Amber Heard has claimed she no longer has a voice in a new documentary exploring the idea of men using defamation lawsuits to silence women about abuse.
Following a six-week trial in Virginia in 2022, a jury found the Aquaman actor's 2018 Washington Post op-ed about domestic violence, though it did not name Depp, contained statements that were false, defamatory, and made with malice.
The Pirates of the Caribbean star was awarded a total of $15 million in damages, which was reduced to $10.35 million.
Heard’s own defamation countersuit resulted in a $2 million award on one of three claims.
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She has since left Hollywood for the Spanish capital of Madrid and has reportedly changed her name to 'fully integrate' herself into the community.
Last year, she welcomed twins in a social media post, which makes her a mother to a little boy and girl, as well as her four-year-old, Oonagh Paige.
Heard has now appeared in the new documentary Silenced, her first feature film cameo since 2023’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
Led by director Selina Miles and international human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson, it recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
Robinson played a role in helping Heard during a 2018 lawsuit filed by Depp against The Sun.
The paper ran a story criticising Depp’s casting in The Fantastic Beasts by labelling accusations of domestic violence brought by Heard. Depp sued the paper for libel.
“This is not about me,” Heard - who is one of several women who have come forward in Silenced - said in the documentary.
“I have lost my ability to speak. I am not here to tell my story.
“I don’t want to tell my story. In fact, I don’t want to use my voice anymore. That’s the problem.”
Speaking at the Variety Studio, Robinson mentioned the 'chilling effect' defamation suits have had on women.
“In the post-#MeToo world, we saw women break the cultural silence, speaking out publicly about gender-based violence,’ she said.
“What we then saw is their alleged perpetrator bringing a defamation claim saying, ‘This is not true, it’s defamatory, and I’m going to sue you for a lot of money'.’’
Robinson noted that she has recommended to her clients that 'he can sue you, you just then have to prove it in court. But it’s very expensive to do so, and it bankrupts most women. The question I ask in this film is, What does free speech mean if you can’t afford to defend it?'
Silenced is looking for distribution rights at the time of writing.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, please know that you are not alone. You can talk in confidence to the national domestic violence helpline Refuge on 0808 2000 247, available 24/7, or via live chat, available 10am-10pm, Monday to Friday.
Topics: Amber Heard, Johnny Depp, Celebrity, Celebrity News
Anish Vij