May the plot thicken
A two-part documentary about Johnny Depp’s defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard will be released September 19 on Discovery+.
Titled Johnny vs Amber: The US Trial, the documentary features interviews with Depp’s lawyers, legal experts and journalists, along with behind-the-scenes footage amid the trial which was held between April and June this year.
Watch the trailer here:
“With intimate access to Johnny Depp’s lawyers, legal experts and journalists, the series gives a forensic account of the key evidence and turning points of the case from both sides, allowing viewers to make up their own minds about who to believe,” read the synopsis.
The teaser shows the doc take a look at the testimony of both parties during the trial, which took place in Virginia this summer and ultimately saw Depp win and gain the backing of the public.
Depp sued Heard for defamation over a 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post, where she wrote about being a survivor of domestic violence. While his name isn’t mentioned in the piece, Depp’s lawyers argued it falsely implies she was sexually and physically abused by him in their marriage. Heard filed a counterclaim, arguing he created a smear campaign against her.
In the trailer we see the court being told of a text from Depp which read: “She’s begging for total global humiliation.”
It is also claimed that the strongest part of Heard’s case was that Depp wasn’t always conscious of his own actions due to substance abuse.
“I’m not proud of any of the language that I’ve used,” Depp said in another scene from the court.
Heard later says: “I’ve received thousands of death threats since this trial started, people mocking my testimony about being assaulted.
“I just want them to leave me alone.”
The trial concluded in June with the jury siding with Depp, who was awarded $10million (£8million) in compensatory damages and $5million in punitive damages. Heard was awarded $2million for her counterclaim against Depp.
After the trial, Heard announced that she would be appealing the verdict via a spokesperson.
