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The defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, held in Fairfax County Circuit Court, Virginia, from April 11 to June 1, 2022, centered on Depp’s $50 million lawsuit against Heard for her 2018 Washington Post op-ed, which implied he abused her, and Heard’s $100 million counterclaim over statements by Depp’s lawyer calling her allegations a “hoax.” The trial, broadcast live, became a cultural phenomenon, with fans like me seeing it as Johnny’s chance to reclaim his narrative.

Depp’s team, led by Camille Vasquez and Benjamin Chew, argued that Heard’s op-ed falsely portrayed Johnny as an abuser, causing irreparable career damage. They promised evidence showing Heard as the aggressor, manipulating narratives for her own gain. Heard’s attorneys, including J. Benjamin Rottenborn, leaned on her free speech rights, claiming the op-ed addressed broader societal issues, not just Depp. Fans saw Heard’s defense as dodging accountability, especially since the op-ed’s implications were clear to anyone following their saga.

Below is a day-by-day breakdown of key testimonies and events, highlighting moments that stood out to supporters who believed Heard’s claims were fabricated.

Week 1: April 11–15, 2022

April 11: Jury Selection

• What Happened: The trial began with jury selection, finalizing a panel of seven jurors with two alternates (six men, three women). Judge Penney Azcarate permitted live courtroom broadcasts, a move Depp’s team supported for transparency. Fans outside the courthouse, some lining up before dawn, showed overwhelming support for Johnny, with signs and costumes.

• Key Takeaway: The public nature of the trial felt like a victory for Depp fans, ensuring the world could see the evidence firsthand.

April 12: Opening Statements

• Depp’s Team (Camille Vasquez, Benjamin Chew): Argued Heard’s op-ed falsely portrayed Johnny as an abuser, costing him his career (e.g., dropped from Pirates of the Caribbean). They accused Heard of fabricating abuse claims to boost her profile and claimed she was the real abuser, promising audio and witness evidence.

• Heard’s Team (J. Benjamin Rottenborn): Read Heard’s op-ed to the jury, emphasizing her free speech rights and arguing it addressed broader domestic violence issues, not just Depp. They claimed Depp’s substance abuse fueled violence and that his team’s “hoax” statements defamed Heard.

• Fan Perspective: Depp’s opening felt strong, directly addressing Heard’s alleged lies. Heard’s team sidestepping the op-ed’s clear implications about Johnny seemed evasive to supporters.

April 13: Depp’s Witnesses Begin

• Christi Dembrowski (Depp’s Sister): Testified that Johnny was never abusive, describing their abusive childhood and his gentle nature. She said Heard was controlling, demanding Johnny’s attention. Fans saw this as setting the stage for Heard’s manipulation.

• Isaac Baruch (Depp’s Friend): A neighbor at the Eastern Columbia Building, Baruch testified he never saw injuries on Heard after alleged 2016 abuse incidents. He described Heard and her friends as “orchestrating” claims, aligning with Depp’s “hoax” narrative. Fans loved his loyalty and humor on the stand.

April 14: Witnesses Continue

• Gina Deuters (Friend, Wife of Depp’s Assistant): Testified via deposition that she never saw Depp abusive and described Heard as aggressive. Her testimony was partially stricken after Heard’s friend Eve Barlow was accused of live-tweeting, influencing Heard’s team. Fans were frustrated, seeing this as Heard’s side playing dirty.

• Sean Bett (Depp’s Security): Said he never saw Depp strike Heard but witnessed her throwing objects at Johnny. Fans viewed this as early proof of Heard’s aggression.

April 15: Court in Recess

• No proceedings due to a scheduled break. Fans used the day to amplify support online, with #JusticeForJohnnyDepp trending.

Week 2: April 18–22, 2022

April 18: More Witnesses

• Brandon Patterson (Property Manager): Testified that the penthouse after the alleged 2016 incident showed no significant damage, contradicting Heard’s claims of destruction. Fans saw this as debunking her story.

