Piers Morgan Uncensored - Piers Morgan Uncensored: Johnny Depp & Amber Heard Verdict

Episode Date: June 1, 2022

On today's show, Piers reacts to the Johnny Depp & Amber Heard defamation trial verdict live. With guests including Lady Colin Campbell and Katie Nichol in the studio and Sharon Osborne, Tomi Lahren, ...Lisa Bloom and Janice Dickinson joining from across the pond. Watch Piers Morgan Uncensored at 8 pm on TalkTV on Sky 526, Virgin Media 627, Freeview 237 and Freesat 217. Listen on DAB+ and app. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:04 Lisa, can you hear me? Yes, I can. Hello, peers. Lisa, great to talk to you. We're about to get this verdict. How important is the verdict in this case? I think it's very important. This is the most high-profile domestic violence case that any of us has ever seen.
Starting point is 00:00:21 And as somebody who represents many, many women in cases of sexual misconduct and abuse, I know that my clients are all watching this very closely. They're hoping that Amber Hurd is going to get justice. Do you think she should win Amber her? Because, I mean, I'll give you my honest unfettered take on this. I found both of them pretty repellent. I have to say, the more lurid the details that have come out,
Starting point is 00:00:44 it's almost like a stain on all their houses and on ours, frankly, for gorging over this stuff. But do you believe that she's A, credible, and that B, she's a genuine victim? I do on both of those. I think she also had some abusive acts that she committed herself. there's no question about it. But who was the one who was wealthier, physically stronger?
Starting point is 00:01:13 Sorry, I think we just lost you there, Lisa. Keep going. Okay. Somebody was talking to me. Sorry. So I think he was the one is more powerful, physically stronger, bigger, wealthier. And when you look at some of his texts where he talks about wanting to murder her and have sex with her dead body, that shows you the kind of person he is,
Starting point is 00:01:32 he's the one that brought this case. He's the one that's responsible for both of them being in the courtroom, airing their dirty laundry in front of the whole world. He failed to call off his army of trolls that was so cruel and threatening to her on social media throughout the whole case. So yes, I think he's the primary perpetrator here and she's the primary victim. And the last thing I'll say is, you know, this is just a defamation case about whether her saying in an article that she was a representative of domestic violence, whether that's defamatory. She would only have to win one incident to win the case. So I think she's in the better position. Lisa, just hold fire there for a moment.
Starting point is 00:02:08 I want to bring in Lady Victoria because you were actually at Jeff Beck's concert last night of the Albert Hall where Johnny Deppie's here in London. And he went on stage and he played with his great friend Jeff Beck. He got good reviews actually for how he played. He's still here, we think. He's not at the courtroom. She's gone to the courtroom, Amber Heard. And apparently her people are already saying, well, doesn't this say at all? He's gallivanting on a rock concert over there.
Starting point is 00:02:31 I think we've got live footage from the courtroom. Let me just hold fire here. I think we may have the judge coming into the courtroom. So we'll get a verdict any moment and we'll go live when we get it. Maybe listen to just to see what the judge says. For everybody in the gallery, reminded us that this is a court of law. And regardless of the verdict, I will not tolerate any outburst whatsoever. Okay.
Starting point is 00:02:51 Thank you. We're just looking live here at the courtroom in the United States where the verdict in the Johnny Depp Amber Heard case is about to be announced. The judge is now in the courtroom, so it's going to be here imminently. I think that is the verdict literally being handed now. So let's go back to the courtroom and the judge. If I can have the attorney's approach for a moment. Well, that is Amber Heard there.
Starting point is 00:04:38 We're still waiting for this result to be announced. She's there. Johnny Depp's not. He's here in London. And her people have already been briefing that they think that speaks volumes, that she's bothered to turn up for the verdict. And Johnny Depp has not. But they were both told they didn't have to be there by the judge.
Starting point is 00:04:55 So this is not something Johnny Depp has done wrong necessarily. But Amber heard people saying it's telling that he's not. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, what I need you to do, I need to give the forms back to you. When you find for a defamatory statement, one or more, you need to fill out the compensatory damages. It has to be at least a dollar for compensatory damages and up to whatever you feel the damages should be.
Starting point is 00:05:20 And for punitive damages, you can put a zero there or you can fill out that as well. But I'd need those lines filled out. Okay. All right. So if I can have you retire back to the liberation room and do that for me, okay? So I think what's happened there is the jury, I think, have been told to go out and work out what damages they should be giving whoever has won this case. So we'll be in recess till we hear back from them. Don't go too far. Okay. Thank you.
Starting point is 00:05:56 Yeah, so I think that's what's happened here is I think that the jury have been told, right, go out. You can give nought dollars, the judge said, damages. If you believe that basically the case has been won by other party, but you don't believe, having heard all the evidence as a jury that they deserve any money from this. It is a civil case, not a criminal case. So they've gone off, they're literally going to put, on the document that the judge has asked them to address, they're going to put a figure.
Starting point is 00:06:23 And that figure will, of course, they already know what their verdict is. So that figure will be how much they think the person that they've decided has won this. Remember, Johnny Depp has brought the action against Amber Heard. She's brought a counter action. But it may be, of course, that you've got a verdict. and no one gets a dollar, which in itself would be a telling statement from the jury. Let's go back here. Let me just ask Lisa, I'm a legal point.
Starting point is 00:06:45 Lisa, just, I think you're there, Lisa? Yes, I'm here. Just to ask you about what's going on here, I think I heard that right, that the judges sent them off to basically put down in writing what they think the damages should be. Yes, absolutely. So we don't know who won. Somebody won. Johnny Depp sued Amber Heard for defamation for San Francisco for San Francisco.
Starting point is 00:07:07 She was a representative of domestic abuse. She then countersued him for $100 million for basically calling her a liar. So one of them has won. We don't know which one it is. But whoever won, so far, they have won $0 because the jury somehow has failed to fill in the part of the form that says, you know, how much the damages would be. So as you say, peers, you're correct. It could be $1. It could be $1 million.
