Today host Karl Stefanovic has offered his two cents on the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard trial, which came to a dramatic conclusion on Wednesday after a jury ruled her 2018 article in the Washington Post was defamatory of her ex-husband.
Stefanovic, 47, who previously described the trial as an unedifying spectacle that should have taken place behind closed doors instead of broadcast around the world, said Depp will most likely make a career comeback after being vindicated in court.
But he doubts Depp – who was in England when the verdict was delivered – will ever work with a PR-conscious Hollywood studio like Disney again given some of the admissions he made about his private life, including his heavy drinking and drug use.
Stefanovic was less sure of Heard’s post-trial career prospects, saying on Thursday’s show she has a ‘difficult’ future ahead of her after she was ordered to pay the Pirates of the Caribbean actor US$15million (AU$20.9million) in damages.
Having his say: Karl Stefanovic (left, with Allison Langdon and Sam Rubin) has offered his two cents on the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard trial, which came to a dramatic conclusion on Wednesday after a jury ruled her 2018 article in the Washington Post was defamatory of her ex
Discussing the outcome of the trial with LA-based entertainment correspondent Sam Rubin, Stefanovic said: ‘I mean, you can’t imagine him going and working for Disney tomorrow, given the admissions he made about his own substance abuse.
‘But you have to imagine also there’s going to be [career] possibilities for him down the track; whereas for Amber, it’s going to be difficult.’
He continued: ‘Effectively, the jury came back with a verdict that she defamed him, that she did lie. That is, at the end of the day, something that she can’t deny… [It] is very difficult for her to get over that.’
Prospects: Stefanovic said Depp (pictured on May 27) will most likely make a career comeback after being vindicated in court – but doubts he will ever work with a PR-conscious Hollywood studio like Disney again given some of the admissions he made about his private life
Rubin suggested that Depp’s performance on the stand during the six-week trial at Fairfax County Circuit Court in Virginia could even lead to a career resurgence.
He noted how much people ‘enjoyed’ seeing the ’90s heart-throb give evidence and field questions during cross-examination, with many of his wry and self-effacing responses going viral on TikTok.
Rubin said Depp exhibited ‘candour’ and ‘charm’ while discussing some of the lowest moments of his life – including drug and alcohol binges – making him seem like a lovable rogue in comparison to Heard’s ‘shrill’ and sometimes ‘disingenuous’ manner.
Struggles: Stefanovic was less sure of Heard’s (pictured) post-trial career prospects, saying on Thursday’s show she has a ‘difficult’ future ahead of her after she was ordered to pay the Pirates of the Caribbean actor US$15million (AU$20.9million) in damages
Rubin added that Depp may receive support from the ‘sober community’ in Hollywood, which could assist with a career comeback even if other filmmakers and producers consider him a liability because of his erratic behaviour in the past.
‘There are people in positions of power, people [with the ability] to grant Johnny Depp jobs, who could say, “You know what? I’ve been on the bottom too, and I’ve battled these problems too, and I’m better know, and maybe so is he,”‘ he said.
Depp has said he ‘feels at peace’ and is ‘truly humbled’ after winning his multimillion-dollar U.S. defamation lawsuit against his former wife Heard.
The actor, 58, said his decision to pursue the case ‘was only made after considerable thought’ and his goal was to ‘reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome’.
PR war: Today’s entertainment correspondent Sam Rubin said Depp exhibited ‘candour’ and ‘charm’ while discussing some of the lowest moments of his life on the stand, making him seem like a lovable rogue in comparison to Heard’s ‘shrill’ and sometimes ‘disingenuous’ manner
Mr Depp sued the Aquaman actress, 36, for $50million over a Washington Post piece, titled: ‘I spoke up against sexual violence – and faced our culture’s wrath. That has to change.’
The article does not mention him by name, yet his lawyers said it falsely implied he physically and sexually abused Ms Heard while they were together.
Following six weeks of evidence and roughly 13 hours of deliberation, jurors returned a verdict in favour of Mr Depp on Wednesday.
