After the conclusion of her recent trial, Amber Heard has taken on her first TV interview with Savannah Guthrie on Today. The interview is set to be aired on NBC on Tuesday and Wednesday, but NBC has released a clip of the conversation with Heard sharing her thoughts on the verdict. You can watch that clip below.
In the preview clip, Heard speaks out about how she has been treated on social media. She makes the argument that the backlash against her has been excessive, claiming that, even if one were to not believe Heard's claims, the social media response to the trial has not been "fair." As Heard puts it:
"I don’t care what one thinks about me or what judgments you want to make about what happened in the privacy of my own home, in my marriage, behind closed doors. I don’t presume the average person should know those things. And so I don’t take it personally. But, even somebody who is sure I’m deserving of all this hate and vitriol, even if you think that I’m lying, you still couldn’t look me in the eye and tell me that you think on social media there’s been a fair representation. You cannot tell me that you think that this has been fair.”
Heard also addressed the trial verdict. She says that she understands why the jury arrived at their conclusion, arguing that "paid employees" and "randos" had spent weeks influencing the jury by testifying on behalf of Depp. Heard also describes Depp as a "beloved character," seemingly insinuating that jurors were also swayed by Depp's fame and acting talent.
"How could they make a judgment? How could they not come to that conclusion? They had sat in those seats and heard over three weeks of nonstop relentless testimony from paid employees, and towards the end of the trial, 'randos,' as I say. I don't blame the jury. I don't blame them, I actually understand. He's a beloved character, and people feel they know him. He's a fantastic actor... Again, how could they, after listening to three and a half weeks of testimony about how I was a non-credible person. Not to believe a word that came out of my mouth."
Johnny Depp Came Out Ahead With the Trial Verdict
Johnny Depp had sued Amber Heard for defamation based on an op-ed she had written in 2018 describing herself as a survivor of domestic abuse and sexual violence. Heard countersued, claiming that public comments made by Depp's former attorney, Adam Waldman, had defamed her. Depp was seeking $50 million in damages while Heard sued for $100 million.
Ultimately, the jury found Heard guilty on all three counts of alleged defamation, awarding Depp $15 million in damages. Depp was found liable on one of three counts of defamation in Heard's counterclaim, and she was awarded $2 million. There has been talk of Depp waiving the damages, meaning Heard wouldn't have to pay, as his lawyers say the trial was about clearing his name. Be that as it may, Heard is sticking with her story, as seen in her new Today interview.