Starting point is 00:07:32 It could be $100 million. I don't know how the jury failed to do that. I'm a little concerned about this jury if they failed to fill that out on the form but anyway, they now have to go back in and figure that out. Let me ask you, Lisa. Or it could take hours and hours.
Starting point is 00:07:47 Right, and on the issue of the damages, if they were to come back with naught, so they found for Johnny Depp, for argument's sake, and they come back with nought dollars damages, or conversely, they come back with $10 million or $20 million. What are the $100 million? If they come back with nothing,
Starting point is 00:08:06 a very big amount. What does that say about the jury's thinking? Well, they can't come back with nothing. It has to be at least $1. That's what the judge just instructed them, but $1 is effectively nothing. Then I think what they would be saying is whoever won, okay, technically you won, but we don't really like you. We don't really like your case. And we just, you won, but we're not going to give you very much. That's very significant. Of course, a big number would show that the person who won really has suffered a lot emotionally. You know, Johnny Depp says his career tanked after Amber Heard made these comments about him. This was a big dispute in the trial about whether his career was tanking anyway or whether it's
Starting point is 00:08:46 because of her allegations. So it's going to be very interesting to see which party won and how much money they win ultimately. Okay. Let me come back to Lady Victoria Harvey. You were at this concert last night. Johnny Depp was there. And I think you went to the after party and Kate Moss was there and Sharon Osborne, who we hope to speak to as well. What's the mood around Johnny Depp about all this?
Starting point is 00:09:07 I mean, for him, what I sort of learned about him is his sort of therapy is music. And I think for him, he wanted to take his mind off the stress of the trial and the opportunity came up for him to play with Jeff Beck and music's his passion. Do you think he's a victim, Johnny Depp? I do. Like, in this case, from what I know from Amber's past and, you know, experiences of meeting her ex and knowing that she did hit her and beat her up.
Starting point is 00:09:42 You know, she's not, you know, innocent. Obviously it was a volatile relationship and Johnny had a, you know, alcohol problem and that, but he's not a violent person. He does, I mean, some of the texts are disgusting. When he talks about her corpse and what he wants to do and so on. People can say things, but not actually...
Starting point is 00:10:01 I don't know anyone that would actually talk about setting fire to their... their wife's corpse. I mean, it was pretty depraved stuff he was coming out. I think it was quite a passionate relationship. You don't think so? He's an artist, right? So he writes things. They don't have to be depraved, do they?
Starting point is 00:10:17 Let me call it. You're bristling. I think it's figures of speech. I think he was, you know, and in the heat of the moment, you say something. I want to set fire to my wife's corpse. Well, quite frankly, the way she behaved, I'm not surprised he said things like that. Really?
Starting point is 00:10:33 Well, yeah, actually. I sold her behavior as beyond disgusting. I mean, who takes a crap in someone's bed and tries to blame Yorkie when it's... Well, that's what he says. No, no, no. But it's well-known. Like, it's, there's a lot of stuff. Katie, you're a royal expert. But you're also...
Starting point is 00:10:49 You're also a journalist. I did do showbiz. I did do showbiz at the Mail on Sunday for 10 years. I mean, I can't ever... So what's your take on this case? Oh my gosh. I think the whole thing is so tawdry and just... I don't see...
Starting point is 00:11:02 Apart from the lawyer. actually, who are the winners. I don't see that there are any winners in all of this. She comes off appallingly. He comes off appallingly. It's just really debased and really unsavory. I feel that. Funny enough, I know people who know Johnny Depp really well.
Starting point is 00:11:20 Joan Collins talks very highly about a time that she met him. Catherine Jenkins, her husband made a movie with Johnny Debt recently. Talks very highly about him. A lot of people say he's actually a good guy. I met him years ago. I think it was at the Cannes Film Festival. And he was charming. And he was lovely.
Starting point is 00:11:35 But then you never know what goes on behind closed doors. But we do know what goes on behind closed doors. Yeah. And she said him up. Like, I mean, he had an alcohol problem and she would put like ice cream on him and take photos. Like, who does that? And also, also tellingly, with her numerous tapings over the years, not once does she get him striking her? Right.
Starting point is 00:11:58 But on tape, on tape. And there is tape of her abusing him. to hit her. I mean, it's obviously a very toxic. Just to any of you is tuning in. We're waiting for the verdict. The jury's been sent back out because they're now actually assessing
Starting point is 00:12:12 what damages they will give. Here is the courtroom. Jury's not there at the moment. We will go live the moment that jury comes back in. They're just working out how much they want to give the person that they have found for. So we don't know if they found for Johnny Depp or Amber Heard,
Starting point is 00:12:28 but the judge has said to everyone, stay close, stay in the courtroom. It shouldn't take long. A little incompetent, I might suggest, of this jury. They had two jobs, verdict and damages, and they forgot half of them. But they've been told to go out and do that. And it's live, and this is what happens in breaking news. We'll bring it to the moment we can.
Starting point is 00:12:48 While we've got a moment before we get this verdict, let's pivot slightly to the Platinum Jubilee, which is really what you were all three booked to come and talk about. It's going to be massive tomorrow, Katie. We've covered a lot of raw thing. We covered the last Jubilee. We covered weddings together. We did, yes.
Starting point is 00:13:02 I'm going to be there covering it for Fox live, and it's going to be an amazing event. I'm excited because, sadly, it will be the last Jubilee that we ever see with this monarch. She's the longest reigning. She's the oldest of our monarchs. And in my estimation, she's the greatest. Well, it's certainly going to be the only platinum Jubilee that any of us are going to celebrate. That we can say with certainty. I was down there all day today with CBC for Canada, who I'm co-anchoring with, I'm with the BBC tomorrow.
Starting point is 00:13:31 The mood down there is one of real excitement. The crowds are just beginning to gather on the mouth. People are already queuing overnight. There are people camping. Yeah, I know. My mother camped on the mouth for Diana's wedding and Fergie's wedding. You know, when it comes to... I mean, we've got mad monarchies to my family.
