Amber HeardAfter the jury returned a verdict in her defamation prosecution against her, she sat down to her first interview. Johnny DeppShe responded to many of her accusations in court and on the internet.
“It’s surreal and difficult,” the AquamanThe 36-year-old actress explained her reasons during a Tuesday appearance on the TodayRespond to, show Savannah Guthrie‘s question about whether the verdict had sunk in yet. “In part, yes. This has been a long time coming.”
Though the jury ruled that Heard had defamed her ex-husband, 59, the Texas native told Guthrie, 50, that she will “stand by every word of” her testimony until her “dying day.”
Depp sued Magic Mike XXLStar for defamation regarding a 2018 Op-Ed she wrote The Washington PostShe described herself as a survivor from domestic abuse in the essay. Heard didn’t mention the Oscar nominee by name, but he claimed that the essay damaged his reputation and career prospects. (The outlet has since added an editor’s note to the article about the trial results.)
After several weeks of testimony, a Virginia jury ruled Depp in favor and awarded him $10.35million in damages. In her counterclaim against Finding Neverland star Heard, Heard was also awarded $2,000,000 in compensatory damages.
Despite her loss at court, the Justice LeagueActress repeated her claim that Depp was abusive during their marriage. “He says he never hit you. Is that a lie?” Guthrie asked on Tuesday. Heard replied, “Yes, it is.”
The Stand alum also addressed comments by Depp’s lawyer Camille Vasquez, who called Heard’s testimony “the performance of her life” in April.
“Says the lawyer for the man who convinced the world he had scissors for fingers?” the Her Smell star quipped, referring to Depp’s role in the 1990 film Edward Scissorhands. “I’m the performer? I had listened to weeks of testimony insinuating that — or saying quite directly — that I’m a terrible actress. So, I’m a bit confused how I could be both.”
Heard went on say she “absolutely” understands why observers at home might not feel any sympathy for her or Depp following the trial. “I would not blame the average person for looking at this and how it’s been covered and not think that it is Hollywood brats at their worst,” she said. “But what people don’t understand is it’s actually so much bigger than that.”
Heard said that the trial had ended earlier in the month. Us Weekly in a statement that she felt disappointment “beyond words” following the verdict.
“I’m heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of my ex-husband,” she continued. “I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. It is a setback. It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated.”
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