The highly viewed and discussed defamation trial between divorced star couple Johnny Depp and Amber Heard came to an end on June 1, with the court ruling mostly in favour of Depp. While memes and posts about the verdict are still flooding social media platforms, Depp and Amber are moving on in their respective lives at their own pace. Here’s what the Pirates of the Caribbean actor and the Aquaman actress have been up to since the verdict:
Johnny Depp is busy making music and partying with friends
Depp appeared to move on with his life even before the verdict of the defamation trial was out. He was absent from the court on the day that the verdict was read. He had instead been spotted over the weekend in the United Kingdom performing on stage with guitarist Jeff Beck. On the day of the verdict, he was spotted at a pub in Newcastle sharing drinks with friends and fans. Following the verdict, he released a public statement where he thanked the jury for giving him his life back.
In the weekend that followed the verdict, Depp, Beck and their entourage reportedly had a private dining experience at one of London’s luxury Indian restaurants. The group of 22 amassed a bill of around £50,000 (Rs. 48 lakhs approximately) at the Varanasi restaurant on Broad Street, London.
Aside from celebratory dinners and drinks, Depp swiftly began reclaiming his career. He announced that he is collaborating with Beck to create the album 18.
The Edward Scissorhands actor celebrated his 59th birthday by releasing the official music video of the lead single for his album- This is a Song for Miss Hedy Lamarr. The video has over 11 lakh views in over a week of its release on YouTube.
The actor also joined the popular short video platform, TikTok. Even before posting a video, he had over 3 million followers. He has since posted one video on the platform which has over 11 million likes and his follower numbers have crossed 14 million.
While he seems more focused on his music career, it remains unknown when he will return to the big screen.
Amber Heard continues to talk about the trial, goes shopping
While her former partner seemed to have moved on with life, Heard continues to struggle with the weight of the verdict.
The Pineapple Express actress released a statement on social media expressing her disappointment following the verdict. She and her legal team shared that they viewed the verdict as a setback for domestic abuse victims.
While her lawyer Elaine Charlson Bredehoft started appearing for interviews in the days following the ruling, Heard too started speaking publicly about the trial. Savannah Guthrie of NBC News conducted an exclusive interview with Heard.
In the interview, Heard told Guthrie that she continues to be fearful that Depp may sue her again. Speaking about her loss, she said that she was “not a likeable victim” and that even the most well-intentioned jury could not have avoided being influenced by social media posts which mostly were in support of Depp. She highlighted that the trial was humiliating and she was constantly threatened by the fans of her ex-husband.
Even though Heard continues to blame social media for swaying the verdict, one of the seven jurors spoke to ABC News’ Good Morning America revealing that social media had nothing to do with the verdict. The juror, who is one of the five male jurors, remained anonymous. He shared that some of the jurors did not have a Twitter account and those who used social media did not discuss it during deliberation. He instead said that the jury found Heard to be “disingenuous”.
During her interview with Guthrie, Heard shared that she still intended to pay off the money she had pledged to the American Civil Liberties Union and the Children's Hospital, Los Angeles. She also shared that she still feels love for her ex-husband even after the public trial and domestic violence claims.
Bredehoft had earlier claimed that the legal team will be appealing against the verdict. The actress did not deny or confirm the claims.
When asked what is next for her, Heard shared that she is happy that she will get to focus on raising her daughter, Oonagh Paige Heard. She did not share much about her career.
On June 16, Heard was reportedly spotted shopping with her sister, Whitney Heard Henriquez, who was one of the star’s witnesses during the trial. The two were seen shopping at TJ Maxx, a discount department store chain in Bridgehampton, New York.
Bonus: What is Camille Vasquez doing?
Aside from the central figures in the trial, it was Depp’s lawyer Camille Vasquez who caught the attention of netizens. Those tuning in for the trial were highly impressed by the 37-year-old legal professional. While representing the actor, Vasquez was an associate at the Brown Rudnick law firm. Her role in the courtroom success earned her a spot as a partner at the law firm.
Vasquez and Depp will once more be seen returning to court together. Vasquez and Brown Rudnick partner Randall Smith will defend the Ed Wood actor in a personal injury lawsuit filed against him. The location manager of the movie City of Lies, Gregg Brooks, has sued Depp for reportedly punching him.
