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- A Fairfax, Virginia court ruled in favor of Johnny Depp in his defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard.
- Heard took to social media to release a statement about the court’s ruling.
- The actress implied that Depp’s “power and influence” is why he won the case.
Almost immediately after news broke that the jury had sided with her ex-husband Johnny Depp in his defamation lawsuit against her, Amber Heard took to Twitter to release an official statement about the ruling, saying she was “heartbroken” by the court’s decision.
The jury delivered its verdict on Wednesday afternoon after beginning deliberations the previous Friday, leading the court to order Heard to pay Depp $15 million in damages.
Amber Heard releases statement on jury ruling in Johnny Depp’s favor in the defamation lawsuit
“The disappointment I feel today is beyond words. 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,” Heard’s statement begins.
“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. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously.”
Heard’s statement then transitioned to Depp’s legal team, which she believed caused the jury to “overlook the key issue of Freedom of Speech and ignore evidence”:
“I believe Johnny’s attorneys succeeded in getting the jury to overlook the key issue of Freedom of Speech and ignore evidence that was so conclusive that we won in the UK,” Heard’s statement continues.
“I’m sad I lost this case. But I am sadder still that I seem to have lost a right I thought I had as an American – to speak freely and openly.”
https://twitter.com/realamberheard/status/1532083776741842945
Depp, who previously testified that Heard’s allegations cost him to “lose everything”, said in a post-ruling statement that the jury has “given him his life back.”
RELATED: Johnny Depp Releases Heartfelt Statement Following Defamation Lawsuit Victory Over Amber Heard