MEAWW.COM / NEWS / CELEBRITY NEWS

‘Johnny vs Amber The US Trial’: First look at new documentary on Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamation case

The riveting trailer takes a look at the testimony of both parties during the trial, which took place this summer in Virginia and from which Depp ultimately emerged victorious

BY SHIVAM BANIK

PUBLISHED SEP 14, 2022

'Johnny vs Amber The US Trial,' the two-part documentary is airing exclusively on Discovery+ on Tuesday, 20 September (Discovery)

'Johnny vs Amber: The US Trial' a two-part docuseries by Discovery + chronicles the highly publicized court battle between the former married couple, in which Depp tried to clear his name of domestic abuse allegations. The two-part documentary is airing exclusively on Discovery+ on Tuesday, 20 September.

According to the synopsis of the miniseries, "With intimate access to Johnny Depp’s lawyers, legal experts and journalists, the series gives a forensic account of the key evidence and turning points of the case from both sides, allowing viewers to make up their own minds about who to believe."

Amber Heard says she acted 'horrible' in relationship with Johnny Depp, fans say 'thank god he got AWAY'

The gripping teaser examines both parties' testimony throughout the trial, which took place in Virginia this summer and saw Depp emerge triumphant. We see the court being told of a text from Depp which read: "She's begging for total global humiliation." It is also believed that the most compelling aspect of Heard's case was that Depp was not always aware of his own behavior as a result of substance abuse."I'm not proud of any of the language that I've used," Depp said in another scene from the court.

Johnny Depp steps outside court during his civil trial at Fairfax County Circuit Court on April 25, 2022 in Fairfax, Virginia. Depp is seeking $50 million in alleged damages to his career over an op-ed Heard wrote in the Washington Post in 2018. — Johnny Depp (Paul Morigi/Getty Images)

Heard later says: "I've received thousands of death threats since this trial started, people mocking my testimony about being assaulted. "I just want them to leave me alone."

The two-part documentary will premiere on Discovery+ on Tuesday, September 20th. Following Heard's purported charges, Depp lost a libel case in the UK against The Sun tabloid, which labeled him as a "wife beater."

Actress Amber Heard (R) departs the Fairfax County Courthouse on June 1, 2022 in Fairfax, Virginia. The jury in the Depp vs. Heard case awarded actor Johnny Depp $15 million in his defamation case against Heard. — Actress Amber Heard (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Heard announced via a spokesperson after the trial that she would be appealing the verdict. "We believe the court made errors that prevented a just and fair verdict consistent with the First Amendment," a spokesperson said. "We are therefore appealing the verdict." They added: "While we realize today's filing will ignite the Twitter bonfires, there are steps we need to take to ensure both fairness and justice."

Meanwhile, Depp's spokesman alerted Entertainment Weekly about the potential appeal: "The jury listened to the extensive evidence presented during the six-week trial and came to a clear and unanimous verdict that the defendant herself defamed Mr Depp in multiple instances. We remain confident in our case and that this verdict will stand."

The trial revolved around an op-ed Heard published for the Washington Post in 2018, in which she claimed to have been a victim of domestic abuse. Despite without name Depp, he alleges that the work defamed him and caused him to lose several acting roles, including his renowned part as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

According to Heard's spokesperson, the lawsuit is primarily about freedom of speech. "When it comes to protecting the fundamental right of Freedom of Speech, we look at the jury's decision – to paraphrase a famous quote – not 'as the beginning of the end, but merely the end of the beginning'."