Johnny Depp celebrated his victory Wednesday after a jury in Fairfax, Virginia, awarded him $15 million in his defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard.
“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,” Depp said. “And six years later, the jury gave me my life back. I am truly humbled.”
The “Pirates of the Caribbean” actor sued Heard for $50 million, saying her 2018 Washington Post op-ed defamed him. She counter-sued for $100 million over comments made by Depp’s former lawyer calling her allegations a “hoax.”
After a nearly seven-week trial, jurors said the two actors defamed each other. However, Depp was the bigger winner. Jurors awarded the “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” actor $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million dollars in punitive damages. Although the judge in the case said Depp’s punitive damages would be capped, “In accordance with law, I will amend the award to the statutory cap of $350,000 for Depp’s award.” The jury said Heard should receive $2 million in compensatory damages but gave her zero for punitive damages.
Read Depp’s full statement about the verdict below:
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.
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, the jury gave me my life back. I am truly humbled.
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 case was 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.
I am, and have been, overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and the colossal support and kindness from around the world. I hope that my quest to have the truth be told will have helped others, men or women, who have found themselves in my situation, and that those supporting them never give up. I also hope that the position will now return to innocent until proven guilty, both within the courts and in the media.
I wish to acknowledge the noble work of the Judge, the jurors, the court staff and the Sheriffs who have sacrificed their own time to get to this point, and to my diligent and unwavering legal team who did an extraordinary job in helping me to share the truth.
The best is yet to come and a new chapter has finally begun.
Veritas numquam perit.
Truth never perishes.
