Johnny Depp unable to appeal 'wife beater' ruling, judge says
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Johnny Depp will not be able to appeal after losing his libel case against The Sun. Earlier this month, a judge ruled it’s “substantially true” the actor abused ex-wife, Amber Heard. The Pirates of the Caribbean star sued the tabloid’s owner, News Group Newspapers, over a 2018 article that called him a “wife beater.”
The Times U.K. reports Depp’s initial appeal has been denied with the judge saying it did not have “a reasonable prospect of success.” The actor was also ordered to pay the tabloid’s legal fees, which is more than $840,000.
Heard testified on behalf of the defense and detailed 14 alleged instances she was abused by Depp.
“I have found that the great majority of alleged assaults of Ms. Heard by Mr. Depp have been proved to the civil standard,” High Court Judge Andrew Nicol said in his judgment, dismissing the lawsuit.
Depp has denied all of the actress’s domestic abuse claims and vowed to appeal the ruling.
“The surreal judgment of the court in the U.K. will not change my fight to tell the truth and I confirm that I plan to appeal,” Depp wrote on Nov. 6. “My resolve remains strong and I intend to prove that the allegations against me are false. My life and career will not be defined by this moment in time.”
Depp’s career has already taken a hit as he was asked by Warner Bros. to resign from the Fantastic Beasts franchise. He portrayed dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald in the first two installments and the third film is in production. Meanwhile, Heard confirmed she will reprise her role in the Warner Bros. film Aquaman 2 despite a petition by Depp fans.
“I’m super excited about the amount of fan love and the amount of fan appreciation that Aquaman has acquired and that it has garnered so much excitement for Aquaman and Mera that it means we'll be coming back,” she told Entertainment Weekly. “Paid rumors and paid campaigns on social media don’t dictate [casting decisions] because they have no basis in reality. Only the fans actually made Aquaman and Aquaman 2 happen. I’m excited to get started next year.”
Depp is suing Heard for $50 million for defamation in the U.S. over her abuse claims. A trial date has been set for Jan. 2021.
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