Starting point is 00:13:46 Listen, when it comes to royal fans, the madness has no vows. And they want to be there to witness this moment. So I think it is going to be a very historic occasion. I think we absolutely will see the Queen tomorrow. Because remember, there's been uncertainty about how much we're going to see her. I mean, let's think back to 2012. She was very present. She won't be, everything.
Starting point is 00:14:04 I'm told we may see two sightings on the balcony is what people have potentially to be there. I think that's what we can probably expect. But as Buckingham Palace has said, until the morning of the day itself, we just have to wait and see. But I think she's going to absolutely want to be there for trooping. This is something that her father brought that fly past to the balcony.
Starting point is 00:14:23 It's been happening since Queen Victoria. She's going to want to be there. And she's going to want to be there for the service of Thanksgiving. I think what's going to be very interesting is. Even, well, that is, to me, that's going to be even the more fascinating one, because you're going to see Megan and Harry, who apparently have just got back into London today and gone to Frogmore Cottage. On a private jet, one act.
Starting point is 00:14:43 Was it a private jet? One act of compassion followed by one act of a private jet at a time. Do you know it was a private jet? Yes. Oh, you do? In Farnborough. Well, if it was a private jet, it's such brave. I mean, the levels of hypocrisy of these two.
Starting point is 00:15:00 never cease to astound me. If they've literally, these two eco-warriers have come here on a private jet, I just, words fail me. Let's talk about them in a moment. Let's talk, though, about Prince Andrew. The elephant in the room, quite literally, we don't know if we're even going to see him tomorrow
Starting point is 00:15:16 or at the Thanksgiving service. I would imagine we may at some stage because the Queen, remember, asked Andrew to escort her down the aisle when we had Prince Phillips Memorial, which everyone was shocked to see, a statement by the Queen of Samoa, support for her son. You two, I think, share of you that Andrew is, you know, he's been
Starting point is 00:15:36 mistreated, that he's somehow a victim in all this, right? He is. He is. He's undoubtedly been victimized. Why is he paid millions of dollars to a woman who accused him of illegal sexual assault? There we disagree, because your sources say a certain figure. My sources say a completely different people. I know for, let me just, for the record, I know for an unequivocal fact. it is millions and millions of dollars. It's not even a question of debate. I know it's millions and millions up to 10 million, right?
Starting point is 00:16:08 So this was a massive check, which he has paid, having said to the world, I'm going to call, I'm going to clear my name, I'm going to clear my name, and then he paid a check, he doesn't admit liability, but he pays a massive check and doesn't clear his name. Well, he wasn't allowed to, that was a problem, because it would have taken away, you know, the Jubilee celebrations, and it would have been ongoing,
Starting point is 00:16:30 it was something that he didn't really have a choice in. He had to make the sacrifice for his mother, and he did. And, you know, I think he should be commended. Oh, come off it. Commended? Yes, he should be. What's his crime? He stops.
Starting point is 00:16:44 Well, I'll tell you what his alleged crime was. His alleged crime was. I know what he was in... I'll tell you what we know for a fact. Is that after Jeffrey Epstein, the billionaire pedophile, right? He can all agree... He's not a paedophile. Do get your facts.
Starting point is 00:16:57 Well, he was actually a convicted paedophile. No. a feebo file. He solicited a minor for prostitution. A paedophile is prepubescent, a hebofile is transitional and post-pubescent is a fibrofile. These are all medical terms. Are you familiar with the phrase splitting hairs? And not splitting hair. Here's my point. I have cancer the liver. You don't die of cancer of the brain. Here's my point about this. He was convicted Epstein in 2008 or of this soliciting a minor for prostitution. And Andrew still carried on spending time with him at his New York home with women coming
Starting point is 00:17:35 and going after the conviction. So whatever view you take of it all, that is indisputable. That was a mistake and he should have been protected by agents, MI5. Just hold one sec. We're just going back to the courtroom. It's 8.15. We're live here at the courtroom for the verdict in the Depp-heard civil trial. Just to recap, Johnny Depp is suing three counts of defamation against his former wife Amber Heard,
Starting point is 00:18:04 seeking $100 million in damages, saying that his, and she in return is seeking $100 million. I'm sorry. He's suing for $50 million. She countersued for $100 million, and we're waiting for the verdict from the jury. They were supposed to give the verdict a few minutes ago, but they forgot to put on the bit of paper for the judge how much they were going to be giving in debt. So they'll be sent off by the judge. He's a bit annoyed to go and do that. So we're going to come back to this when we get the jury back in the room, which could be any moment.
Starting point is 00:18:33 So we'll come back to that. Let me just come back to you, Katie, about the Prince Andrew case. Because if he does pop up tomorrow, for example, or if he pops up in the, you know, St. Paul's Cathedral, it's going to be such a huge moment which could overshadow everything else. It could. But then the Sussex's with Lillibet could also overshadow this Jubilee. I mean, you've got, the thing is, with the narrative of the platinum jubilee, which should totally be centred on Her Majesty, the Queen, you have got these sort of subsidiary stories,
Starting point is 00:19:03 which have created scandalous headlines for the past two, three years or longer in the case of Andrew. And, you know, I think, well, the court is in a very difficult position, really, they can't control the narrative. I think let's hope the Sussex is... I'm just going to let you know if we have to go live. Well, we're just doing a few little exciting wishes. There's actually nothing happening at the moment,
Starting point is 00:19:24 Just tell me to shut up here, if I need to. I'll tell you what we've got. We've got Julia Jeney from Court TV. Julia, can you hear me, Julia? I can hear you. Great to be with you. Great to see you. Just very quickly, recap for us what's going on right now in that courtroom. Well, we learned about an hour and a half ago that the jury had reached a verdict. But the thing of the matter is, that verdict form doesn't get shown to the judge
Starting point is 00:19:52 until that verdict was about to be read into the record. Three o'clock Eastern here, 8 o'clock where you are. But when the jurors actually came into the courtroom and the judge looked at that paper, she noticed something wrong. And she asked the attorneys to come up. We don't know exactly what she told to them, but she said to these jurors, you haven't heard out something very important on this form. I've got to leave it there, Julia, because we have got the judge back.
