Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard verdict: Who won the case of Depp vs Heard?

Last spring, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard found themselves at one of the most talked about trials of the modern era due in large part to TikTok.

The case in question saw Depp suing Heard for defamation as the result of a 2018 op-ed written by Heard. Per NBC News, through the defamation suit, Depp was “claiming the Post article was a ruse for Heard to gin up positive press for herself” and that he “also claims she is not the victim of domestic violence but instead the perpetrator.”

The trial took the internet by storm with clips from the defamation hearing going viral on TikTok and social media platforms as the world followed the case closely. Now the trial is back in the headlines, this time due to a new Netflix original docuseries which explores the global media event across a three-part series.

For many, this is the first time they’re immersing themselves in the trial and questions about the outcome of the trial are beginning to arise again with viewers wondering what the verdict in the case was.

Depp vs. Heard result: What was the Depp vs Heard verdict?

After hearing testimony from both sites and examining the evidence presented, the jury in the Depp vs Heard case ruled in favor of actor Johnny Depp. On June 1, 2022, just shy of two months after the trial began, when the verdict came in, it was revealed that the jury had concluded that the Washington Post op-ed at the heart of the lawsuit had indeed defamed the actor.

In releasing their verdict, the jury awarded Depp $5 million in punitive damages and $10 million in compensatory damages. Due to the state’s statutory cap, Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Penney Azcarate, who oversaw the trial, reduced the punitive damages to $350,000.

The jury also awarded Heard $2 million in compensatory damages in her counterclaim. However, no punitive damages were awarded to Heard.

Both Depp and Heard would later appeal the jury’s verdict leading to a settlement made between the pair in December 2022 in which Heard agreed to pay Depp $1 million.

Technically speaking, Depp was the winner of the case; however, public perception of both stars shifted during the trial leaving those who followed the case divided on who the true winner was.

Where is Amber Heard now?

Since the Depp vs Heard trial, Amber Heard has been keeping a lower profile and remaining out of the public eye. Most recently, she had begun doing press for her upcoming movie In the Fire; however, due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, Heard has halted the promotion of the film.

She’s also slated to reprise her role of Mera in DC’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The film is currently slated to release on December 20, 2023, but could be delayed due to the ongoing actors’ strike which would prevent the cast from doing press to help promote the film.

Depp vs Heard is streaming now on Netflix.