Actress Amber Heard took a swipe at the jury during a June 13 interview, suggesting that they were duped by Johnny Depp’s charm and acting skills during the defamation trial that ultimately ended in his favor.
Heard sat down with NBC’s Savannah Guthrie for an in-depth interview about her experiences in the courtroom and said that she does not feel she had a fair trial. Heard went on to indicate that she understands why the jury ruled the way it did, but that she believes they were heavily influenced to make that decision.
“I don’t blame them, I actually understand … he’s a beloved character and people feel they know him, he’s a fantastic actor,” Heard said during the interview.
Guthrie pressed Heard, asking her if she blamed the jury for not believing her side of the story.
“How could they, after listening to three and a half weeks of testimony, about how I was a non-credible person and not to believe a word that came out of my mouth,” Heard said
“There’s no polite way to say it, the jury looked at the evidence you presented, they listened to your testimony and they did not believe you. They thought you were lying,” Guthrie said to Heard.
“How could they not come to that conclusion,” Heard said. (RELATED: Johnny Depp’s Court Victory Revives His Celebrity Status)
Heard continued to air her grievances, conveying her view that the jury was tainted by negative messaging about her.
“I don’t take it personally but even somebody who is sure I am deserving of all this hate and betrayal, even if you think that I’m lying, you still couldn’t look me in the eye and tell me that you think on social media there’s been a fair representation,” Heard said during the interview.
Heard had previously broken down in court, saying she was receiving death threats from Depp’s fans and supporters, according to courtroom video posted by Law and Crime Network.
The jury agreed the statements Heard made were false and awarded $15 million in Depp’s favor — $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. Two million dollars was awarded in Heard’s favor based on the accusation by Depp’s legal team that Heard concocted her story under the direction of her lawyer. The defamation lawsuit by Depp was originally for $50 million.