Amber Heard Reportedly ‘Heartbroken’ by Trial Verdict: “It’s A Setback for Women”

Amber Heard has issued her first comment after a jury decided on Wednesday that she slandered Johnny Depp, her ex-husband. Following the #MeToo movement, the actress, who is 36 years old, referred to the judgment as a “setback” for women, according to Page Six.

“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 said. “I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women,” she continued, noting it was 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.”

She added, “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. 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.”

After a lengthy trial that lasted for six weeks in Fairfax, Virginia, the jury of seven people deliberated for a total of thirteen hours.

The 58-year-old actor most known for his role in “Pirates of the Caribbean” was not present in the courtroom when the decision was announced. “Due to previously scheduled work commitments made before the trial, Mr. Depp will not be physically present for today’s 3 p.m. verdict and will be watching from the United Kingdom,” a source said.

In an opinion piece published by the Washington Post in 2018, Depp’s ex-wife referred to herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse.” In 2019, Depp filed a lawsuit against his ex-wife for $50 million.

Heard responded with a countersuit in the amount of $100 million in 2020, stating that her image had been damaged as a result of public claims made by Adam Waldman, the attorney for Depp, that she had invented her accusations of domestic violence against Depp.

It was up to the jury to decide whether or not certain portions in the 2018 piece defamed Depp and whether or not Heard behaved with “actual malice,” and they found that she did, awarding Depp 15$ million.