.
Heard had alleged that the actor had hit her on several occasions, and even provided video footage of him flinging a glass of wine across the room in a fit of rage.
And, in 2018, the actress penned an article for The Washington Post where she opened up about her experience with domestic abuse and violence.
Though she didn’t explicitly name Depp in her op-ed, she did allude to the time period when, “two years ago, I became a public figure representing domestic abuse, and I felt the full force of our culture’s wrath for women who speak out.”
There was an outpour of support for Heard…
Who was even made the American Civil Liberties Union’s “Ambassador for Women’s Issues.”
And, despite profusely denying all the allegations against him…
Depp found his career taking a hit as a result of the ongoing scandal.
Fewer and fewer directors were hiring Depp for roles…
And his appearance in J.K Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts sequel, The Crimes of Grindelwald, was heavily criticized.
And, in 2018, he was dropped from his iconic role as Captain Jack Sparrow.
In a career-shattering announcement just 4 days after Heard’s damning article, Disney announced that the actor would no longer be a part of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
But then, there was a sudden change in events.
Depp filed a $50-million defamation case against Heard and presented evidence that he was the one on the receiving end of the abuse, not the other way around.
Shockingly, the actor alleged that he was the victim all along.
Depp’s defamation lawsuit read: “The op-ed [Heard’s article] depended on the central premise that Ms. Heard was a domestic abuse victim and that Mr. Depp perpetrated domestic violence against her.”
The lawsuit also stated that all of Heard’s claims were “categorically and demonstrably false”…
And listed down incidents of Heard’s alleged abuse since the start of their marriage, including punching and kicking, as well as staging her attacks.
The allegations are difficult to read.
“She hit, punched, and kicked me. She also repeatedly and frequently threw objects into my body and head, including heavy bottles, soda cans, burning candles, television remote controls, and paint thinner cans, which severely injured me.” His lawsuit read.
And, to tarnish the actress’ reputation and credibility even further…
Audio obtained by the Daily Mail was released that heard her admitting to attacking Depp.
The case was grueling…
Depp then went to court for his libel case against The Sun newspaper – whom he is suing over a 2018 article in which he was described as a “wife-beater.”
The pair were in court as part of the 3-week long trial.
While in court, both parties played pretty dirty, revealing compromising photographs of each other which have blown everything out of the water, yet again. And of course with the evidence came more allegations.
Despite this, Depp lost the case, which was a massive loss, and terrible for the actor’s name…
So he decided to try once more to clear his name.
Depp and his legal team were determined to prove that the pictures Heard shared in the case were forged…
To make it look like he was repeatedly abusing her, when in fact, according to Depp it was the other way around.
As per Page Six, lawyers working on the case claim that Heard altered photos making her appear to have 2 black eyes…
Alleging she was attacked by him in 2015.
Depp’s lawyer, Benjamin Chew claimed: “Ms. Heard’s counsel has repeatedly used these phony photographs at deposition.”
He also shared that he believes the LA Police Department “disavowed the photographs” that were previously given to the court and “did not depict what they saw.”
Chew revealed that the LAPD “found no injury upon Ms. Heard and no disruption to the penthouses” upon inspection…
“Ms. Heard and her friends then fabricated photos that she used to obtain an ex parte TRO [temporary restraining order] and a $7 million divorce settlement which Ms. Heard falsely testified in London she gave to the ACLU and, more scandalously, to the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles; sick children with cancer,” he added.
Chew concluded that someone “doctored those photographs.”
“So, Ms. Heard or someone on her behalf doctored those photographs three years later. When that came up in her testimony in London, Ms. Heard falsely denied it. In short, Your Honour, without forensic imaging Mr Neumeister cannot properly assess or verify Ms. Heard’s data,” Chew added.
Depp set up a lawsuit against Heard for defamation, claiming that his reputation has been tarnished because of the things she had said during their battle.
And Heard decided to countersue him, which is why so many big names have been dragged into the case, such as Kate Moss, Paul Bettany, and Elon Musk.
Depp took to the stand on April 19, where he discussed standing up for his children and denied striking Heard in any way.
And people rallied in support of the actor.
Depp took to the stand at Fairfax County courthouse where he described Heard’s claims as “heinous and disturbing,” LADbible reports.
He said that her allegations were “criminal acts against me that were not based in any species of truth.”
Depp went on to deny striking Heard and any woman in his life.
“Never did I myself reach the point of striking Miss Heard in anyway, nor have I ever struck any woman in my life,” he told the court. “Since I knew there was no truth to it whatsoever, I felt it my responsibility to stand up, not only for myself in that instance, but stand up for my children.”
Depp then further detailed the effect that the allegations had on his children.
“I thought it was diabolical that my children would have to go to school and have their friends or people in the school approach them with the infamous People Magazine cover with Miss Heard with a dark bruise on her face,” he said.
