For almost three weeks, Johnny Depp has landed in the cool Fairfax County, Virginia, a courtroom just steps away from his ex-wife Amber Heard as part of a heated $ 50 million civil defamation lawsuit. But instead of maintaining solemnity in a case that focuses, at least in part, on allegations of brutal domestic violence against him, Depp has engaged in downright strange behavior.
Depp spent four mostly gloomy days on the stand, insisting to jurors that Hurd “devastated” his career with a 2018 Washington Post article in which she described herself as a survivor of domestic violence. But both on and off the stand, the Pirates of the Caribbean actor is also spending his time in an increasingly absurd way.
He drew sketches of women on Post-it notes. He colored in what appears to be a Matisse-style painting with pastel markers. He ate glued bears. And he laughed at the testimony along with his sea of lawyers.
Actor Johnny Depp points to a pile of candy during a defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard at Fairfax County Court in Fairfax, Virginia, USA, April 27, 2022.
Jonathan Ernst / Reuters
Depp has apparently found amusement in the crowd of supporters, mostly middle-aged women, who crowd the courtroom every day, with some even arriving at the Virginia courthouse hours before the trial takes place. (He also enjoys the sometimes ugly support of legions of online fans, including Joe Rogan.)
Experts speculate that Depp’s lack of atmosphere – at least part of which was seen by the jury – could be part of a dubious strategy to win over jurors. Depp’s legal team did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
“Johnny Depp is a good actor and has spent years winning over audiences, and that seems to be part of his strategy here,” said Jude Engelmeier, a crisis communications expert who spoke to Harvey Weinstein during his sex crime trial. New York, he told The Daily Beast. “Drawing, painting, eating candy are methods to show a very calm and comfortable state. Instead of just looking up, looking nervous … he tries instead to look like he doesn’t care about the world, and he’s confident. “
But if Depp’s behavior is not technically in violation of decency in the courtroom, especially during a trial in which the actor is not facing any criminal charges, the behavior is remarkable, given that the 58-year-old man is accused of abuse.
“The jury is watching everyone in the courtroom, so the parties need to be careful so that the jury doesn’t get the impression that a country takes the case lightly,” said Christopher Melcher, a celebrity divorce lawyer who represented Kane West in the divorce. his procedure with Kim Kardashian, told The Daily Beast.
The essence of the current process is a defamation lawsuit in connection with Hurd’s article, but the actress has long accused Depp of harassment, including an incident in which Depp allegedly threw a phone at her, leaving her with a bruised face. A London judge ruled in November 2020 that there was “necessary evidence” that Depp had attacked Hurd many times during their marriage and that she was “afraid of her life”.
As a witness in his own case, Depp accused Hurd of verbal and physical violence, including a scandalous incident in 2015 in which he said the actress threw a bottle of vodka that cut off his fingertip. But Depp may have undermined his own version of events when an audio was released in court, which seems to have caught him saying he cut his own finger.
Both Depp and Hurd have denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
The jurors were tasked with deciding whether Hurd had acted with “real malice” when she wrote the publication – meaning she knew the content was false – or with “reckless disregard for the truth.” The jury will also be asked to review some of the issues raised in Hurd’s counterclaim against Depp in 2020.
The atmosphere in the courtroom ranged from calm to still, with Judge Penny Azkarate warning those present Monday that they must remain quiet or face expulsion. The warning came after laughter erupted when Depp was at the booth and the actor struggled to remember his own vast collection of lead roles.
“I’m so pathetic when it comes to knowing what movies I’ve made,” Depp said in the rostrum, smiling, causing loud laughter in the courtroom. “I’m sorry. I just don’t watch them. I feel better not watching them. What was the question again?”
On Tuesday, Depp was caught on a live broadcast of the process of painting a portrait of a woman on a Post-it note. Although it was not immediately clear who was supposed to depict the color sketch, Depp was caught in an already viral video passing on the improvised art to his lawyer, Benjamin Chu.
Chu was then seen taking off his glasses to get a better look at the sketch, while Depp whispered in his ear. The lawyer continued to nod in approval of the work of art before taking his hand to his heart and pointing to his high-profile client.
On Wednesday, wearing sunglasses, Depp arrived armed with distractions as he entered the courtroom, including a notebook labeled “Built to Endure” along with a drawing of green, like an alien wearing a crown on his head.
Depp carried a silver cup to the court every day, and on Wednesday he held a small pile of multicolored candies and jelly beans.
Depp was also photographed on Wednesday, coloring in what looked like a printed sketch or reproduction of the Mathis Dancers in purple and pink highlighters. Sitting next to the actor at the time: an open container with Ice Breaker mints.
That’s when video footage from several Los Angeles police officers offered new details for a 2016 domestic violence conversation at the East Columbia Building in Los Angeles that focused on Depp and Hurd.
Kimberly Lau, a New York lawyer who specializes in harassment and assault cases, told The Daily Beast that not all of Depp’s pampering happened while the jury was present.
“It’s a tense process, so it’s quite possible that Depp is trying to find ways to bring frivolity to the situation for himself and his legal team,” Lau said.
For Engelmeier, however, Depp’s antics in the courtroom were another indication that the trial was “turning into a bit of a circus.” He said mint and candy were normal for defendants in court – and recalled that Weinstein had eaten Mentos during the trial in 2020. Depp has not been charged with any sexual offenses, but appears to be doing his best to direct the trial. production with high stakes in a surreal scene.
“It’s narcissistic, but it’s Hollywood again,” Engelmeier said.
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