Amber Heard on Depp trial: It was more than Hollywood brats at their worst

Amber Heard can understand why people might see her and Johnny Depp as “Hollywood brats” following their defamation trial.

The 36-year-old ‘Aquaman’ star was found by a jury in Fairfax, Virginia, to have defamed her ex-husband in an article in which she claimed she was a victim of domestic abuse and Depp was awarded $15 million in compensatory and punitive damages.

In a new clip from her first TV interview since the trial, Heard told TV presenter Savannah Guthrie she will stand by every word of her testimony until her “dying day”, while she insists this was more than just two exes airing their dirty laundry.

She said: “Absolutely. I would not blame the average person for looking at this and how this has been covered and thinking that this is Hollywood brats at their worst.

“But what people don’t understand is that it is actually so much bigger than that. This is not only about our First Amendment right to speak.”

Savannah stopped her and said: “But here’s the thing – the First Amendment protects free speech. It doesn’t protect lies that amount to defamation, and that was the issue in the case.”

In a previous preview, Heard said she was astounded by the “vitriol” aimed at her on social media, and she went on to claim she saw Depp fans lining the streets outside the courtroom holding holding signs with death threats on them.

She said: “Every single day I passed three, four, sometimes six city blocks lined with people holding signs saying ‘Burn the witch’ and ‘Death to Amber’.

“After three-and-a-half weeks I took the stand and saw a courtroom packed full of Captain Jack Sparrow fans who were vocal, energised.”

Heard went on to say she has never felt more humiliated than she did in the courtroom.

She said: “I have never felt more removed from my own humanity. I felt less than human.”

However, she stands by every bit of evidence and word she said on the stand and accused Depp, 59, of lying about not hitting her.

When the journalist asked if it was a lie, Heard replied: “Yes, it is.”

The interview airs on America’s NBC News on Tuesday (14.06.22) and on the ‘Today’ show on Wednesday (15.06.22). An hour-long special will be broadcast on Friday (17.06.22) on ‘Dateline’.

Depp sued Heard for $50 million for defamation following the publication of a 2018 piece in The Washington Post in which she alleged she was a victim of domestic abuse but had not named him specifically. The jury found the actress had acted with “malice” and awarded Depp $15 million in damages. Heard had countersued her ex for $100 million and the jury awarded her $2million in punitive damages.