Following one of the most intense and undeniably interesting court trials ever, the jury convicted both Amber Heard and Johnny Depp responsible for slander in their claims against one other. Depp, on the other hand, was given much higher damages by the court, resulting in a judicial victory for the actor. Depp received $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, while Heard received $2 million in compensatory damages and no punitive penalties. According to CNN Legal Analyst Joey Jackson, this ruling was a huge legal success for Depp and a rebuke for Heard. Here’s how Depp could be affected by the impact of the debacle:
Related: “Stop Preaching”: Fans Call Out Amber Heard on Setback for Women’s Statement After Trial Loss
The verdict’s effects on Amber Heard and Johnny Depp:
Depp has a leg up on the competition, thanks to the court ruling stated above. “Depp has a hill to climb. Heard has a mountain to climb,” said Eric Dezenhall, a Washington-based crisis manager. “If Depp keeps his expectations proportional and understands that he’s unlikely to hit his former heights, he can have a solid career if he takes things slowly. After all, he was vindicated in court, not declared a saint”. The difficulty for Heard, according to Dezenhall, is that some think she misused and maybe ruined a noble cause like #MeToo. Some legal experts also feel that Depp’s decision to sue, despite the fact that it involved raking his and Heard’s personal lives through the dirt, was a last-ditch effort to boost his celebrity power.
Can Depp survive this to become an A-list star again?
Depp, who had just been married for 15 months, sued Heard for $50 million over the op-ed in The Washington Post. Although the judgment went in Depp’s favor, does any verdict have the authority to overturn trial accusations? Of Depp as a physically and sexually aggressive alcoholic and drug addict in his later years? Or of Heard, who has been described as insane and capable of creating wounds purportedly given by the man with whom she said she lived without love?
On one hand, Depp’s fandom is still strong. On the other hand, Depp and Heard require the crisis-averse studio machines to earn large money, and both require rehabilitation. Danny Deraney, a crisis PR expert who has worked with several of Hollywood’s #MeToo victims, claims that males are more likely than women to find new jobs in the entertainment sector. Furthermore, Danielle Lindemann, an associate professor of sociology at Lehigh University who studies gender, sexuality, and culture, believes Depp’s capacity to make big has already been harmed, either as a result of his own self-destruction or the consequences of Heard’s charges.
It might take years to find out whether Depp’s lawsuit will lead to his comeback to acting as an A-lister. The trial that drew worldwide notice, however, might be a forerunner for people and businesses facing real threats to their identities and careers.
Related: Amber Heard Lawyer Blames Cameras, Social Media For Losing to Johnny Depp