Describing himself as a “very private person,” the actor said that for him “to come up here and sit before you all and spill the truth is quite exposing, and it’s unfortunate that it’s not only exposing for myself, it’s exposing for my family, it’s exposing for Miss Heard, it never had to go in this direction.”
He also added that his goal is “the truth” and that he isn’t embarrassed because “I know I’m doing the right thing.”
Depp returned to the stand where he revealed more about his time spent with his ex-wife, Amber Heard.
There have been admissions about his severed finger, audio recordings of fights, and text messages revealing horrific desires.
Depp took to the stand for his final testimony on Tuesday 26, and he got a lot of support online.
Fans were vocal in backing Depp for being wholeheartedly himself, which is something many felt was Heard’s downfall.
Heard then took to the stand once more, where she brought up how the trial with Depp has affected not only her career but her mental health too.
She claimed she’s been “harassed, humiliated, threatened every single day” since the defamation trial began.
“People want to kill me and they tell me so every day,” Heard said.
Depp’s lawyer, Camile Vasquez, then spoke of Heard’s alleged lies during the cross-examination, getting into a heated crossfire with her.
And in the final few days, before the trial came to an end, Heard’s lawyers also went to the extremes, trying to prove that Depp is a violent man.
After the world heard the final arguments from both sides, the jury was in charge of weighing up the truth.
And they finally made their decision.
After weeks of evidence, the jury decided that Depp won the defamation case.
Depp was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages, as well as $5 million in punitive damages, according to BBC News.
This was obviously a huge blow to Heard.
Who still believes she should have won the trial.
Now, Amber Heard is speaking out.
Sitting down for an exclusive interview with Savannah Guthrie of NBC News, the star spoke out for the first time against the trial verdict.
Heard passionately stated that the involvement of social media throughout the trial was ‘not fair’.
“Even somebody who is sure I’m deserving of all this hate and vitriol, even if you think that I’m lying, you still couldn’t tell me — look me in the eye and tell me — that you think on social media there’s been a fair representation,” Heard said during the interview, as per TODAY. “You cannot tell me that you think that this has been fair.”
When asked about the jury not believing her testimony and the evidence provided, Heard let out her confusion, but also gave surprising empathy for the jury.
“I don’t blame them. I understand. I actually understand. He’s a beloved character, and people feel they know him,” Heard continued. “He’s a fantastic actor.”
But, the jury isn’t the only people she’s mentioned in her interview because she quickly came under fire for slamming those who testified for Depp.
Talking of the people who testified for Depp, she said that they were “randos.”
Many people took to social media almost immediately after…
“Amber Heard calling witnesses including Kate Moss randos is the funniest and most offensive sh*t I saw today. You are not helping yourself here,” one person said.
“‘How could they make a judgment?’ That is what they were there for amber? Do you not know how that works?” somebody else questioned sarcastically.
“Amber Heard: ‘I heard that JD pushed Kate Moss down the stairs’ Kate Moss: ‘That never happened’ Amber Heard: ‘what’s with all these randos? Why’d she testify?'” somebody else joked.
In the interview, Heard talked about the fact the jury didn’t believe her…
In a preview of the interview, NBC News‘ Guthrie said: “The jury looked at the evidence you presented, they listened to your testimony and they did not believe you. They thought you were lying.”
Heard made it clear in her response that she thinks Depp’s acting was the reason she lost…
Heard said of the jurors: “How could they make a judgment? How could they not come to that conclusion? They had sat in those seats and heard over three weeks of nonstop, relentless testimony from paid employees and towards the end of trial, randos, as I say.”
Savannah also brought up the First Amendment, a right Heard believes she lost as a result of the verdict.
“Here’s the thing about the First Amendment: The First Amendment protects free speech. It doesn’t protect lies that amount to defamation, and that was the issue in the case,” Savannah told Heard.
“And that’s all I spoke. And I spoke it to power,” Heard replied.
“And I paid the price.”
In the first half of the interview Heard has stated that “To my dying day (I) will stand by every word of my testimony.”
Speaking to Heard, Savannah brought up some of the audio recordings used against her in the trial, “I am looking at a transcript that says — he says, ‘You start physical fights,’ And you say, ‘I did start a physical fight. I can’t promise you I won’t get physical again,’” Savannah said, adding: “This is in black and white. I understand context. But you’re testifying, and you’re telling me today, ‘I never started a physical fight,’ and here you are on tape saying you did.”
Amber replied: “As I testified on the stand about this, is that when your life is at risk, not only will you take the blame for things that you shouldn’t take the blame for.
“But when you’re in an abusive dynamic, psychologically, emotionally and physically, you don’t have the resources that, say, you or I do, with the luxury of saying, ‘Hey, this is black and white,’” she replied.
“Because it’s anything but when you’re living in it.”
