New Documentary Investigates Social Media's Impact Of The Depp Vs Heard Defamation Case

A new documentary has been released that looks into the social media side of the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard defamation trial.

NBC's A Marriage on Trial: Johnny Depp, Amber Heard and Truth in the Age of Social Media will delve into the courtroom drama that played out last month but from the perspective of the court of public opinion.

"The Depp vs Heard defamation trial evoked two distinct reactions – those who couldn’t get enough and those who received more than they wanted," NBC news' description of the 30-minute documentary said.

"The new deep-dive documentary explores why the trial overwhelmed social media, specifically TikTok, and what viewers missed if social media coverage was their only news source."

The description added: "In the wake of a verdict that surprised legal experts, NBC News examines how the trial evolved into the TikTok trial and what the verdict means for future domestic abuse cases."

Several key players will feature in the documentary, including Heard’s attorney Elaine Bredehoft.

Others that will feature in the documentary on the A-lister's legal stoush will include National Coalition Against Domestic Violence CEO Ruth Glenn, American University law professor and gendered violence expert Jamie Abrams, as well as NBC crime reporters and other legal experts.

It does not appear that Heard or Depp were interviewed for the 30-minute documentary.

In case you somehow missed the inescapable case that captured the media's attention, Depp sued ex-wife Amber Heard over an an op-ed for The Washington Post that was entitled: "I spoke up against sexual violence — and faced our culture’s wrath. That has to change."

REUTERS/Alamy.

The jury unanimously found in favour of Depp, and Heard was ordered to pay Depp $10 million ($AUD 13.7 million, £7.9 million) in compensatory damages and $5 million ($AUD 6.8 million, £3.9 million) in punitive damages in June.

However, Judge Penney Azcarate reduced punitive costs to Virginia's cap of $350,000 ($AUD 481,000, £278,000) in accordance with the state’s statutory cap.

That brings the total Heard has to pay Depp to $10.35 million ($AUD 14.2 million, £8.2 million).

Depp has also been ordered to pay Heard $2 million ($AUD 2.7 million, £1.5 million) over a counterclaim filed by Heard.

You can watch A Marriage on Trial: Johnny Depp, Amber Heard and Truth in the Age of Social Media online at NBCNews.com or on the NBC News YouTube channel.

You can also watch on NBC News streaming service NBC News NOW. It will also be available on Peacock on August 1.