Johnny Depp, the High Court and the reality of fame

The libel trial brought by the Pirates of the Caribbean star says as much about the dazzle of celebrity as the quest for truth.

Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court in London on Tuesday. AP

Henry Mance

Aug 2, 2020 – 4.54pm

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I arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice two hours early. A Johnny Depp fan rolled her eyes: I was far too late. Courtroom number 13 had fewer than a dozen seats for the public, and she and her friends had been queueing for them almost since dawn. I didn’t stand a chance.

These diehards came to the trial of Depp against The Sun newspaper every day for three weeks. Each one could have made a short story about our relationship with celebrity.

Financial Times