Starting point is 00:20:17 It looks like we're about to get more comments from a judge. Listen to this. So the judge, Penny Ascarati, is a former Marine, has now back in the courtroom. The jury are coming back in. Amber Hurd is there. She's standing up waiting for this verdict, which could be, of course, life-changing for her and Johnny Depp. He's not there. He's here in London. He was on stage with Jeff Beck last night, the Royal Albert Hall, playing his guitar and singing with his old friend. Amber Hurd's people making a big play of that, saying, if it means that much to him, why is he gallivanting on stage in London and not here for the verdict? But the judge did say they didn't have to be there if they didn't want to. But this is a moment that's going to define, really, I think, the few. for both of these people. Two big movie stars,
Starting point is 00:21:25 Johnny Depp, one of the biggest movie stars in history. If he was to lose this case, I would argue that his Hollywood career made me over. Let's go to the judge. Is it unanimous? Thank you, sir. In civil case number, CL 2019, 2911, Mr. Depp's claim against Ms. Heard.
Starting point is 00:21:52 One, as to the statement appearing in the online op-ed entitled Amber heard, I spoke up against sexual violence and faced our culture's wrath. That has to change. In the Washington Post's online edition, quote, I spoke up against sexual violence and faced our culture's wrath. That has to change, end quote. Do you find that Mr. Depp has proven all the elements of defamation? Answer, yes. Has Mr. Depp proven by a greater weight of the evidence That question, the statement was made or published by Ms. Heard? Answer, yes.
Starting point is 00:22:34 The statement was about Mr. Depp. Answer, yes. Question, the statement was false. Answer, yes. Question, the statement has a defamatory implication about Mr. Depp. Answer, yes. Question, the defamatory implication was a defamatory implication was a designed and intended by Ms. Hurd? Answer, yes. Question, due to circumstances surrounding the
Starting point is 00:23:05 publication of the statement, it conveyed a defamatory implication to someone who saw it other than Mr. Depp? Answer, yes. Do you find that Mr. Depp has proven by clear and convincing evidence that Ms. Hurd acted with actual malice? Answer, yes. Two, as to the statement appearing in the op-ed entitled A Transformative Moment for Women in the Washington Post print edition and the online op-ed, Amber heard I spoke up against sexual violence and faced our culture's wrath that has to change in the Washington Post online edition. Quote, then two years ago I became a public figure representing domestic abuse and I felt the full force of our culture's wrath.
Starting point is 00:24:00 for women who speak out." Do you find that Mr. Depp has proven all the elements of defamation? Answer, yes. Has Mr. Depp proven by a greater weight of the evidence that, question, the statement was made or published by Ms. Heard? Answer, yes. Question, the statement was about Mr. Depp. Answer, yes.
Starting point is 00:24:27 Question, the statement was false. answer yes question the statement has a defamatory implication about mr. Depp answer yes question the defamatory implication was designed and intended by Ms. Hurd answer yes question due to circumstances surrounding the publication of the statement it conveyed a defamatory implication to someone who saw it other than mr. Depp answer Yes. Do you find that Mr. Depp has proven by clear and convincing evidence that Ms. Hurd acted with actual malice? Answer, yes. Three, as to the statement, appearing in the op-ed, entitled A Transformative Moment for Women in the Washington Post print edition, and the online op-ed
Starting point is 00:25:24 Amber heard, I spoke up against sexual violence and faced our culture's wrath. That has to change in the Washington Post online edition. Quote, I had the rare vantage point of seeing in real time how institutions protect men accused of abuse, end quote. Do you find that Mr. Depp has proven all the elements of defamation? Answer, yes. Has Mr. Depp proven by, a greater weight of the evidence that question the statement was made or published by ms heard answer yes question the statement was about mr. death answer yes question the statement was false answer yes question the statement has a defamatory implication about mr. debt answer yes question the defamatory implication
Starting point is 00:26:24 was designed and intended by Ms. Hurd? Answer, yes. Question, due to circumstances surrounding the publication of this statement, it conveyed a defamatory implication to someone who saw it other than Mr. Depp? Answer, yes. Do you find that Mr. Debt
Starting point is 00:26:45 has proven by clear and convincing evidence that Ms. Hurd acted with actual malice? Answer, yes. As against Amber Hurd, we the jury award compensatory damages in the amount of $10 million. As against Amber Hurd, we the jury award punitive damages in the amount of $5 million. In civil case number CL 2019 29211, Ms. Hurd's claim against Mr. Depp. One, as to this statement, appearing in the April 8th, 2020, online edition,
Starting point is 00:27:28 of the Daily Mail. Quote, Amber Hurd and her friends in the media used fake sexual violence allegations as both a sword and shield depending on their needs. They have selected some of her sexual violence hoax, facts as the sword,
Starting point is 00:27:46 inflicting them on the public and Mr. Depp. Do you find that Ms. Hurd has proven all the elements of defamation? Answer, no. 2. As to this statement appearing in the April 27th, 2020, online edition of the Daily Mail, quote, quite simply, this was an ambush, a hoax. They set Mr. Depp up by calling the cops, but the first attempt did not do the trick. The officers came to the penhouses, thoroughly searched
Starting point is 00:28:21 and interviewed, and left after seeing no damage to face or property. So Amber and her friends, spilled a little wine and roughed the place up, got their story straight under the direction of a lawyer and publicist, and then placed a second call to 911, end quote. Do you find that Ms. Hurd has proven all the elements of defamation? Answer, yes. Has Ms. Hurd proven by a greater weight of the evidence that question, Mr. Waldman, while acting as an agent for Mr. Depp, made or public, the statement. Answer, yes. Question, the statement was about Ms. Hurd. Answer, yes. Question, the statement was seen by someone other than Ms. Heard. Answer, yes. Question, the statement was false. Answer, yes. Do you find that Ms. Heard has proven by clear and convincing evidence that the statement by Mr. Waldman was made with actual malice? Answer, yes. as to this statement appearing in the April 27th, 2020 online edition of the Daily Mail,
Starting point is 00:29:36 quote, we've reached the beginning of the end of Ms. Hurd's abuse hoax against Johnny Depp, end quote. Do you find that Ms. Hurd has proven all the elements of defamation? Answer, no. As against John C. Depp II, we the jury award compensatory damages in the amount of $2 million. dollars. As against John C. Depp the second, we the jury award punitive damages in the amount of zero dollars. Does either side wish to have the jury pulled? Yes, Your Honor. Jamie? Members of the jury, if this is your verdict, please answer yes. If this is not your verdict, please answer no. Juror number six. Jury number 10. Yes. Juror number 10. Jure number
Starting point is 00:30:29 15. Yes. Juror number 16. Yes. Juror number 22. Yes. Jury number 27. Yes.
