• Home
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • LAD Originals

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Not now
OK
Advert
Advert
Advert

Johnny Depp's lawyer, Camille Vasquez, says Amber Heard's defamation trial was 'not a Me Too' case

Charisa Bossinakis

Published 
| Last updated 

Johnny Depp's lawyer, Camille Vasquez, says Amber Heard's defamation trial was 'not a Me Too' case

Johnny Depp’s lawyer Camille Vasquez doesn’t believe Amber Heard's defamation lawsuit against her client was a part of the Me Too movement.

The American attorney became a celebrity overnight during the six-week trial as she represented the Pirates of the Caribbean actor in a Virginia court.

Months after Depp was awarded $15 million (AUD$23m or £8m) in damages, Vasquez sat down with Natalie Morales on CBS’s The Talk to discuss the highly publicised trial.

Advert

During the interview, Morales asked Vasquez: “Did you ever hesitate as a woman taking on a case with such a high-profile celebrity? Especially in this post-Me Too movement.”

The lawyer responded: “No because I know Johnny as a person, I’ve worked with him for four years. I believed him. 

“You know, to me, this case was not a Me Too case.

"This was about what happened between these two people, and in a lot of ways, if you want to look at it as a Me Too case, it was an opportunity for Amber to tell her story, have an investigation happen in a court of law, and a jury came back and said ‘no we don’t believe you’. 

Advert

“But I never hesitated because I believed Johnny, and I was an advocate for him, and I wanted the opportunity to give him his life back. He deserved that.”

Credit: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/Pool/Alamy
Credit: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/Pool/Alamy

Shortly after Depp won the trial, psychologist Jessica Taylor described it as the ‘end of Me Too’, fearing that the case's outcome would prevent sexual assault and domestic violence victims from speaking out.

She added it would open up the ‘floodgates’ of defamation lawsuits.

Advert

She told Rolling Stone: “Survivors watching this will rethink everything they say out loud about what happened to them, and the potential of being sued and dragged through a court process for saying something they know is true, but they could be found guilty of defamation. 

“It’s a scary place to be.”

In July, Heard and her legal team filed an appeal against the verdict of their defamation trial, as the actor was ordered to pay her ex-husband $10.35 million (AUD $15.95m or £5.93m) in damages.

A spokesperson for Heard released a statement explaining the decision to appeal while also taking aim at the social media smear campaign against the 36-year-old.

Advert

They said: "We believe the court made errors that prevented a just and fair verdict consistent with the First Amendment. We are therefore appealing the verdict.

"While we realise today's filing will ignite the Twitter bonfires, there are steps we need to take to ensure both fairness and justice."

Featured Image Credit: CBS. Shawn Thew/Pool via REUTERS/Alamy

Topics: News, Crime, Johnny Depp, Amber Heard

Charisa Bossinakis
More like this
Advert
Advert
Advert

Chosen for YouChosen for You

Entertainment

GTA 6 has a rude joke printed on the outfit of woman from the trailer

14 minutes ago

Most Read StoriesMost Read

Ronnie O’Sullivan spotted at bus stop with cigarette just before winning UK Championship and £250,000

17 hours ago