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Johnny Depp's legal team recently reflected on his testimony during the 2022 defamation trial against his ex-wife, Amber Heard. Attorneys Benjamin Chew and Jessica Meyers shared insights into their strategy during the trial in the A&E special Interrogation Raw: Celebrity Under Oath, which aired on December 26.
Chew discussed how Depp's humor on the stand played a key role in discrediting Heard's legal arguments. "Johnny's use of humor really undermined the seriousness of Amber's counsel's points," Chew explained. "We wanted to humanize Johnny before the jury, so they could understand that hitting the woman he loved was simply not something he was capable of."
However, the legal team had concerns about Depp's composure during cross-examination. Chew admitted they feared the actor might lose his temper. "The other side was determined to provoke Johnny into showing anger," he said. He added that Depp refused to let Heard's lawyer, Ben Rottenborn, control the narrative during questioning, which worked in their favor.
The trial stemmed from Depp's lawsuit against Heard for defamation over her 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post, where she described surviving domestic abuse but did not name Depp. The jury sided with Depp, awarding him $10 million in damages, later settled for $1 million.
After the verdict, Heard, now living a quiet life in Spain, expressed her disappointment, saying, "I'm heartbroken that the mountain of evidence was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of my ex-husband." She added that the outcome set back efforts to address violence against women.
Depp, on the other hand, described the verdict as a moment of vindication. "The jury gave me my life back," he said. "Speaking the truth was something I owed to my children and my supporters. I feel at peace knowing I accomplished that."
None of Heard's attorneys participated in the A&E special. Elaine Charlson Bredehoft, who represented Heard during the trial, has since criticized the decision to televise the proceedings, calling it a "huge mistake." She argued that cameras in the courtroom allowed social media to hijack the trial.
In a 2022 interview with NBC's Savannah Guthrie, Heard said the most intimidating part of the trial was being disbelieved and labeled a liar. "The scariest thing for anyone speaking about sexual violence is the humiliation of not being believed," she stated.
