Johnny Depp has once again addressed his intense defamation trial with ex-wife Amber Heard.
The year 2022 saw two significant dramas from Hollywood unfold over a short span of weeks.
On March 27, Will Smith received his long-awaited Oscar, a win many felt was overdue. However, the victory was overshadowed by his actions at the ceremony.
The previously admired actor faced a backlash after he slapped Chris Rock onstage and shouted, “keep my wife’s name out your f***ing mouth.”
Shortly after, the spotlight shifted back to courtrooms when Depp sued Heard for defamation and won all three claims against her, even as she countersued.
This legal battle started in 2018 when Heard published an op-ed in The Washington Post titled, “I spoke up against sexual violence – and faced our culture’s wrath. That has to change.”
Ultimately, the seven-week trial concluded in Depp’s favor, awarding him $15 million in compensatory and punitive damages, according to the BBC.
Heard was awarded $2 million in compensation after prevailing on one of her three counter-claims against Depp.
The couple wed in 2015 but divorced two years later. Given the circumstances, it’s likely they harbor strong negative feelings towards each other.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Depp discussed the situation while promoting his upcoming biopic Modi, centering on Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani, whom Depp also portrays. This marks his third directorial venture following 1997’s The Brave and 1993’s Stuff.
Depp stated: “I can sit here this very second and think about all the hit pieces, and how everybody was against me, and yeah, yeah, yeah, he is off the map… endless stuff.
“I can remember it all. Went through it all. Some of it was not the most beautiful time, some of it was hilarious. Some of it was mad.
“The thing is, it simply just was, and it simply just is. So, for me, it happened. I learned, man. Everything that we experience, whether you’re given a snow cone or walking your dog, you learn something somewhere along the way.”
He further commented: “So I don’t have any ill feelings toward anyone. I don’t have this great reserve of hatred, because hatred requires caring. Why carry that baggage?”
It appears Depp, known for his role in Pirates of the Caribbean, has moved on, as has Heard, who relocated to Spain with her daughter to escape public scrutiny.
When questioned about maintaining focus on his films’ authenticity amidst personal turmoil, he responded: “Oh yes, of course, it is my responsibility. But it is also helpful in certain instances, especially when things are crumbling all around.”