UPDATE: Johnny Depp case: Man who went viral on TikTok claiming to be a juror admits it was a ‘prank’
A man claiming to be one of the jurors in the multi-million dollar defamation trial between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp has taken to TikTok to share his insights from the trial.
In a series of videos, the man, who remains anonymous, revealed the factors that supposedly influenced the jury, and responded to questions from followers.
In his first TikTok on the subject he said: “So today was my last day of being a juror on the Amber Heard Johnny Depp trial,” he said in the video.
“I wish to remain anonymous but I thought I’d give some insight on my thoughts about the trial.
“I don’t follow pop culture too much so I haven’t really been a fan of Johnny Depp or Amber Heard.
“So I feel I was able to be pretty unbiased about the whole thing.”
@seekinginfinite My thoughts on the trial. Leave comments if you have any questions about it! #johnnydepp #amberheard #johnnydepptrial #amberheardtrial #johnnydeppamberheardtrial #court #juror #justiceforjohnnydepp ♬ original sound – user5966617263575
He went on to say that he felt “extremely uncomfortable” with Heard repeatedly looking to the jury when she answered questions on the stand.
“But from the very beginning when Amber Heard was testifying, everything just seemed so off with how she kept making eye contact with me and it made me extremely uncomfortable,” he said.
“To where I would no longer look over at her when she was giving her answers.
“I would just listen intently. And everything she was saying would just come off like bulls***.
“And I wasn’t following anything on TikTok during the whole trial, and I was scrolling through after the trial and blows my mind how every single person seems to be commenting on how weird it was.
“So, good news for Johnny Depp. That was my gut feeling after all the information in the trial.
“But Amber Heard … what a crazy woman.”
In a follow-up video, the ‘juror’ accused Heard of “gaslighting” Depp, and responded to claims from Heard’s lawyer that jurors had potentially been influenced by social media during the trial.
@seekinginfinite Reply to @brittanyhiggins80 ♬ original sound – user5966617263575
And in a third clip, he explained why the jury chose to award Heard $2m in damages.
@seekinginfinite Reply to @ashleymarie0617 #amberheard #johnnydepp ♬ original sound – user5966617263575
One TikTok user asked the supposed juror: “What would you say was the moment that you were like NOPE. If she’s lying about this, she’s lying about everything?”
He replied: “I would say the donation/pledge to charity.”
Heard had told the court that she donated her $7 million divorce settlement from Depp to two different charities.
However under oath, the actress admitted this wasn’t the case, saying that she used the terms “pledged” and “donated” synonymously.
The names of the jurors have been sealed for a year following the trial but members are allowed to come forward and identify themselves if they wish to.
On Wednesday, the jury found Depp’s ex-wife had defamed him and awarded him £10m in compensatory damages and $5m in punitive damages.
Depp had sought $50m and was suing Heard over a 2018 Washington Post op-ed in which she described herself as a victim of domestic violence. While she did not name the Pirates of the Caribbean star, he believes it could be inferred that he was the perpetrator and stopped him from getting work. Heard counter-sued for $100m.
After the verdict the judge in the case being heard in Fairfax, Virginia, Penney Azcarate reduced the punitive damages amount to $350,000 to meet Virginia’s statutory limit for the awards.
A jury found Depp was also liable for defamation and awarded Heard $2 million in compensatory damages. Heard has since announced she will appeal the verdict.
Related links:
- Johnny Depp chased in car after performing in Gateshead and announcing album with Jeff Beck
- Amber Heard’s lawyer says there is ‘no way’; her client can pay $10m to Johnny Depp
- Johnny Depp sought $50m in damages but won’t even get the $15m he was awarded
