American actor Johnny Depp has won a defamation case against his ex-wife Amber Heard.
The actor who is known widely for playing the role of Captain Jack Sparrow filed a lawsuit worth USD50 million talking about the sexual violence he had gone through while married to his wife.
In return, his ex-wife countered the lawsuit by suing Mr Depp for USD100 million calling it a ‘hoax abuse’.
Even though the actor did not get the financial benefits, a Jury of seven ruled in his favor, awarding him USD10 million in damages.
The actor also got extra USD5 million in punitive damages.
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. I hope that the position will now return to innocent until proven guilty, both within the courts and in the media
Depp
The Jury also awarded Miss Heard USD2 million in compensatory damages.
After the court ruling, the actor released a statement thanking those who were always with him.
“I am and have been, overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and colossal support and kindness from around the world,” read the statement in part.
It went ahead: “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. I hope that the position will now return to innocent until proven guilty, both within the courts and in the media.”
The truth
He further said his decision to pursue the case was for the sake of letting people know the truth regardless of the outcome.
Social media users have now spread the ‘Me too movement’ that seeks to make victims of domestic abuse come out without any fear in a move to rally behind the Pirates of the Caribbean movie star.
Miss Heard also released her statement after losing the lawsuit saying that she was sad to have lost the right she thought she had as an American which was to speak freely and openly.
“I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. It is a setback. It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated,” she wrote.
She added: “It sets back the idea that violence against women to be taken seriously.”