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'Next week Walmart': Broke Amber Heard 'spotted' by TMZ shopping at TJ Maxx, pics go viral

Heard was spotted with her sister Whitney Henriquez shopping at a TJ Maxx in Bridgehampton, New York on Thursday afternoon

Amber Heard was accused of staging a "PR stunt" to draw sympathy after TMZ spotted the actress shopping at a bargain store on Thursday, June 19.

Heard, 36, is facing an expensive ordeal after losing a defamation case to her ex-husband Johnny Depp, 59. Earlier this month, a Virginia-based jury ruled overwhelmingly in Depp's favor and awarded him more than $10 million in damages after deciding that Heard defamed him in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed about becoming a "public figure representing domestic abuse." While she did not mention Depp in the essay, his lawyers argued that the implications were obvious and damaged their client's career. The seven-member jury also awarded Heard $2 million in damages on one of her three defamation counterclaims.

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Now, TMZ has obtained a video showing Heard shopping at a TJ Maxx in Bridgehampton, New York on Thursday afternoon. She was accompanied at the store by her sister Whitney Henriquez, who testified in court on her behalf. The tabloid reported that the siblings were "perusing racks for clothes, and at one point they were heard discussing white linen pants." The outlet noted how Heard "scrammed" when she noticed cameras rolling.

While it's unclear what they ended up purchasing, it's interesting to note that Heard is spending time in bargain stores in the wake of her apparent financial difficulties. Her lawyers have already declared on national television that she can't afford to pay the $8.3 million in damages awarded to Depp by the jury. However, Depp's attorneys have signaled he might not collect the payout if Heard chooses not to appeal the jury verdict.

It's obvious that Heard is going through a rough patch. She could be forced to pay money that she doesn't have, and is also at risk of losing future Hollywood prospects following the defamation verdict.

Depp's fans, however, did not miss the opportunity to mock Heard after the video surfaced. Some accused the star of tipping off TMZ and orchestrating a PR stunt. "Who edited the start and end where she chews out a store assistant and then punches Whitney?" one quipped on Twitter, referring to allegedly doctored video evidence that Heard's lawyers played in court. Another user painted a scenario in which Heard orchestrated a PR stunt to draw sympathy. "*Tips off TMZ* 'Shopping for budget clothes. I’m one of the little people. One of you.' After spending an interview telling everyone she’s smarter than them, and it backfiring, she is once again trying to shut the stable door after the horses have fled and are two states away," they wrote.

Several others agreed that the outing was likely a staged event. "It's a PR stunt After the articles about renting a Manson for 22.000 USD per month and riding a private jet, her PR team is working to improve her reputation," a comment read. "Amber tipped off TMZ (again) to make people feel sorry for her for shopping at a department store. OH, POOR AMBER. Next week she’ll be shopping at… WALMART," another joked. "'I owe millions so I'll tip off TMZ that I'm shopping in a bargain store to make it look like I'm struggling, so that Johnny feels sorry for me and lets me off the money.' There's no way her ego would let her shop there publicly otherwise," someone else offered.