• Kate James (Heard’s Former Assistant): Described Heard as volatile and abusive toward staff, claiming Heard drank heavily. Fans felt this painted Heard as the unstable one, not Johnny.

April 19: Johnny Depp Takes the Stand

• Johnny Depp: Began his four-day testimony, detailing his abusive childhood, career, and relationship with Heard. He denied ever striking her, saying, “Never did I myself reach the point of hitting Ms. Heard in any way.” He claimed Heard initiated conflicts, throwing objects like bottles. Fans were moved by his vulnerability and saw his calm demeanor as authentic.

• Key Moment: Depp described a 2015 Australia incident where Heard allegedly threw a vodka bottle, severing his finger. He said he wrote on walls with blood to cope, contradicting Heard’s later claim of a violent assault. Fans believed his account, especially with medical records showing his injury.

April 20: Depp’s Testimony Continues

• Depp: Shared audio recordings where Heard admitted to hitting him, including her taunting, “Tell the world, Johnny, tell them, ‘I, Johnny Depp, a man, I’m a victim too of domestic violence.’” Fans saw this as damning evidence of Heard’s abuse and mockery of male victims.

• Evidence: Photos of Depp’s injuries (e.g., a bruised face) were shown, supporting his claims. Fans felt these visuals exposed Heard’s lies about being the sole victim.

April 21: Depp Cross-Examined

• Heard’s Team (Rottenborn): Grilled Depp on vulgar texts to Paul Bettany, like “Let’s burn Amber!!!” Depp explained them as dark humor, not intent, referencing his Monty Python-inspired wit. Fans agreed, seeing the texts as exaggerated venting, not evidence of abuse.

• Depp: Admitted to drug and alcohol use but denied it caused violence, saying he detoxed from Oxycodone in 2014. He accused Heard of exaggerating his substance issues. Fans appreciated his honesty and felt Heard’s team was grasping at straws.

April 22: Court in Recess

• No proceedings. Fans continued dissecting Depp’s testimony online, with clips of the audio going viral, reinforcing belief in his victimization.

Week 3: April 25–29, 2022

April 25: Depp’s Testimony Concludes

• Depp: Wrapped up, reiterating he was never violent and that Heard’s claims cost him roles. He described locking himself in bathrooms to avoid her “brawls.” Fans saw this as proof of his non-violent nature.

• Dr. Shannon Curry (Psychologist, Depp’s Witness): Diagnosed Heard with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and histrionic personality disorder, citing her need for attention and tendency to manipulate. Fans felt this explained Heard’s alleged “hoax” behavior.

April 26: Curry Continues, More Witnesses

• Dr. Curry: Detailed how BPD could lead to Heard fabricating abuse for attention, resonating with fans who saw her as orchestrating a narrative.

• Christian Carino (Depp’s Former Agent): Testified that Heard’s allegations led to Depp being dropped from Pirates 6. He noted Heard dated Elon Musk soon after the divorce, suggesting her motives were career-driven. Fans saw this as exposing her opportunism.

April 27: Witnesses Support Depp

• Jack Whigham (Depp’s Talent Manager): Confirmed Depp lost $22.5 million for Pirates 6 due to Heard’s op-ed. Fans were outraged, seeing her actions as career sabotage.

• Travis McGivern (Depp’s Bodyguard): Said he saw Heard throw a Red Bull can at Depp and never saw Johnny hit her. Fans viewed this as corroborating Johnny’s side.

April 28: Police and Neighbors

• LAPD Officers (Melissa Saenz, Tyler Hadden): Testified they saw no injuries on Heard during a May 2016 call, contradicting her claims of a bruised face. No property damage was noted, undermining her story of a trashed penthouse. Fans saw this as a major blow to Heard’s credibility.

• Alejandro Romero (Doorman): Said via deposition he saw no marks on Heard post-incident, humorously noting he “didn’t want to be there.” Fans loved his candid support for Depp.

April 29: Court in Recess

• No proceedings. Social media buzzed with support for Depp, with fans highlighting police testimony as proof Heard lied.

