On June 2, 2022, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled in favor of actor Johnny Depp in his lawsuit against his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard. The judge awarded Depp $15 million in damages, including $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. Heard was awarded $2 million.
The lawsuit stemmed from Depp’s allegations that Heard had defamed him in a 2018 op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post. In the op-ed, Heard did not mention Depp by name, but he claimed it was clear she was referring to him. Depp alleged that Heard had falsely accused him of domestic abuse and that her claims had damaged his reputation and career.
Heard denied the allegations and argued that the op-ed was protected by the First Amendment. She also filed a countersuit against Depp, claiming that he had abused her during their marriage.
The judge ruled in favor of Depp, finding that Heard’s op-ed was not protected by the First Amendment and that her claims had damaged his reputation. The judge also noted that Depp had provided evidence of Heard’s abuse of him, including photographs of bruises and other injuries.
The judge’s ruling is the conclusion of a long and bitter legal battle between Depp and Heard. The ruling is a major victory for Depp, who has seen his career suffer due to the allegations. It is also a reminder that false accusations of domestic abuse can have serious consequences.