Morgan Tremaine says ‘Kitchen Cabinet’ video that TMZ received did NOT show Amber Heard 'snickering'
On Wednesday, May 25, a former TMZ employee, Morgan Tremaine, testified in the Johnny Depp v Amber Heard trial, claiming that he approached Depp's lawyer, Camille Vasquez, about a video that was being used as evidence in the trial. TMZ got a video of Depp banging kitchen cabinets and shouting before understanding he was being taped in 2016, according to Tremaine. The video was exhibited to the jury a few weeks ago and was used as evidence against Depp, but Tremaine claimed that the video shown in court appeared to be manipulated compared to the one sent to TMZ via email.
After confirming the video, TMZ placed a copyright on it, and it was published on the outlet's website within minutes, according to Tremaine. He claimed that the video was not modified by TMZ and that it was only available on TMZ since it was exclusive. He went on to say that the footage used in the trial was significantly lengthier than the one they got from TMZ.
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The video used in court, according to his evidence, showed more in the beginning, when Heard is allegedly setting up the camera she used to capture Depp in the kitchen, and a little more at the end, when Tremaine said "She's [Heard] seemingly snickering, and looks at the camera. That part was not present in what we received." Tremaine said that he contacted Vasquez about the disparity several days ago, indicating he wanted to assist with the "timeline."
WATCH: Jurors are shown a video that Heard recorded during her marriage, in which Depp punches kitchen cabinets. She testifies she took the video, "Because I was scared." #JohnnyDepp #AmberHeard @LawCrimeNetwork pic.twitter.com/gwtQJ4jtQV
— Sierra Gillespie (@sierragillespie) May 16, 2022
"I saw that there was a discrepancy with the video that was shown here and the video that I know I've received. I had no interest in testifying. I had reached out simply to maybe try and help with the timeline of things, or help with the case in any way just by virtue of understanding the timeline of the stories that were published," Tremaine stated, "but I had no idea I would be on the stand."
Elaine Bredehoft, Heard's lawyer, claimed during cross-examination that Tremaine was only concerned with gaining his "15 minutes of fame." "I stand to gain nothing from this," Tremaine remarked with a smile. He stated, "I'm putting myself in the target of TMZ, a very litigious organization. And I'm not seeking any 15 minutes here." Tremaine told to Bredehoft, "I can say the same about taking Amber Heard as a client for you."
On the basis of 'journalist's privilege,' TMZ attempted to submit an emergency request to prevent Tremaine from testifying in the trial and potentially revealing an anonymous source. The owners of TMZ wrote in their court application that they promised their video source that they would not reveal any information about them, and that "TMZ makes such promises of confidentiality from time to time so that it may publish information in the public interest, and it relies on the journalist's privilege to do so." Depp and Heard's $50 million defamation trial is nearing its climax, with closing arguments slated for Friday.