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Hollywood actor Johnny Depp lost his Supreme Court defamation action against The Sun newspaper for an article that labeled him a “woman hitter.”
The 57-year-old man sued the tabloid editor, News Group Newspapers (NGN), and its executive editor Dan Wootton over the 2018 article, which referred to “overwhelming evidence” that he attacked his ex-wife Amber Heard during their relationship. .
In today’s ruling, Judge Nicol dismissed the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star’s claim, saying that NGN had proven that what was in the article was “substantially true.”
The judge said: “The plaintiff has been unsuccessful in his defamation action.
“While you have proven the necessary elements of your defamation cause of action, the defendants have shown that what they posted in the meaning that I have argued the words had was substantially true.
“I have come to these conclusions after having examined in detail the 14 incidents on which the defendants are based, as well as the general considerations that the plaintiff presented that I must take into account.”
An attorney for Amber Heard said “the decision and the trial are not a surprise.”
The largest English defamation trial of the 21st century attracted worldwide attention as it ran over three weeks in July at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.
Depp and Heard, 34, attended the 16-day trial, which featured days of great drama, allegations of brutal violence and sensational revelations about their stormy relationship.
The court heard evidence from both stars, along with friends and family of the couple, and various former and current employees.
Depp spent around 20 hours on the witness stand for five days, facing intense questioning about his Hollywood lifestyle, his use of drinks and drugs, allegations of violence, and his friendships and associations with famous faces, including him. Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards and musician Elton Juan.
As the trial drew to a close, Heard stood outside on the steps of the High Court and said that he was standing firm on his evidence and would “put his faith in British justice.”
In an April 2018 column in The Sun, Executive Editor Wootton asked how Harry Potter author JK Rowling could be “really happy” that Depp had been cast in the latest film in the Fantastic Beasts spinoff franchise in amid Heard’s accusations. .
The actor denied being violent towards Ms Heard and claimed that the article included quotes from alleged victims of disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein to “end his career” by linking the accusations against him to the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements.
NGN defended the article as true and says Depp was “controlling and verbally and physically abusive to Heard, particularly when he was under the influence of alcohol and / or drugs” between early 2013 and May 2016, when the couple separated.
In a statement, Amber Heard’s US attorney, Elaine Charlson Bredehoft, said the actress’s legal team will present further evidence in Depp’s Virginia defamation action against Heard over a Washington Post op-ed.
Ms Bredehoft said: “For those of us present at the London High Court trial, this decision and ruling is not a surprise.
“Very soon, we will present even more voluminous evidence in the United States.
“We are committed to obtaining justice for Amber Heard in the United States court and upholding Ms. Heard’s right to free speech.”
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