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'Boss move': Johnny Depp lauded after lawyers hint he may NOT take Amber Heard's money

Depp's lawyers Ben Chew and Camille Vasquez dismissed suggestions that the Virginia-based jury was unfairly swayed by social media

Johnny Depp's attorneys were lauded on social media after a series of TV interviews on Wednesday, June 8, during which they suggested that the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' star may not collect his $10.4 million payout from his ex-wife Amber Heard as he was satisfied after finally clearing his name.

In one of the most-discussed trials in recent times, a Virginia-based jury ruled in a unanimous decision that Heard, 36, defamed Depp, 58, when she called herself a victim of domestic abuse in a 2018 op-ed for The Washington Post. Heard was ordered to pay $15 million in damages, including $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, but Judge Penney Azcarate reduced the punitive damages to $350,000 as per Virginia state law. Meanwhile, the jury also awarded Heard compensatory damages of $2 million as she was defamed when Depp's lawyer Adam Waldman called her abuse allegations a hoax.

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“We obviously can’t disclose attorney-client communications, but as Mr Depp testified … this was never about money for Mr Depp,” Attorney Ben Chew told “Good Morning America” host George Stephanopoulos when asked about Heard’s apparent fear of going bankrupt. “This was about restoring his reputation — and he’s done that,” Chew continued. “It was a total win for Johnny." In another interview on the "Today" show, Chew dismissed the possibility of the actress overturning the decision. “We feel very confident that there are no errors that would justify any kind of successful appeal,” he said.

Depp was showered with praise after his lawyers suggested he may not collect the $10.4 million payout from Heard. "Boss move by Depp to not want any money from Amber Heard. It also shows that he’s a good dude, and it was never about the money. He wanted his name cleared," one fan gushed.

"Johnny out here playing that Humble card, ain’t no way Amber letting go 15m if she’d won," another tweeted. "If he never collects on the judgment, Johnny might go down as the coolest customer of all time," someone else added. "He's not bothered, he just wanted the world to see what a lying scheming individual amber heard is," another offered.

Camille Vasquez, who became a celebrity in her own right after her passionate defense of Depp in court, said it was "disappointing" that Heard's team called the victory a blow to women's rights and the #MeToo movement. The 37-year-old lawyer, who was promoted this week to a partner in her law firm, said they brought Heard down by “using her words against her.”

“The key to victory was focusing on the facts and the evidence, and Johnny’s opportunity to speak the truth for the first time,” she told Stephanopoulos, adding, it was “six years in the making.” She explained, “Every question that was asked was tied to something she had said previously. And I think the jury got to see, the world got to see and hear from Miss Heard” about the truth in the couple’s toxic relationship. We believe that evidence speaks for itself. … The jury made a unanimous decision based on those facts." Vasquez added, “We encourage any victims to come forward, domestic violence doesn’t have a gender." 

Both Chew and Vasquez dismissed suggestions that the jury was unfairly swayed by social media. Chew also said it was “absolutely absurd and baseless” to suggest that the support Depp received from his fans online was part of an orchestrated campaign. Vasquez told 'Today' that claims of the actor encouraging or paying for the support were "categorically false." Chew insisted that their client won over his fans, as well as the jury, by taking "accountability" for his actions during his toxic marriage with Heard.

“Johnny owned his issues. He was very candid about his alcohol and drug issues. He was candid about some unfortunate texts that he wrote,” the attorney told the NBC News show. “And I think it was a sharp contrast to Ms Heard who … didn’t take accountability for anything.” Vasquez revealed that the victory had left Depp with “just an overwhelming sense of relief.” She said, “I was speaking with another friend of ours, a mutual friend of Johnny’s and ours, and he said, ‘I haven’t seen Johnny smile like that in six years.'” Chew agreed, saying the actor was "over the moon" at the decision. “The weight of the world is off his shoulders. He’s got his life back,” he added.

Meanwhile, Vasquez acknowledged her own unexpected celebrity status following the trial. “It’s been surreal, and if I’m being honest, a bit overwhelming,” she told GMA. “But if I can be an inspiration to young women that want to go to law school and study and work hard, then it was all worth it,” she added.