Johnny Depp: All the celebrities who supported the Pirates of the Caribbean star during Amber Heard trial
Winona Ryder, Javier Bardem and Sia were among the famous figures to voice support for Depp during the six-week trial
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The Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard defamation trial has been one of the most talked-about news events in years.
Depp sued Heard for $50m (£40.1m) for allegedly implying he abused her in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed. Although she didn’t name him, he claims her allegations impacted his ability to work (an expert speaking at the trial this week asserted that the op-ed had basically no impact on Depp’s career).
Heard had filed a countersuit accusing Depp of allegedly orchestrating a “smear campaign” against her and describing his own lawsuit as a continuation of “abuse and harassment”.
On Wednesday (1 June), the jury shared their verdicts, finding that Heard had defamed Depp on all three counts.
She was demanded to award him $10m (£8m) in compensatory damages and $5m (£4m) in punitive damages. Heard was found to have a partial win in her case and was awarded $2m (£1.6m) in compensatory damages, but no punitive damages.
Over the course of proceedings – and Depp’s previous legal case against The Sun – a number of prominent celebrities have offered their take on the couple, with Heard receiving public backing from several stars.
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However, others have also spoken out in support of Depp, including his ex-partners Winona Ryder and Kate Moss, as well as actor Javier Bardem and musician Sia. On the eve that the verdict was announced, Depp was spotted hanging out with Sam Fender in Newscastle, with the UK musician calling Depp one of his “heroes”.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the biggest names to speak out in favour of Depp, and what they said...
Winona Ryder
While Depp was involved in a case against British newspaper The Sun for libel after being described as a “wife beater” in an article, his ex-partner and Edward Scissorhands co-star Ryder issued a statement in his defence.
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“The idea that he is an incredibly violent person is the farthest thing from the Johnny I knew and loved,” she said.
“He was never, never violent towards me. He has never been violent or abusive towards anybody I have seen.”
Javier Bardem
Bardem worked with Depp on the 2000 film Before Night Falls and 2017’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
In 2020, he gave his support to the actor in the defamation trial, writing in documents seen by People magazine: “I love Johnny. He has always been a true gentleman and an extremely generous and caring friend to my family and myself.
“On top of that I’ve had the gift of working with him twice and have experienced his respectful attitude towards every single member of the crew alongside his unique and hilarious sense of humour.”
He added: “I stand by Johnny because I have always seen and felt a true caring and loving man in him – an extraordinary and unique artist who has listened to anyone who needed his help. I not only love Johnny but respect him deeply and I thank him for being the free and careless little boy he is in his art and the mature and loving man he is in the lives of others – always there when we need him.”
Bardem claimed that Depp was a “good human being” who was “trapped in the lies and manipulations of toxic beings”.
Penélope Cruz
Actor Penélope Cruz, who is married to Bardem and co-starred with Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, also filed a deposition in support of Depp.
She wrote that Depp treated her with “sweetness, protection and kindness” during their time on Pirates, when she was pregnant.
“I’ve seen Johnny in so many situations and he is always kind to everyone around. He is one of the most generous people I know,” she said.
Sia
Musician Sia shared her support for Depp in a 2020 tweet, writing: “Just showing my public support for Johnny Depp.
“I mean, I’d love him to get clean and stop with the jewellery, but he is clearly the victim after hearing those tapes.”
Eva Green
French actor Eva Green, who worked with Depp on 2012’s Dark Shadows, shared an Instagram post in support of Depp during the US defamation trial.
“I have no doubt Johnny will emerge with his good name and wonderful heart revealed to the world, and life will be better than it ever was for him and his family ,” she wrote in the caption.
Vanessa Paradis
French singer-songwriter Vanessa Paradis, another former partner of Depp’s, offered a written support of the actor during his 2020 UK libel case.
“I have known Johnny for more than 25 years. We’ve been partners for 14 years and we raised our two children together,” she wrote. “Through all these years I’ve known Johnny to be a kind, attentive, generous and non-violent person and father.
“On movie sets the actors, directors and entire crews adore him because he is humble and respectful to everyone, as well as being one of the best actors we’ve seen. I am aware of the allegations which Amber Heard has publicly accused Johnny of for more than four years now.
“This is nothing like the true Johnny I have known, and from my personal experience of many years, I can say he was never violent or abusive to me. I have seen that these outrageous statements have been really distressing, and also caused damage to his career because unfortunately people have gone on believing these false facts.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, you can call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge, on 0808 2000 247, or visit their website here.