Despite Losing UK Libel Case, Johnny Depp Wrote Personal Thank You Notes, Handed Out Dozens of Gift Packs To Every Fan Who Supported Him on Final Day of Trial

Johnny Depp has spent more time in court than on set in recent months, as the actor has been entangled in several legal conflicts. Some have been outright hostile to his ex-wife Amber Heard, while others have just included her. One of the latter lawsuits was filed against The Sun newspaper in the United Kingdom, which branded Depp a “wife-beater” in its columns.

The argument centered on The Sun’s use of the phrase “wife-beater” to describe Depp in a 2018 article. The newspaper then summoned Depp’s ex-wife, Amber Heard, to testify. During their relationship, the actress accused the Pirates of the Caribbean actor of abuse.

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Johnny Depp gives handwritten notes to his well-wishers

Depp has always denied slapping her across the face, among other claimed crimes, and has instead blamed Heard for any physical misconduct.  Regardless of what happened during their two-year marriage, Depp has been thrust into the spotlight at a time when Hollywood is grappling with sexual harassment. This, in turn, has had an impact on his career.

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For example, Disney is developing a new Pirates of the Caribbean film without Depp reprising his most renowned character, Captain Jack Sparrow. However, fans of Johnny Depp never gave up hope. Every day during the UK trial, they flooded him with affection, flowers, gifts, plushies, and notes. Depp’s staff members distributed dozens of gift packets with handwritten thank you letters on the final day.

What was the verdict of the UK Libel case?

Despite successfully proving aspects of a libel claim, Depp’s case against The Sun was finally dropped because the jury deemed the publication’s comments about the actor to be “substantially true” after hearing Heard’s testimony. 

Needless to say, this was a significant victory not only for The Sun but for publishers in general, while it will have a negative impact on Depp as he pursues his other legal challenges.

“This claim is dismissed,” the court stated in its decision. “The claimant has not succeeded in his action for libel. Although he has proved the necessary elements of his cause of action in libel, the defendants have shown that what they published in the meaning which I have held the words to bear was substantially true.” 

‘I have reached these conclusions having examined in detail the 14 incidents on which the defendants rely as well as the overarching considerations which the claimant submitted I should take into account. In those circumstances, Parliament has said that a defendant has a complete defense.”

This unsuccessful verdict was expected to be the focus of Johnny Depp’s defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard when it went to trial in Virginia. Depp has sued his ex-wife, claiming that an op-ed she penned in The Washington Post in which she spoke of abuse she has endured (without ever mentioning Depp’s name) cost him his job as Captain Jack Sparrow in the lucrative Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

Also Read: “We were worried”: Johnny Depp’s Lawyers Admit They Were Worried About Losing Trial Against Amber Heard After the Aquaman Star Convinced the Jury of Her “Lies”

Despite the fact that the Pirates of the Caribbean actor has recently won the defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard. He can now relax following all the trips to the court over the last two years.

Source: THR