Starting point is 00:30:41 Jury number 29. Yes. I do find that the jury's verdict is unanimous. Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes your service in this case. I want to thank you again for your dedication and your hard work during this trial. I know I speak for everybody here when I appreciate, tell you that we appreciate your sacrifices. and your time and your public service in this matter. Okay?
Starting point is 00:31:03 So I'm going to have you go back to the jury deliberation room for one more time and then we'll release you from there. Okay, all right, thank you. Okay, well, complete slam dunk victory for Johnny Depp in that defamation case against his ex-wife Amber Heard, a disaster for Amber Heard because Johnny Debt has not only won on every count of this case improved the defamation was done against him by his ex-wife,
Starting point is 00:31:30 but he's been awarded a total of $15 million, including $5 million impunitive damages. So this is a wipeout for Amber Heard. It's a complete vindication for Johnny Depp. Let's go back to Lisa Bloom. Lisa, you were not expecting this, and you didn't think it was the right result. But what do you make of that verdict by the jury? Well, I always have to respect a jury's verdict. They were in that courtroom week after week, listening to every detail of the evidence.
Starting point is 00:31:57 I was not. and we certainly don't want false statements made about people. But my heart really goes out to Amber Heard. I think there were a number of incidents where she appears to have been a victim. She's there in the courtroom having to take it. I have many clients who I represent who get threatened with defamation cases if they speak out publicly so they're afraid to tell their stories publicly. And I just think it's a very sad day.
Starting point is 00:32:21 I mean, it's obviously a sad day for her. For Johnny Depp, it's a massively significant day. Let me come to my panel. Lady Colin, I mean, for Johnny Depp, this would have ended his career, I think, irreparably. It's destroyed it. But this has retrieved it. Well, it means the jury believed him, and they thought Amber Heard was lying. And they also believed that Johnny Depp was the real victim here, not her. He was. What do you make of that? Well, I'll tell you, I am personally invested in this case, because Amber Heard did to Johnny Depp exactly what my ex-husband did to me.
Starting point is 00:32:53 after they're through pummeling you with their fists and you leave, they use the newspapers and the television stations to pummel you. So it is beating by another form. And I recognised very early on, because I was looking at a lot of it, that she is an abuser. And you know... Well, that's certainly, look, that is certainly the view that the jury has come to. I mean, it's hard to imagine a bigger humiliation around the herd.
Starting point is 00:33:23 the legal teams there all hugging each other. Johnny Depp's jubilant, of course. Amber Heard's not jubilant at all. It's a complete disaster and failure. She's left the courtroom. I'd imagine he'll be incredibly upset. We've been joined now on the phone by Sharon Osborne, who actually I think was a talk TV presenter, of course,
Starting point is 00:33:41 was actually at the Alba Hall yesterday where Jeff Beck was playing and knows Johnny Depp. Sharon, what do you make of the verdict? Wow, it wasn't what I was expecting. I mean, I wanted Johnny to win, but I wasn't expecting him to. You've been in a... I was going to say, Sharon, I mean, I've known you and Ozzy a long time.
Starting point is 00:34:03 You've spoken very honestly before about toxic times in your marriage over the years, mutually abusive and so on. What did you make of the case here? What did you make of both sides? Did any of it resonate with you that it was just a toxic relationship? And that unlike you and Ozzy,
Starting point is 00:34:20 who did resolve everything, they couldn't? For me, if they were... to it so much. And, you know, I, I know alcoholic behavior inside out and backwards. And it's alcoholic behavior, but, you know, they were both abusive, both very, very abusive to each other. And at any time she could have left. And she wasn't a little wallflower, you know, she was a mover and shaker in town. I mean, look who she went with right after him. So she wasn't some innocent little wallflower, she knows the game, she knows how it goes. And the situation is, you know, now, I mean, after listening and hearing about all their
Starting point is 00:35:10 dirty laundry, you know, she's, some of me, as a woman, I feel badly for her because every penny she earns is going to go someplace, not in her bank account. Right. I mean, this is not an insignificant, I mean, this is $15 million. I'm not even sure that she has money like that. And remember, she's got to pay the tax on that too, so double it. Right. I mean, it's a huge disaster for her, isn't it?
Starting point is 00:35:41 In terms of Johnny Depp... A huge, huge. And Sharon, do you think Johnny Depp, with your manager hat on, is there a way back now for Johnny Depp? If he'd lost this, I think his Hollywood career was done. But has he been so damaged in the process of not just this case, but the libel action against the sun here in England, which he lost, of course. Has he been so damaged by the revelations that it's almost impossible now to put him back in a big movie?
Starting point is 00:36:08 No, it's not impossible, and everybody loves to come back. And the thing is his case before was in England, this was done in front of an American jury, and I think that he's going to get his career back. Yeah, I mean... I really do. I think, you know, I think that all the great... big filmmakers will want Johnny because now they've seen, listen, when it comes down to it, it's how strong an audience do you have? And Johnny Depp has a huge worldwide audience.
