Will Johnny Depp Really Waive Amber Heard's $8.35 Million Punishment?

(Photo : STEVE HELBER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Johnny Depp's attorneys claim the actor was "over the moon" with the result of his defamation trial against his ex-wife and suggest that Amber Heard may not have to pay her punishment at all.

Johnny Depp's lawyers have addressed the possibility that Amber Heard might not have to pay damages to the actor after all.

After a jury concluded Amber Heard, 36, did defame him in a 2018 article she wrote about her domestic violence experience, he was given a total of $15 million in compensatory and punitive damages.

Johnny Depp's Lawyer Says He Might Not Make Amber Heard Pay

Johnny Depp, 58, first launched a $50 million lawsuit against his ex-wife, but Amber Heard counter-sued for $100 million. With the jury's decision in his favor, the actor was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive penalties. However, under Virginia law, punitive damages are limited to $350,000. Johnny Depp's total was reduced to $8.35 million after Amber Heard was given $2 million in compensatory damages, according to Metro.

Following the conclusion of the tumultuous six-week trial last week, Heard's lawyer, Elaine Bredehoft, announced that the 'Aquaman' actress could not afford to pay the damages and is now intending to file an appeal. During the trial, it was reported that Amber Heard had lost her job in Hollywood as a result of her legal battle with Depp.

On Wednesday, Johnny Depp's attorneys, Camille Vasquez and Ben Chew, appeared on US morning television to highlight their client's triumph. George Stephanopoulos of Good Morning America questioned the two whether Amber Heard might forego an appeal in return for Johnny Depp waiving the damages she is obligated to pay.

After being candid about his drinking and drug issues during the trial, Chew commended his client for accepting accountability and facing his issues. As Depp works to rebuild his reputation, Heard's legal team has issued a statement claiming that "women's rights are moving backwards."

"I think our response to that is we encourage any victim to come forward - domestic violence doesn't have a gender," Vasquez said, disputing that the judgment constituted a setback to the #MeToo movement.

"The facts are what they were," Vasquez said, "and the jury made a unanimous conclusion based on those facts." Vasquez claimed her team's cross-examination of Heard was centered on using her words against her and that every question that was asked was linked to something she had said previously, as per ABC News.

Chew stated that the lawsuit was about restoring Depp's reputation, which he has accomplished. Throughout the week-long trial, Chew and Vasquez became well-known on social media, describing Vasquez as "surreal" and "overwhelming."

Why Was Johnny Depp Escorted Out of Hotel?

Johnny Depp was recently dragged out of a hotel by security to keep him safe from the crowds of fans who have been following him since his trial finished last week. This week, photos showing the actor being led out of the Grand Hotel Birmingham, England, while carrying a coffee mug went viral. His security team was keeping him protected and away from the "large crowds," according to a source.

The 'Pirates of the Caribbean' star, 58, appeared distressed in the photos as he was escorted out of the fancy hotel with one man holding his right arm and another following closely behind.

Per Page Six, Depp wore a black and white checkered sport coat with black pants and black shoes, as well as a scarf, messy hair, and aviator sunglasses. A ceramic coffee mug was in his left hand, although it was unclear what - if anything - was inside.

The actor had spent more than $62,000 on a spectacular Indian feast suitable for a legally victorious king and his entourage of roughly 20 hours before the encounter. Authentic Indian cuisine, countless drinks, and loads of rosé were served at the Varanasi celebration dinner. He only joined TikTok yesterday and made his first video, in which he thanked his supporters for their sympathy and expressed his wish to move on from the trial.