Johnny Depp’s Lawyers Reveals They Were Worried He Might Have An Outburst During Cross-Examination In Case With Ex-Wife Amber Heard
Johnny Depp’s legal team is opening up about the intense 2022 defamation trial against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, in a new A&E special, Interrogation Raw: Celebrity Under Oath. Lawyers Benjamin Chew and Jessica Meyers provided rare insights into their courtroom strategy and the moments that defined the high-profile case.
At the heart of their plan was one simple goal – humanize Johnny. “We wanted to humanize Johnny before the jury so they could understand why hitting the woman he loved was something that he’s just not capable of,” Chew explained.
Surprisingly, one of their secret weapons was Johnny’s humor. While testifying, the Pirates of the Caribbean star often cracked jokes, a tactic Chew believes worked in his favor. “Johnny’s use of humor really undermined whatever serious point Amber’s counsel was trying to make,” he shared.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. The team feared Johnny might lose his temper during cross-examination. “The other side is going to do everything possible to get Johnny to show anger,” Chew admitted, adding, “One of the things that lawyers try to do on cross-examination is to maintain control of the witness. That’s something that Johnny simply did not allow [Heard’s attorney Ben Rottenborn] to do.”
The case revolved around a 2018 op-ed Amber wrote, where she described herself as a survivor of domestic abuse, though she never explicitly named Johnny. The jury ultimately sided with Johnny, awarding him $1 million in damages after a settlement.
When the verdict came down, Johnny wasn’t in the courtroom, but his legal team called him immediately. Chew recalled the moment vividly: “He was elated, and he sounded as if the weight of the world was off of his shoulders. I mean, he sounded like a kid. He was thrilled.”
For Johnny, the victory was deeply personal. In a statement after the trial, he said that “the jury gave me my life back.”
“Speaking the truth was something that I owed to my children and to all those who have remained steadfast in their support of me. I feel at peace knowing I have finally accomplished that,” he said further.
Amber, on the other hand, expressed deep disappointment. She shared in a statement that she was “heartbroken that the mountain of evidence was still not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of my ex-husband.”
She later told NBC News that Johnny’s charm played a significant role in the trial’s outcome. “He’s a beloved character and people feel they know him. He’s a fantastic actor,” she said.
Amber also opened up about the difficulty of being cross-examined, saying, “The scariest thing for anyone talking about sexual violence is not being believed, being called a liar, or being humiliated.”
Elaine Charlson Bredehoft, Amber’s attorney, did not participate in the Interrogation Raw special. However, she previously told PEOPLE that allowing cameras in the courtroom was a “huge mistake,” as she believes social media completely hijacked that trial.”
“You should never have cameras in a courtroom for sexual assault or domestic violence [cases]. I hope that the rest of the world has figured that out and that mistake won’t be repeated,” she opined.