Starting point is 00:36:41 And there's no doubt also, Sharon, there's no doubt that he won in the court of public opinion on social media was massively in favor of Johnny Depp. Now, some might argue that it got, it got very vicious towards Amber Heard, and I'm not sure that that is ever a good thing. In fact, Monica Lillewinsky has written a big piece for Vanity Fair tonight, talking about this turning into kind of courtroom porn, where we're all gorging on the entrails of this divorce. But you know, there's always people out there that want to be vicious about people they don't even know.
Starting point is 00:37:15 It's perception, not reality. And, you know, you're always going to get your haters that come out and want to have a voice. But the thing is, Johnny, you know, he's got a huge price on his head. The world loves him. The world loves him. So, you know, the world really did want him to win.
Starting point is 00:37:34 And he's won. And that's it. She could have, she could have, you know, backed out somehow. She could have got to him. There could have been something to say this going on. They could have. Because he is. He would have, she wouldn't have gone as far if she, you know, didn't push and push and push.
Starting point is 00:37:57 And she won the case in England. but yet she wanted more. She wanted to destroy him. Technically she wasn't involved in that England case. He sued the son for libel and lost, but she was the kind of secondary winner because they concluded that he had abused her. This is a big, big case in America.
Starting point is 00:38:15 Exactly. Yeah. I mean, I think the other thing about this, I was going to say, Sharon, the other thing about this is that, you know, for Amber Heard, she's an actress, but I don't think she's going to get any work after this, is she? Because the jury actually concluded, that she acted with malice.
Starting point is 00:38:30 In other words, that she has deliberately lied here about him to damage him. Listen, she's lied. She was in the court in England, and she lied under oath in England when she said that she'd given her $7 million to charity, and she hadn't. And Elon Musk had made a donation under her name of a pittance of what it should have been.
Starting point is 00:38:54 So she lied under oath. So that wasn't looking good for her. And the thing is, no, I don't think that any big film studio will touch her right now. Just finally, Sharon, you know Johnny, you know Johnny Depp, Sharon. You know, a lot of people whose opinion I respect, you know, Joan Collins and Catherine Jenkins, a singer whose husband made Johnny's last movie, they talked very highly of him and believed that he was a victim of a miscarriage of justice throughout all this process. And tonight, I'm sure, are feeling very happy for him.
Starting point is 00:39:27 But for those who don't know Johnny Depp, what is he like? He is a gentle soul. I can tell you last night, Piers, he spent about 45 minutes in his dressing room on his knees talking to this little girl that was reading her diary to him. Now, I don't know many guys that would sit there and do that. There weren't any cameras around. There were no film crews.
Starting point is 00:39:53 He did it because he's a gentle soul. He wanted this little girl to read the diary to him, and she did. She must have been all of eight years of age. And the thing is, he is a gentle soul, but we know what alcohol and drugs do when you mix them together, they change you. So, you know, sometimes, I suppose, you know, he lost his rag, but as a human being, he's a good human being. Sharon, really appreciate you calling in. Thank you very much indeed. It's a dramatic night, certainly, for all the people involved in this,
Starting point is 00:40:29 and you bring a great perspective. Thank you very much. It's my darling, bye. Well, join me now as legal analyst, Mark Garagos. Mark, good to talk to you. We've talked many times over the years in dramatic court cases. It haven't been many more dramatic than this, and a result that may shock a lot of people.
Starting point is 00:40:49 Well, I don't know that it's shocking to me, because if I had been advising him, I wouldn't have advised him to go through this. It seemed like a fool's error. but obviously he got a verdict, but people should understand what happened here. He got $10 million in compensatory. He got $5 million imputives. The judge immediately reduced the $5 million to $350.
Starting point is 00:41:12 She got $2 million, but I will tell you, I'm not so sure that this stands up to scrutiny on appeal. Remember, he was suing for her statement that was ghost written for her in the Washington Post. fact is she never mentioned him number one and number two, she was held liable for the headline, which she retweeted. I think courts are going to have a appellate courts are going to have a real tough time with that. And from her standpoint, she was suing for what his then lawyer said. So the cases, there's a lot of kind of legal or liability by proxy, if you will, in this case. And it is surprising. I'm with you, peers. I wouldn't have experienced. expected a jury to have come back with these kinds of numbers, 10 on one side or 10 million,
Starting point is 00:42:05 300 on one side and 2 million on the other. But it sure seems like it was a lot of effort for, I don't know what, because ultimately I don't know that it stands up. And when they say that she acted with actual malice, that's basically saying we think she deliberately lied. Yes. In order to get malice, you have to, that's your mental state. That is, the jury saying, based on everything we heard, the totality of the evidence, we are inferring that she acted with the intention to do harm to him. And so, yes, that's going to come back, obviously, and it did come back to find her liable
Starting point is 00:42:47 and for her to have to pay more money than he has to pay her. Mark Garagos, as always, great analysis. Thank you very much indeed. I appreciate it. Come back to my panel. Lady Victoria, I mean, you know Johnny Depp. You know Kate Moss was there last night. You know Kate Moss. There's a whole group of people around Johnny Depp who've been willing this verdict to happen.
Starting point is 00:43:09 Do you think he can make a comeback? I mean, he's not exactly in his sort of youth anymore as a leading man anyway. How damaged has he been by the details? I mean, he's one of the biggest stars in the world. So, yeah, of course he's going to have a comeback. I think a lot of people have been rooting for him. They've been seeing through the whole Amber Hood facade of lies. And that's what the jury, I mean, they've been emphatic.
Starting point is 00:43:33 I mean, she acted with malice, and they've awarded $15 million to Johnny Depp. That means they think she's a massive life. Yeah, she was vicious in her attack. It was very, you know, planned strategically. You know, she wanted to harm him. She wanted to ruin his career. Do you know what I was thinking, Katie, about this? Imagine if we'd actually be talking about Prince Andrew earlier settling his civil case.