The actor was awarded compensatory damages of US$10million (£8million, AU$13.9million) and a further $5million (£4million, AUD$7million) in punitive damages.
Analysis: Rubin (pictured) added that Depp may receive support from the ‘sober community’ in Hollywood, which could assist with a career comeback even if other filmmakers and producers consider him a liability because of his erratic behaviour in the past
In his statement, issued through his spokesperson, Mr Depp promised fans that ‘the best is yet to come and a new chapter has finally begun’.
‘Six years ago, my life, the life of my children, the lives of those closest to me, and also, the lives of the people who for many, many years have supported and believed in me were forever changed,’ he said.
‘All in the blink of an eye.
‘False, very serious and criminal allegations were levied at me via the media, which triggered an endless barrage of hateful content, although no charges were ever brought against me.
‘It had already travelled around the world twice within a nanosecond and it had a seismic impact on my life and my career.
‘And six years later, the jury gave me my life back. I am truly humbled.’
Mr Depp continued: ‘Speaking the truth was something that I owed to my children and to all those who have remained steadfast in their support of me.
‘I feel at peace knowing I have finally accomplished that.’
Victory: The actor was awarded compensatory damages of US$10million (AU$13.9million) and a further $5million (AUD$7million) in punitive damages. Depp’s lead attorneys Camille Vasquez and Benjamin Chew are seen outside the courtroom after his victory on Wednesday
He said he had been ‘overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and the colossal support and kindness from around the world’, adding: ‘I hope that my quest to have the truth be told will have helped others, men or women, who have found themselves in my situation, and that those supporting them never give up.’
Concluding the statement, he added: ‘The best is yet to come and a new chapter has finally begun’
‘Veritas numquam perit. Truth never perishes.’
Speaking outside the court, his lawyers Benjamin Chew and Camille Vasquez said they were ‘truly honoured’ to have represented the actor and were ‘so grateful’ to the jurors, and other members of court staff.
‘It is time to turn the page and look to the future,’ Mr Chew said.
Mr Depp was not present for the verdict, and was reportedly in the north east of England, after performing onstage for three nights in a row with musician Jeff Beck.
He has been pictured onstage with Mr Beck at Sheffield Arena and The Royal Albert Hall in west London.
Ms Heard, who was present, was sitting between members of her legal team at the front of the court room, looked downcast as the ruling was read out by the judge.
She had her head bowed and appeared to be listening intently to the verdict.
But the actress was awarded US$2million (£1.6 million, AUD$2.8million) in damages after her counterclaim against Mr Depp over comments made by his lawyer Adam Waldman, who allegedly referred to her abuse claims as a ‘hoax’, was also found to be defamatory.
Following the verdict, the actress said she was ‘heartbroken’ but ‘even even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women’.
‘The disappointment I feel today is beyond words,’ she said in a statement, which was shared on social media.
‘I’m heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of my ex-husband.
‘I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women.’
Cheer squad: Depp’s fans swamped social media with #justiceforjohnny trending repeatedly
Ms Heard said the verdict ‘sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated’.
She added that Mr Depp’s attorneys had succeeded in getting jury members to ‘overlook’ freedom of speech.
‘I’m sad I lost this case. But I am sadder still that I seem to have lost a right I thought I had as an American – to speak freely and openly,’ she said.
Mr Depp had consistently denied the ‘outrageous, outlandish’ claims of abuse and said he had ‘spoken up for what I have been carrying on my back reluctantly for six years’ during his own evidence.
The court previously heard that descriptions of Mr Depp’s drug use and violence were exaggerated by Ms Heard and her legal team.
The case was brought in Virginia rather than in California, where the actors live, because The Washington Post’s online editions are published through servers located in Fairfax County.
Witnesses have included family members, friends, colleagues, employees and other individuals including British supermodel Kate Moss, as well as both Mr Depp and Ms Heard.
During the course of the trial at Fairfax County District Court, legions of fans gathered outside in an attempt to enter the courtroom and observe proceedings.
Many lined up outside the courthouse in anticipation of the verdict and gave huge cheers as the verdicts were read out.
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