Savannah then said: “You’re testifying and you’re telling me today, ‘I never started a physical fight,’ and here you are on tape saying you did.”
Heard replies, telling her that “20-second clips or the transcripts of them are not representative of the two or three hours [they] are an excerpt from.”
Her comments have been met with backlash, and that’s exactly what she’s worried about when it comes to speaking out.
Savannah asked Heard if she was “nervous, as we are here today, about what you can say?”
Heard replied: “Of course, I took for granted, what I assumed was my right to speak.”
Savannah then asked if she was worried Depp would sue her again for speaking with her.
And people have a lot to say about her reply…
One Facebook user wrote: “Luckily for her, I don’t think he’ll give her a second thought now he’s cleared his name. Unlike her, his goal wasn’t anything to do with punishing her or destroying her career, it was purely about reclaiming his life and career that she tried to destroy.”
Another commented: “Maybe keep his name out of your mouth and move on with life if you don’t want him suing you again… just a thought”
Responding to Savannah, Heard said: “No matter what I say, or how I say it – every step that I take will present another opportunity for this sort of silencing, which is what, I guess, a defamation lawsuit is meant to do.”
She added that the defamation lawsuit is meant to “take your voice.”
Savannah then asked her: “There’s a text message where Johnny promises total global humiliation for you. Do you feel like that came true?”
“I know he promised it, I testified to this,” Heard said. “I’m not a good victim, I get it. I’m not a likable victim, I’m not a perfect victim, but when I testified I asked the jury to just see me as human and hear his own words, which is a promise to do this. It feels as though he has.”
When the full interview came out on Dateline, shared alleged texts from Heard to her father and therapist were released.
In one text dated 16 December 2015, Heard wrote to who she claims was her therapist: “Johnny did a number on me tonight. I’m safe and with my support tonight but I need some real help. Can I come tomorrow. I called earlier because I thought I had a concussion and didn’t know if I should have called police. But I have a nurse close to me.”
In another message, which was reportedly sent to Heard’s father, she wrote:
“I keep not fighting back. He literally kicked me and called me a ***** in front of everyone on the plane. It’s humiliating.”
Many followers of the trial and subsequent fallout are continuing to claim that it’s time for Amber Heard to just admit defeat.
Since the full interview has come out, Depp’s reps released a statement about her comments.
It reads: “It’s unfortunate that while Johnny is looking to move forward with his life, the defendant and her team are back to repeating, reimagining, and re-litigating matters that have already been decided by the Court and a verdict that was unanimously and unequivocally decided by a jury in Johnny’s favor.”
However, it seems Heard’s reps have seen this message and shared a response.
They apparently want Depp to give an interview too.
And even suggested he sit down with Savannah “for an hour.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Heard’s reps then responded to the statement, saying:
“If Mr. Depp or his team have a problem with this, we recommend that Johnny himself sit down with Savannah Guthrie for an hour and answer all her questions.”
Since then, Heard has been thrust back into the spotlight, with numerous articles emerging claiming she wants a re-trial.
Documents, which were filed in Virginia on Friday 8 July, claim that the wrong person served on the jury at the recent defamation trial.
They claim that the 52-year-old was on the jury for the entirety of the court case and are asking for the verdict to be rendered invalid as a result of this.
The document reads: “Based on newly discovered facts and information that Juror No. 15 was not the individual summoned for jury duty on April 11, 2022, and therefore was not part of the jury panel and could not have properly served on the jury at this trial. Therefore, a mistrial should be declared and a new trial ordered.
“In this case, the Jury Panel List included an individual named [redacted] with a listed Date of Birth of [redacted], 1945 residing in [redacted], Virginia.”
“This means the individual would have been 77 years old at the time of trial… The 52-year-old sitting on the jury for six weeks was never summoned for jury duty on April 11 and did not appear in the list as required.”
As a result of this, Heard’s team are hoping for the trial to be rendered invalid so that another trial will take place.
If Heard’s plans aren’t successful it’s believed she’ll have to pay Johnny Depp around $8M in damages.
But her insurance company have recently revealed that they will likely not be paying the damages entirely.
Now, Depp’s legal team are urging a Virginia judge to put his $10 million defamation case to rest for once and for all.
This comes after Heard’s lawyers asked the judge to “set aside” the verdict on multiple grounds — calling the jury’s verdict “nonsensical and unfounded,” as per the Daily Mail.
But that’s not all, it has been reported that Heard’s lawyers framed the verdict as an “apparent case of mistaken identity” of one of the jurors.
They claimed that a seventy-seven-year-old man was summoned for jury duty, but instead, a fifty-two-year-old was replaced by him.
Heard’s lawyers then went on to dispute that the man shared “the same last name and address.”
And was therefore “improperly seated for the six-week trial.”
But Depp’s lawyers fired back and said their complaints were “irrelevant.”