Starting point is 00:43:57 Well, it's a civil situation. Well, one of the reasons I'm sure. that he came under huge pressure from the Queen down to settle it was precisely because could you imagine a case like this involving the Queen's second son in a sex assault case? I mean, it would have been, it would have made this look like a tea party. Yeah, it would have made it look like a tea party
Starting point is 00:44:14 and I think there was really no option but for Andrew to settle and we're talking about him writing this check, I'm sure very much it wasn't his money that ended up paying it off. But yes, I mean, you just can't imagine that sort of a high court case. We've got pictures, just want to stop you there.
Starting point is 00:44:29 We've got pictures of Johnny Dewe. He's at a pub in Newcastle. Of course he has. I'd imagine that Jeff Beck may be playing up there or something. And we've got pictures, I think. Have we got them? Love you, Johnny! We love you, Johnny! We love you, Johnny.
Starting point is 00:44:44 Johnny, Johnny, I love you, bro. I love you, bro. I love you, bro. I love you. Well, a very happy-looking Johnny Depp and happy fans for him. Not everyone. I mean, Lenny, Colin, you talked about your own abusive,
Starting point is 00:44:59 history that you have with an ex, there will be people who say, this is a massive blow to the Me Too movement, that women won't be believed, that Amber heard by losing so emphatically, this might almost have shuddered the Me Too movement. Well, I'll tell you, first of all, aspects of the Me Too movement deserve to be ground to a whole, number one. And number two, anybody who's ever been to AA will know that men beat up women, women beat up men. And the fiction that women are always a victim is ridiculous. And, you know, Amber Heard was there on tape saying to him, goading him,
Starting point is 00:45:44 and admitting she'd been beating him up, and then saying nobody's going to believe you. And if they do, her message was, if they do, they're going to think you're a wuss. Let me bring back Lisa Blune because, Lisa, you've represented many genuine victims. in the Me Too movement who've won actions and won court cases. You've done some amazing work for women who deserved to have a vindication in courtrooms. How damaging, though, is it when someone like Amber Heard's so high profile is basically concluded by a jury to be a massive liar, and they've awarded $15 million against it?
Starting point is 00:46:22 It's very damaging, and it's very scary to women who want to speak out. Many of them speak out, and they don't name their abuser. and in fact, she didn't in the underlying article. But, you know, peers, this is not the end because there will certainly be appeals. I've done defamation cases and appeals. I represented Janice Dickinson against Bill Cosby. In a defamation case, we won two important appeals. That's where these cases are decided.
Starting point is 00:46:45 And I think this is an inconsistent verdict because the jury did award her $2 million on her based on the attorney Adam Waldman making statements against her, and that was attributed to Johnny Depp. So how is it then a false statement if she says, I am a representative of domestic violence? I think that is an inconsistent verdict, and that is not allowed. So I think there's a lot of issues on appeal here, and the appellate courts are going to sort it out. Of course, that's going to take years. For now, they know he is definitely the big winner today.
Starting point is 00:47:18 And Lisa, do you think Johnny Depp has a comeback here? Hollywood loves a comeback, as Sharon Osborne said. You know, he's been in his eyes. He'll say, I've been completely vindicated. I took this action to clear my name. And unlike Prince Andrew, who, you know, paid a large amount of money not to clear his name, Johnny Depp has taken this big gamble, which it was, with everything hanging on it, really, and he's won. Do you think he's got a chance now to come back to be a big Hollywood star again?
Starting point is 00:47:47 Absolutely, because Hollywood not only loves a comeback, it loves wealthy, powerful A-list celebrities, and it's very hard to go up against them. You know, I do it every day on behalf of everyday people. It's always a David and Goliath struggle. And I think he will definitely have a comeback. One of the complaints that people had about aspects of the Me Too movement was that the pendulum swung very wildly and may have swung too far in the sense that this concept you have to believe all women.
Starting point is 00:48:17 You know, one of the things that people will say about this trial, I'm sure, this case, is that, well, why? If someone like Amber Heard is lying to destroy her ex-husband, Johnny Depp, why should the automatic de facto default position always be you must believe women? Well, of course we should not believe all women or all men, and everybody should have due process.
Starting point is 00:48:41 But I, every day, talk to my clients, and they are suicidal, they are upset, they have corroborative evidence, and even so, it is a huge uphill battle to go against somebody who is very wealthy, who can have social media bots coming after you, private investigators going through your garbage and talking to your family members. I mean, these cases are very hard. In my opinion, the Me Too movement has not gone far enough.
Starting point is 00:49:04 We are definitely seeing a backlash now. I think this case is a good example. Every case should be decided on its own merits based on the facts. Of course, nobody should be falsely accused. But there are still many, many women out there who are victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault. Well, thank you, Lisa. As always, a great analysis. I really appreciate you joining us tonight on what has been a pretty momentous day. certainly in terms of fortunes of the people involved here. Join by Tommy Leran from Fox Nation and also Janice Dickinson, I spoke to last week about this case.
Starting point is 00:49:34 Welcome to both of you. Tommy Leran, what do you make of it? Hey, listen, I think that this is also a big victory in the battle against cancel culture. And in America, we've dealt with that for two plus years now. Listen, I would have had respect for Amber Hurd if she would have penned an op-ed talking about how toxic relationships can be so damaging
Starting point is 00:49:56 and talking about getting yourself out of a toxic situation. I would have had respect for her if she had gone that route. She didn't. She wanted to cancel Johnny Depp. The world watched her try to cancel Johnny Depp. And in the end of the day, she lost. And I believe it was a rightful loss. And going back to this whole notion of the Me Too movement,
Starting point is 00:50:14 it is maybe started with wonderful intentions. But as you mentioned, Pears, it has gone far too far. We can't just believe all women because, believe it or not, women can be abusers too. And I believe that's what Amber Heard was. Tommy, let me just... That's what the jury believes Amber Heard was, and now she's going to have to pay for it. Right, let me just read you.
