Video of Johnny Depp Joking During Defamation Trial Goes Viral
A video supercut of Johnny Depp's bemused reactions to Amber Heard's lawyer repeatedly raising objections during their defamation trial has gone viral on social media.
Depp, 58, filed a $50 million lawsuit against ex-wife Heard, 35, in May 2019 after she wrote an op-ed published by The Washington Post in December 2018 about her experience of domestic violence.
Heard did not name Depp in the article but his lawsuit claimed he was the evident target of the piece and that it had damaged his career as a result. He also alleged that Heard had been the "perpetrator" of abuse in their relationship and her accusations were part of an "elaborate hoax to generate positive publicity."
Heard went on to countersue the Pirates of the Caribbean star in August 2020, in response to Depp's attorney Adam Waldman telling media outlets her domestic violence allegations were "fake" and a "sexual violence hoax."
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The trial began in Fairfax County, Virginia, and has dominated social media in recent weeks, with video snippets of Depp's testimony and details of other evidence going viral online.
These have included everything from Depp's allegations that Heard defecated on their marital bed to his reaction to hearing an audio recording of his ex-wife admitting she hit him.
The latest viral clip to emerge online centers on Depp's exchanges with Heard's lawyer Ben Rottenborn while on the stand this past Thursday.
The video, which was uploaded to TikTok by mculoki, has been viewed over 30 million times. "Johnny Depp being a SAVAGE in court" the caption reads. "Today has to be the funniest day." The video can be viewed here.
The video is essentially a compilation of the various points at which Depp found his testimony interrupted by Rottenborn raising the objection of "hearsay" to the actor's claims.
For those less familiar with legal terminology, according to the Cornell Law School definition, the term hearsay refers to "an out-of-court statement offered to prove the truth of whatever it asserts." Hearsay is largely inadmissible as evidence at trial, regardless of whether it be oral or written.
As the video shows, Depp repeatedly attempted to refer to "out-of-court" statements during his testimony, prompting Rottenborn to repeatedly raise his objections.
However, the actor is able to draw some humor out of the situation. At one point, the lawyer cross-examining him suggests they try a different question after Rottenborn once again objected. Depp agreed, quipping: "Yes. Let's let him object to another one."
At other points on the supercut, Depp was shown pausing during his testimony to look over at Rottenborn in anticipation of his objection. When a reply of "hearsay, your honor" was finally heard, he then emitted a wry smile.
Later in the video he paused again, waiting for another objection. When none was forthcoming he continued on, only to be interrupted seconds later by Rottenborn saying "hearsay, your honor." This prompted Depp to begin to laugh and shake his head.
Later he was seen rolling his eyes at Rottenborn's increasingly familiar refrain before the clip cuts to another moment where Depp stopped himself, mid-sentence, to declare "that's hearsay I guess" in a comment that prompted laughter in the court. "I'm learning," he added.
The hearsay objections continue in the clip. Later, as Depp described how he looked as some "papers" a call of "objection" could be heard again, prompting the actor to joke "maybe they were hearsay papers" much to the amusement of the court.
The video then cuts to Rottenborn quizzing Depp with what he claims is a "simple yes or no" question. "You'd like it to be, sir," Depp retorts, "Nothing's simple in this case."
He is then shown facetiously confirming that "October is 2 months before December, that is correct" and being asked to confirm his signature on the same document no fewer than four times.
The fourth time around he told Rottenborn: "'Is that the same one that I signed 3 times before?" Heard's lawyer replied: "I just wanted to make it clear..." before Depp interjected: "You made it clear."
Set to a jaunty soundtrack and with little in the way of context around the wider proceedings of the case, the video nevertheless proved popular with fans of Depp, who flocked to the comments section to praise the star for taking it all in good humor.
Carlyakaj commented: "The fact he's cracking jokes when some people would break from pure irritation alone says a lot" with nulbatkudarat convinced Depp's "Jack Sparrow side is coming out"
Comptonassdebbi wrote: "I could watch this a million times and still not stop laughing" while moocowsaysaah responded: "This compilation has me rolling. I love Johnny."
Sabrina Nix agreed, writing: "All I can do is laugh at this, god I love him." Elsewhere, SailorTajo suggested: "Someone make a 'HEARSAY' t-shirt with Johnny Depp on it."
Newsweek has contacted mculoki for comment.
The trial continues.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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