The legal team of Johnny Depp isn't buying what Amber Heard's lawyers have been saying since the verdict was read at their defamation trial. Ultimately, a jury sided heavily with Depp by awarding him damages on all three counts of alleged defamation. The actor's name was also cleared as a domestic abuser with the jury finding Heard's allegations to be "false and defamatory." Depp didn't win unscathed, as he was found liable for one of three counts of defamation with Heard's counterclaim, but the trial can overall be seen as a win for Depp.
After the trial, Heard's attorney Elaine Bredehoft said in a televised interview that social media chatter about the case swayed the jury's decision. Heard and her attorneys have also criticized the verdict by calling it a "setback" for women and the #MeToo movement. A statement released by Heard after the verdict said that the decision "sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously," and that women will be "publicly shamed and humiliated" for speaking out.
Speaking about the case on Good Morning America (via Variety), Depp's attorneys Camille Vasquez and Ben Chew dismissed the idea that social media affected the verdict. The legal team stated that the jury had reviewed all of the evidence that was presented to them in the trial and made their decision based on this and nothing else. As Chew said:
“Social media played no role whatsoever. This was a decision made by the jury on the evidence presented by both sides, and as Camille said [earlier in the interview], it was overwhelmingly in Mr. Depp’s favor.”
In a separate interview with Today, Chew also said of the situation:
“No, I don’t think there’s any reason to believe that the jurors violated their oath. And again, that suggestion was disappointing to hear [from Heard’s lawyer Elaine Bredehoft].”
Vasquez, who has since been promoted to partner at her law firm, added:
“It is everywhere, but at the same time, they were admonished every single night. They had a tremendous amount of respect for the court and the process, and they were doing they best that they could.”
Team Depp Insists the Verdict Isn't a Setback
The notion that Johnny Depp coming out ahead in the trial hurts the #MeToo movement is also something Camille Vasquez and Ben Chew are not accepting. Vasquez stressed that "domestic violence doesn't have a gender," arguing that this isn't a case of siding with one gender over another, but going by the evidence to determine who had genuinely been abused. Vasquez explained:
“I think our response to that is we encourage any victim to come forward. Domestic violence doesn’t have a gender. We do not [think it has any negative impact to the #MeToo movement]. We believe that the verdict speaks for itself, the facts are what they were, the jury made a unanimous decision based on those facts.”
Amber Heard's legal team has stated their intentions to appeal, but for now, Johnny Depp wants everyone to "move forward together."