Starting point is 00:50:31 There's a statement here from Amber, her, which I'm going to read in full and get your reaction to it. The disappointment I feel today, she says, is beyond words. I'm heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still wasn't enough to stand up to a disproportionate power, influence, and sway of my ex-husband. I'm even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. It's a setback. It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke up could be publicly shamed and humiliated. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken. seriously. I believe Johnny's attorney succeeded and get him a jury to overlook the key issue of freedom
Starting point is 00:51:02 of speech and ignore evidence that was so conclusive that we won in the UK. I'm sad I lost this case, but I'm sad as still will I seem to have lost a right I thought I was an American to speak freely and openly. Now, Tommy Levin, I would say no one's damaged her free speech. She was allowed to speak freely and openly, but the jury concluded that what she was saying was a lie and not just a lie, but a deliberate, malicious lie designed to destroy her husband. And that's why. why they found against her. And that's why they've awarded him so much money. Yeah, free speech doesn't mean that you could lie about somebody else for your own personal gain
Starting point is 00:51:37 or to bolster your own career in Hollywood and what have you. And when she's talking about a setback, she is the setback for women. When you have somebody in her position with such a platform that she has and the jury finds that you lied about it with actual malice, you are the setback to so many women that don't have the platform that you have that have actually been abused and don't have a voice, She should be ashamed of herself, and we'll see if she can make a comeback, but I don't think so. You can't go after people. You can't cancel them for no reason.
Starting point is 00:52:05 This is a big victory for Johnny Depp and the war against cancel culture. Let me bring in Janice Dickinson. Janice, we spoke about this last week, and you were, I think, hopeful this would be the verdict. What do you think Johnny Depp's reaction would have been to this? I think Johnny Depp is absolutely relieved for the fact that, you know, after all these several weeks and months, that this trial's been going on, that he's been hammered with all these accusations and all these defamatory remarks coming from his ex-wife, Amber Hurd. I think, you know, I think he's going through, going through, he's going to have relief because I was once in the defamatory case with Bill Cosby. And, you know, we found him to be liable.
Starting point is 00:52:53 And so I was vindicated. And my vindication feelings were just utter relief. Well, actually, there's a statement now from Johnny Depp. I think he said something along the lines of the jury. The jury gave me my life back. I am truly humbled. And I don't think he's overstating that because I think had he lost this case, Johnny Depp would have been finished.
Starting point is 00:53:12 So mistakes were unbelievably high for him. Absolutely, Pierce. You know, it begins to slide down. Once a celebrity is accused of something, the telephone stopped ringing for future jobs. It happened to me, and it was like really heartbreaking. And I'm sure he got canceled from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, and he got canceled from all these other jobs.
Starting point is 00:53:35 And these are millions of dollars for this poor guy, poor guy. You know, I think that I think he's got, I have a big sense of relief now. And the court of public opinion for him is that I was right when I came on your show last week, and I said I'm pro Johnny Depp because I don't believe. I never believed Amber Heard. I never believed all her accusations from the start. It sounded like a pathetic woman, she's clamoring for attention to make herself. I mean, what does she gain from doing this in the first place?
Starting point is 00:54:07 I also think, I had to say, I also think that when you lose so emphatically, continuing to play the wallowing victim, I think it leaves a pretty unpleasant taste in the mouth. Tommy and Janice, thank you both very much, really appreciate that. Welcome. Let me bring back my stellar panel. Thank you for staying with me also. We weren't expected to be doing this, so this is all broke just before we came on air. Katie, the statements are quite telling, aren't they? Johnny Depp, very to the point this jury has given me my life back.
Starting point is 00:54:36 Amber heard another long, you know, really self-pitying diatribe. Let's just hope that she doesn't appeal. I mean, I think there's just a time to go quietly. I still don't understand how she is going to come back from this. If her net worth is $8 million and she's got these $15 million to pay out. She's got Elon Musk as a thing. Well, she better have to... Well, Elon Musk made an interesting point.
Starting point is 00:54:56 He said that when you take them out of their toxic relationship, he said they're both decent people. That was Elon Musk, who of course she also dated. But she's not. That thing, that, that accusation. Well, his argument was that the relationship got so toxic. It made them both behave in a way he didn't recognize. No, that is fine.
Starting point is 00:55:13 That's the Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne scenario. What is completely unacceptable in this matter is the lies she told about him in terms of that bottle. to ruin. Remember what she said about that? I actually thought what Sharon said, actually, I thought the lie about the charity donation, about the seven million she
Starting point is 00:55:32 got awarded. The fact she hadn't given that money after all was exposed as a blatant lie. I want to end on a happy note because tomorrow the platinum jubilee starts, that's what we were going to be talking about. Let's just end on a happy note. Katie, it's going to be a magnificent four days for the country.
Starting point is 00:55:48 Britain is best with pomp and pageantry and at the centre of it, this extraordinary woman, the queen. Yes, let's just, you take a breath, take a moment. Let's hope that she is as many things as she possibly can be. This is a unique moment for our country. It's a unique moment for the country. I think this really matters to her peers.
Starting point is 00:56:06 I agree. I think it really matters to us. And it's our chance, actually, to finally all come together after a very difficult time with the pandemic and with inflation and with war and everything else and just spend a few days celebrating one of the most extraordinary lives of our lifetime. A woman has been on the throne 70 years
Starting point is 00:56:25 and when she comes out on that balcony tomorrow I want the world to roar their approval. And so Queen Elizabeth's the second exactly what she means, not just to this country because I think she's the most respected world leader of any kind on the entire planet. She's our record breaking. Thank you for my great panel.
Starting point is 00:56:43 We've got to leave it there, but thank you. You've all been brilliant and especially for pivoting. And just to remind you, big win for Johnny Depp. That's it for me. Wherever you are tonight, make sure it's on. censored, I'm pretty sure Johnny Debt will in whatever pub is in in Newcastle because he won and Amber Heard loss. Good night.

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