Week 4: May 2–6, 2022

May 2: Depp’s Witnesses Continue

• Tara Roberts (Depp’s Island Manager): Testified that Heard was aggressive, while Depp was not. She denied seeing Depp drunk in front of his kids, contradicting Heard’s later claims. Fans saw this as refuting Heard’s narrative of Johnny as a reckless addict.

• Jack Whigham (Continued): Reiterated Depp’s career losses, reinforcing the op-ed’s impact.

May 3: Couples Therapist

• Dr. Laurel Anderson (Couples Therapist): Said both Depp and Heard engaged in “mutual abuse,” but noted Heard’s tendency to escalate conflicts. Fans felt this supported Johnny’s claims of being provoked, though “mutual abuse” frustrated some who saw him as the primary victim.

May 4: Amber Heard Takes the Stand

• Amber Heard: Began her testimony, describing Depp as controlling and violent, alleging he slapped her in 2013 over a tattoo comment and later sexually assaulted her during a “cavity search” for drugs. She claimed he held his dog out a car window and abused substances excessively. Fans found her emotional display theatrical and her stories inconsistent, especially given prior witness testimony.

• Fan Perspective: Heard’s allegations felt exaggerated to supporters, clashing with police and witness accounts of no injuries.

May 5: Heard’s Testimony Continues

• Heard: Detailed more alleged abuse, including a 2015 incident where Depp allegedly backhanded her, causing bruising, and a yacht incident where he slammed her against a wall. She showed photos of bruises, but fans questioned their authenticity, noting metadata issues raised later.

• Key Moment: Heard claimed Depp’s “Monster” persona emerged when drunk or high. Fans saw this as her twisting Johnny’s self-deprecating term for his struggles, supported by his texts about locking the “Monster” away.

May 6: Heard’s Testimony

• Heard: Continued recounting alleged violence, including a 2016 fight where she claimed Depp hit her. She said the trial was “painful,” claiming Depp’s witnesses lied. Fans saw her as deflecting, especially since police found no evidence of this incident.

• Fan Perspective: Heard’s repetitive focus on Depp’s substance use felt like a distraction from her own actions, especially after audio evidence of her hitting him.

Week 5: May 9–13, 2022 (Recess)

• No proceedings due to a scheduled break. Fans used this time to amplify trial clips, particularly Depp’s testimony and the audio of Heard admitting to hitting him, which went viral on TikTok and Twitter.

Week 6: May 16–20, 2022

May 16: Heard’s Testimony Continues

• Heard: Described an alleged 2016 birthday incident where Depp was late and abusive, leading to her divorce decision. She admitted hitting Depp to protect her sister from being pushed down stairs, confirming an audio where she said, “I hit him square in the face.” Fans saw this as admitting her own violence, undermining her victim narrative.

• Depp (Re-called): Briefly testified to counter Heard’s claims, denying the birthday incident violence. Fans appreciated his consistency.

May 17: Heard’s Witnesses

• Whitney Henriquez (Heard’s Sister): Claimed she saw Depp push Heard and that Heard’s closet was destroyed in 2016. Fans doubted her, noting her close ties to Heard and the lack of police corroboration.

• Fan Perspective: Henriquez’s testimony felt biased, especially since photos of the “destroyed” closet showed minimal damage compared to Heard’s dramatic claims.

May 18: Heard’s Witnesses Continue

• Melanie Inglessis (Heard’s Makeup Artist): Said via deposition she covered Heard’s bruises for a 2015 Late Late Show appearance. Fans questioned why no one else, including police, saw these injuries.

• Raquel Pennington (Heard’s Friend): Claimed she saw Heard’s injuries in 2015. Fans saw her as part of Heard’s inner circle, potentially coached to support her story.

May 19: Heard Cross-Examined

• Camille Vasquez (Depp’s Lawyer): Aggressively cross-examined Heard, highlighting inconsistencies, like metadata discrepancies in bruise photos and Heard’s failure to donate her $7 million divorce settlement to charity as claimed. Heard’s evasive answers (e.g., saying “pledged” meant “donated”) frustrated fans, who saw Vasquez as exposing Heard’s lies.