And they gave a befitting response in a statement they released.
“Ms. Heard’s desperate, after-the-fact demand for an investigation of Juror 15 based on a purported error in his birth date is… misplaced… Moreover, Ms. Heard’s argument is based on pure speculation,” read the statement.
Depp’s legal team requested the court to reject Heard’s plea for a retrial.
“For all the reasons set forth above, Mr. Depp respectfully requests that this Court deny Ms. Heard’s frivolous Motion in its entirety and reject her outlandish requests to set aside the jury verdict, dismiss the Complaint, or, in the alternative, order a new trial, and investigate Juror 15.”
They even went on to argue that if Heard’s team had concerns, they should have spoken about it at the time.
They also clarified that “the man who served was not 77 years old, even though court paperwork described him as such.”
And it’s not the first time Depp’s legal team has slammed Heard, as we all know.
As previously, the star’s attorney Ben Chew said: “While Ms. Heard slings an exceptional amount of mud at the wall in the hope that something might stick, the jury’s verdict on damages was perfectly reasonable and supported by the evidence and testimony in the case.”
However, the Virginia judge is yet to indicate if another hearing will take place.
The latest news however is that the case between Depp and Heard does not seem to be over.
The court ruled that Depp must pay Heard $2 million in damages after a counterclaim brought by Heard against one of Depp’s lawyers was also upheld.
Depp’s team are now chasing an appeal themselves, disputing the $2 million dollars he has been ordered to pay Heard.
They filed the claim on Friday, in a document which reads: “Plaintiff and counterclaim-defendant John C Depp II, by counsel, hereby appeals to the court of appeals of Virginia from all adverse rulings and from the final judgment order of this circuit court entered on June 24, 2022.”
Will it ever end?
Probably not, as Johnny Depp’s lawyer has now opened up like never before…
Talking about why Depp filed an appeal against his ex-wife Amber Heard’s own appeal…
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In other news, a source close to Depp, revealed to PEOPLE that the appeal was an ‘overwhelmingly positive verdict” for the Pirates of the Caribbean actor…
They also told the media outlet that both parties should “move on with their lives and heal.”
And that’s not all, the insider revealed some juicy details about how Depp’s legal team will definitely not back out if Heard decides to target the actor again.
“But if Ms. Heard is determined to pursue further litigation by appealing the verdict, Mr. Depp is filing a concurrent appeal to ensure that the full record and all relevant legal issues are considered by the Court of Appeal,” concluded the source.
And well, Camille Vasquez hasn’t backed out from opening up about heard’s second appeal…
In the conversation with Gayle King, aired on CBS Mornings, Vasquez said Heard’s appeal “was expected” from Depp’s legal team…
As the Aquaman actress “indicated” she had lost the trial she was going to appeal.
King then asked Vasquez if she and her legal team “had a plan of strategy” the lawyer said:
“Absolutely.”
“Mr. Depp ended up filing his own appeal, so that the court could have the full record.”
“And [Heard] insists on continuing to litigate this matter, and we have to protect our client’s interest,” she said.
But that’s not all, as the lawyer expressed the fact that “both parties should now move on…”
“We just are hopeful that the court will uphold the verdict, which we think was the right verdict, and allow both parties to move on,” revealed Vasquez.
She was then asked if Heard hadn’t appealed they would have, the smart lawyer quickly replied and said: “Yes. That’s a very fair statement.”
While Vasquez noted that their appeal in retaliation was the “standard legal procedure,” the lawyer also stated firmly that the case was ‘never about the money” for the actor.
“This was never about the money for Mr. Depp.”
“But in order to protect his interests, as his representative, we have to respond to the appeal with his own appeal,” said the attorney.
On Monday, a spokesperson for Heard said she hired new attorneys, David L. Axelrod and Jay Ward Brown of the law firm Ballard Spahr, to lead her counsel.
Ben Rottenborn will continue to represent Heard as co-counsel. However, Elaine Charlson Bredhefort has announced that she is stepping down from the case.
Before Bredhefort stepped down from the case, she left a few words…
“This is the perfect time to pass the baton. I have pledged to Amber and her appellate team my complete cooperation and assistance as they move forward on a path towards success,” she said.
Axelrod and Brown have a good track record as lawyers.
Earlier this year, both attorneys successfully defended The New York Times against a defamation lawsuit by Sarah Palin.
Both of the attorneys said in a joint statement: “We welcome the opportunity to represent Ms. Heard in this appeal as it is a case with important First Amendment implications for every American.”
They added: “We’re confident the appellate court will apply the law properly without deference to popularity, reverse the judgment against Ms. Heard, and reaffirm the fundamental principles of Freedom of Speech.”
“A different court warrants different representation, particularly as so much new evidence is now coming to light,” said a spokesperson for the actress.
What do you think about Heard hiring a new team?