Johnny Depp, Amber Heard trial: Twist in Depp’s biggest claim
It’s the bombshell allegation that underpins Johnny Depp’s entire defamation case – but one witness has just offered a whole new perspective on it.
Entertainment industry expert Katherine Arnold has told jurors that Amber Heard’s op-ed referring to herself as a domestic abuse victim had no impact on Johnny Depp’s career.
Heard is being sued by Depp for $US50 million ($A67m) for implying he abused her in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed. Although she did not name him, he claims her allegations are false and cost him lucrative movie roles. Heard has countersued, asking for $US100 million ($A134m) and claiming she suffered “rampant physical violence and abuse” at his hands.
As the trial resumed today, Heard’s lawyer, Elaine Bredehoft, asked Arnold to weigh in on Depp’s claim that the piece ruined his reputation and turned him into a pariah in Hollywood.
“Hardly anybody knew the op-ed existed before he filed suit,” Arnold said. “Certainly not Disney.”
A Disney executive last week told the court that the op-ed was not on the company’s radar and had not factored into any of their decisions regarding Depp’s career.
Stream more entertainment news live & on demand with Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Offer ends 31 October, 2022 >
Depp’s team has alleged that the actor was dropped from the sixth Pirates of the Caribbean over the op-ed, but Arnold testified this isn’t true. There is no Pirates 6 in the making at the moment and studio bosses were already discussing taking the franchise in another direction.
Depp is expensive, chronically late for shoots and has been surrounded by controversy that isn’t appropriate for Disney’s brand, she said
The Black Mass actor’s ongoing litigation has hurt him more than the op-ed, she said.
“In actuality he’s causing his own demise by bringing these lawsuits forward and continuing to ignite the fire of negative publicity around both of them.” Arnold said.
The expert added that it’s Heard who has suffered career destruction from Depp’s allegedly defamatory statements through his lawyer calling her allegations of abuse a hoax.
“She was on the precipice of a meteoric rise with Aquaman before the alleged libellous comments.
Heard lost “millions” after alleged smear campaign
Amber Heard’s career should have followed the trajectory of co-star Jason Momoa in Aquaman, Gal Gadot in Wonder Woman and Ana de Armas in Bladerunner — instead it ground to screeching halt.
“They all were on a steady rise or a meteoric rise,” entertainment consultant Katherine Arnold told jurors. “Her career should have followed that same upward swing.”
Arnold called Heard’s role as Mera in Aquaman her “A Star is Born moment.”
But after ex-husband Johnny Depp allegedly launched a smear campaign against her, she couldn’t land a role or an ad campaign.
Arnold estimated how much money Heard lost by comparing the careers of other actors who had starred in successful super hero films.
The expert said that after Depp and his lawyer allegedly called Heard’s abuse allegations a hoax, her role in Aquaman 2 was minimized, L’Oréal dropped her from an ad campaign and no new offers came in.
The expert said that Heard should have earned at least $US20 million ($A28 million) from unrealised movie and TV roles and endorsement deals -- but didn’t specify an exact period of time for the figure.
Amber Heard has ‘traits’ of borderline personality disorder
Dr. David Spiegel, Amber Heard’s psych witness on substance abuse and intimate partner violence, said that the actress has “traits” of borderline and histrionic personality disorders but not enough of them “to meet full criteria” for a diagnosis.
Johnny Depp’s psych expert, Dr. Shannon Curry, diagnosed Amber Heard with both disorders.
Johnny Depp may have narcissistic personality disorder: Psychiatrist
Spiegel suggested on Monday that Depp is a narcissist, although the psychiatrist acknowledged that he had not directly examined the actor.
Spiegel described narcissistic personality traits including “poor control, rapid mood shifts, undue sense of admiration, worship power” and attributed many of them to Depp.
“The fact he thought that Amber owed him and only wanted to be together with him because of his fame is an example of that,” Spiegel said of narcissistic traits. “I think the jealousy is an example of that.”
On cross-examination, Depp’s lawyer Wayne Dennison asked Spiegel whether he had diagnosed the actor with narcissistic personality disorder.
“I would certainly, if I didn’t, I’m certainly thinking that, but at least I’m going to say he has traits,” answered Spiegel. “So it’s a provisional diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder.”
Dennison questioned Spiegel on whether he had violated the Goldwater Rule, barring mental health experts from diagnosing people they have not examined.
Spiegel said he had not because he did not render a definitive diagnosis.
Comment that prompted Depp to bury head in hands
Spiegel got combative during cross-examination.
He said that the fact Depp needed his lines fed to him through an earpiece was consistent with cognitive decline caused by drug abuse.
On cross-examination, Depp’s lawyer Wayne Dennison said the actor used the earpiece to listen to music as part of his process. He also questioned Spiegel on whether he knew that Hollywood film legend Marlon Brando also used an earpiece.
“Isn’t he dead?” replied Spiegel, prompting Depp to laugh then put his head in his hands. In another exchange, Spiegel admitted he called Depp an “idiot in planning” in his deposition.
Depp’s behaviour consistent with a ‘perpetrator’ of domestic violence, psychiatrist says
More Coverage
“Mr Depp has behaviours that are consistent with someone who has substance abuse behaviour as well as someone who is a perpetrator of intimate partner violence,” said Spiegel, an expert in addiction and intimate partner violence also know as domestic violence.
Spiegel said that Depp’s alcohol and cocaine abuse has impacted his attention span and memory so much so that the actor needs his lines fed to him in an earpiece.
This article originally appeared in Fox News and was reproduced with permission.
Eerie lyrics predicated Payne’s tragic end
Fans of Liam Payne have spotted a chilling sign that the former One Direction star was aware of how dangerous his struggles had become.
Jackie-O’s sad theory on Payne’s last moments
Jackie ‘O’ Henderson has shared a heartbreaking theory about the untimely passing of British singer Liam Payne.
Actress breaks silence on feud with co-star
Actress Bethany Joy Lenz has confirmed she has tension with her former One Tree Hill co-star Hilarie Burton over “bizarre misunderstandings”.