Why Is Amber Heard Getting 2 Million Dollars If Johnny Depp Won Defamation Case?

Pirates Of The Caribbean actor Johnny Depp won his defamation case against ex-spouse and former co-star, Amber Heard. Depp, 58, was awarded 10.4 million dollars in compensatory damages and five million dollars in punitive damages and Heard, 36, was given 2 million dollars. 

Following a six-week trial, the Virginia jury found that Heard defamed Depp in a 2008 op-ed written in The Washington Post in which she described herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse.” Although Depp's name was not mentioned in the article, it was damaging to his reputation and career. Jurors have also held that both the actors defamed each other in public statements.

Johnny Depp Amber Heard trial verdict

In civil courts, the plaintiffs are awarded compensation for their pain and suffering so that they are able to recoup losses after an incident. Reimbursed by compensatory damages, the plaintiff, who has experienced actual losses will be able to cope with the damages caused. Defendants are given corrective damages for their negligent actions so that they are deterred from committing the same infringement again.

Suggested Reading: Grotesque Defamation Trial: Johnny Depp Accuses Amber Heard Of Defecating In His Bed

Depp was awarded 10 million dollars as compensatory damages and punitive damages of 5 million dollars. According to a BBC report, in order to meet Virginia’s statutory limit for punitive damage awards, Judge Penney Azcarate reduced the latter amount to $ 350,000, which means, Heard owes him around $ 10.4 million. 

However, Heard was awarded $ 2 million in compensatory damages without any punitive damage. She had earlier demanded $100 million in her counter-suit against Depp. The jury awarded her the amount because Depp's lawyers had tried to defame her as well by claiming that she roughed up the couple's apartment to make it look worse for police. Depp’s lawyer had given a statement to the Daily Mail in 2020. 

The jury in Virginia Court sided with Depp’s part of the story. According to its verdict, the panel of judges held that Depp was defamed with “false” claims about their relationship. The statements were made with “actual malice” which resulted from negligence and recklessness on Heard’s end, as maintained by the jury. 

While Depp’s net worth is currently estimated at about $150 million, Heard made a name for herself in movies like The Danish Girl and Aquaman, whose sequel is yet to release. She will be receiving $2 million from Depp. She said she was “disappointed with what this verdict means for other women.”