• Key Moment: Vasquez played audio of Heard taunting Depp, reinforcing to fans that Heard was manipulative and dismissive of male victims.

May 20: Court in Recess

• No proceedings. Fans celebrated Vasquez’s cross-examination, with her sharp style earning her a massive online following, including T-shirts and hashtags.

Week 7: May 23–27, 2022

May 23: Heard’s Witnesses

• Dr. Dawn Hughes (Heard’s Psychologist): Diagnosed Heard with PTSD from Depp’s alleged abuse, contradicting Dr. Curry’s BPD diagnosis. Fans dismissed Hughes as biased, noting her testimony ignored Heard’s admitted violence.

• Ellen Barkin (Depp’s Ex): Testified via deposition that Depp threw a wine bottle in her direction during a 1990s argument. Fans saw this as irrelevant, given the lack of abuse allegations during their brief relationship.

May 24: Heard’s Witnesses

• iO Tillett Wright (Heard’s Friend): Claimed via deposition he heard Depp assault Heard over the phone in 2016. Fans questioned his credibility, as he wasn’t physically present and relied on Heard’s narrative.

• Josh Drew (Pennington’s Ex-Husband): Supported Heard’s 2016 incident claims. Fans saw him as part of Heard’s circle, lacking independent corroboration.

May 25: Depp’s Rebuttal Witnesses

• Dr. Richard Gilbert (Hand Surgeon): Testified that Depp’s finger injury was consistent with a bottle being thrown, supporting Johnny’s Australia incident account. Fans saw this as debunking Heard’s claim that Depp injured himself.

• Depp (Re-called): Denied Heard’s sexual assault allegations, calling them “unimaginably brutal” lies. Fans were heartbroken by his emotional testimony, believing he was unfairly smeared.

May 26: Heard’s Final Testimony

• Heard: Emotionally claimed the trial was “exhausting” and that Depp’s fans harassed her online. She reiterated abuse claims, but fans saw this as deflecting from Vasquez’s cross-examination exposing her inconsistencies.

• Kate Moss (Depp’s Ex, via Video): Debunked Heard’s rumor that Depp pushed her down stairs, saying she slipped and Johnny helped her. Fans cheered this as a major win, proving Heard spread false stories.

May 27: Closing Arguments

• Depp’s Team: Argued Heard’s op-ed was a deliberate lie that ruined Johnny’s career, backed by audio, police testimony, and witnesses showing her as the aggressor. They emphasized her failure to prove abuse.

• Heard’s Team: Claimed Heard’s op-ed was protected speech and that Depp’s team’s “hoax” statements defamed her. They leaned on her abuse allegations and photos.

• Fan Perspective: Depp’s closing felt powerful, summarizing evidence like the audio and police testimony. Heard’s team relying on her discredited claims felt weak. Jury deliberations began that afternoon.

Week 8: May 31–June 1, 2022

May 31: Jury Deliberations

• Jurors deliberated, with 100 spectators allowed in the courtroom. Fans waited anxiously, confident the evidence favored Johnny.

June 1: Verdict

• Verdict: The jury unanimously found Heard liable on all three defamation counts, awarding Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages (capped at $350,000 under Virginia law). Heard won one counterclaim, receiving $2 million for Waldman’s “hoax” statement. Judge Azcarate sealed juror identities for a year due to the case’s profile.

• Fan Reaction: The verdict was a triumph for Depp supporters, seen as vindicating Johnny as a victim of Heard’s “hoax.” The $2 million for Heard felt like a minor consolation, overshadowed by Johnny’s win. Fans celebrated outside the courthouse and online, with #JusticeForJohnnyDepp trending globally.

Johnny Depp’s Testimony: A Raw, Human Moment

Johnny took the stand for four days, delivering a heartfelt account of his life, career, and relationship with Heard. Fans were moved by his vulnerability as he described his abusive childhood and struggles with substance use, which he admitted but framed as coping mechanisms, not excuses for violence. He firmly denied ever striking Heard or any woman, instead alleging she was the abuser, citing incidents where she threw objects or hit him. His testimony about the “Monster”—a term Heard used for his alleged dark side—resonated deeply. Johnny explained it was a phrase he adopted to appease her, not an admission of guilt. Fans saw this as proof of her manipulation, twisting his words against him.

