Trigger Warning: this article deals with allegations of sexual assault and may be triggering to some readers.
No matter how invested in celebrity culture you are, by now, you’ve likely seen the headlines detailing the trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.
Making news globally, all eyes have been on the former couple as the defamation lawsuit unfolds in Virginia, US. Depp, 58, is suing Heard, 35, for USD $50 million (AUD $67 million) alleging she devastated his career in the wake of a 2018 op-ed she wrote for the Washington Post where she described herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse”.
A counterclaim for USD $100 million (AUD $134 million) has also been filed by Heard against her ex-husband.
If the media coverage wasn’t enough to satiate public interest in the trial, a documentary, titled ‘Johnny Vs Amber’, covering the couple’s romance, split and lawsuits is now set to air on the Discovery Channel.
The synopsis for the two-part documentary reads: “Johnny vs. Amber takes audiences to the very genesis of this tragic union. This public account of he said/she said began when Johnny Depp brought a libel case against News Group Newspapers Ltd. in the UK, specifically suing The Sun for calling him a ‘wife-beater.’ Depp ultimately lost that case.”
It continues: “This two-part documentary takes a deep dive into the original trial from two polarized perspectives. Featuring interviews with legal experts on all sides of the proceedings, as well as family, friends, and associates of both Depp and Heard; the first hour is devoted to a deep dive into Depp’s account of events while in hour two there is a dedicated look at the evidence and accusations presented by Heard.”
So far, the trial has revealed intimate and startling details about the couple’s relationship which first began in 2012 before marrying in 2015 on Depp’s private islands in the Bahamas.
On the first day of proceedings, Heard’s attorney, Ben Rottenborn, claimed Depp is “an obsessed ex-husband hellbent on revenge.”
“For years, all Mr. Depp has wanted to do is humiliate Amber, to haunt her, to wreck her career,” he said in his opening statement.
Meanwhile, Depp’s attorneys alleged that Heard had falsely represented herself as a “virtuous representative of innocent women”.
“The evidence will show that was a lie.”
For all the details on the trial and allegations, you can read our piece here.
The Johnny Vs Amber documentary will premiere Thursday, 26 May at 9.30pm AEST on ID which can be accessed through Foxtel with a 10 day free trial, here.
If you are experiencing sexual abuse or other unwanted behaviour, please contact Full Stop Australia or call 1800RESPECT.
