Johnny Depp has spoken out after the jury reached a verdict in his high-profile defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard.
On Wednesday, after just under three days of deliberations, the jury ruled in the Hollywood A-lister’s favor and awarded the actor $15 million in compensatory and punitive damages.
Later, however, the judge reduced the $5 million in punitive damages to $350,000 – the maximum in the state of Virginia – bringing the total to $10.35 million. If we take into calculation the $2 million Depp was ordered to pay Heard in compensatory damages, this means the actor will be walking away with $8.35 million in total.
Following the verdict, Johnny Depp issued a statement thanking the jury for giving him his life back.
“Six years ago, my life, the life of my children, the lives of those closest to me, and also, the lives of the people who for many, many years have supported and believed in me were forever changed,” Depp wrote.
“And six years later, the jury gave me my life back. I am truly humbled.”
Depp, who was not present at the Fairfax courthouse as the verdict was read out due to work commitments, is expected to celebrate in the UK amid his tour with rock guitarist Jeff Beck.
Present in the court at the time of the announcement, however, was Amber Heard who has since expressed her disappointment over the verdict.
“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,” she said in a statement.
“I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. It is 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.”
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