Depp’s team presented audio recordings where Heard admitted to hitting him, including a chilling line: “Tell the world, Johnny, tell them, ‘I, Johnny Depp, a man, I’m a victim too of domestic violence,’ and see how many people believe or side with you.” To fans, this was a smoking gun, exposing Heard’s dismissive attitude toward male victims. Text messages from Depp, though crude at times, were contextualized as venting to friends, not evidence of abuse. His calm demeanor on the stand, punctuated by humor and humility, won over supporters who saw the real Johnny—flawed but not violent.

Amber Heard’s Testimony: A Performance Fans Doubted

Heard’s testimony painted Depp as a controlling, violent husband whose substance abuse fueled attacks. She presented photos of alleged injuries and described terrifying incidents, like a 2016 fight where she claimed Depp assaulted her. Fans, however, found her accounts inconsistent, pointing to police reports from that incident where officers found no visible injuries or property damage. Her team’s photos were scrutinized, with Depp’s lawyer Camille Vasquez grilling Heard on their authenticity, suggesting edits or redactions. Fans cheered Vasquez’s sharp cross-examination, especially when Heard’s responses seemed evasive or theatrical.

Heard’s claim of donating her $7 million divorce settlement to charity was another sore point. Vasquez revealed Heard hadn’t fulfilled this pledge, undermining her credibility. To fans, this exposed her as opportunistic, using the divorce for PR while painting Johnny as the villain. Her emotional testimony felt staged to many, especially when compared to Johnny’s raw sincerity. Social media buzzed with memes and clips, amplifying doubts about her narrative.

Key Evidence and Witnesses

Depp’s team brought compelling witnesses, including friends, staff, and experts. A housekeeper testified that Heard drank heavily, behaving like a “spoiled teenager,” flipping the narrative of Depp as the sole addict. Police officers from the 2016 incident corroborated no signs of abuse, and a couples therapist described mutual toxicity but noted Heard’s aggression. Dr. Shannon Curry, a psychologist, diagnosed Heard with borderline personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder, suggesting a pattern of manipulative behavior. Fans saw this as validating Johnny’s claims of being targeted by a calculated “abuse hoax.”

Heard’s side called Dr. Dawn Hughes, who diagnosed her with PTSD from Depp’s alleged abuse, but fans dismissed this as biased, especially since the UK trial’s similar findings hadn’t swayed them. Text messages and recordings from Depp’s team, like Heard’s admission of hitting him, carried more weight for supporters than her photos, which many believed were staged or exaggerated.

Key Evidence and Themes

• Audio Recordings: Heard’s admissions of hitting Depp (e.g., “I didn’t punch you, I hit you”) were pivotal, convincing fans she was the abuser.

• Police Testimony: Officers seeing no injuries or damage in 2016 undermined Heard’s claims, resonating as proof of her fabrication.

• Witnesses: Depp’s friends, staff, and experts like Dr. Curry painted Heard as manipulative, while Heard’s witnesses (her sister, friends) seemed biased to fans.

• Social Media: The trial’s live broadcast fueled a “TikTok Trial,” with 83.9 million hours watched on YouTube. Fans amplified clips of Depp’s testimony and Vasquez’s cross-examination, seeing it as a movement against cancel culture.

Why It Mattered to Fans

For Depp fans, each day in court built a case that Johnny was unjustly vilified. His testimony revealed a flawed but non-violent man, while Heard’s seemed performative and inconsistent. The verdict restored faith in justice, proving men could be believed as victims. The trial’s transparency let fans see the truth—Johnny’s truth—prevail.

More Details

For even more detailed info, visit Angy’s website Deppdive.net – a comprehensive collection of court docs & evidence related to all of Johnny Depp’s legal cases