An entertainment industry expert testified on Monday that Amber Heard lost $45 million to $50 million in endorsements and TV and film income over allegations that she faked domestic violence allegations against ex-husband Johnny Depp.
Heard’s team contacted the expert, Kathryn Arnold, as well as a psychiatrist and orthopedic surgeon as the libel trial began its sixth and final week. Heard’s lawyers were also expected to call Depp to the stand on Monday, but ultimately decided they did not need his testimony. Depp testified before over four days in April.
Heard’s side seeks to prove that she suffered a severe professional setback after Depp’s lawyer, Adam Waldman, accused her of an “abuse hoax” in 2020. Arnold testified that Heard could not find work on major studio projects due to the amount of online vitriol she continues to face.
“In the industry, they love her work,” Arnold said. “But they can’t work with it now.”
Arnold compared Heard’s earnings to a string of other “similar” actors—Jason Momoa, Ana de Armas, Gal Gadot, Zendaya, and Chris Pine—to draw conclusions about what her career path might have looked like, had it not been for Waldman’s statements.
Heard earned $1 million for her role as Mira in Aquaman, which grossed $1 billion in 2018, and $2 million in Aquaman 2, due out next year. Heard claimed that she had to “fight” to stay in the sequel, and said her role has been drastically reduced. Arnold testified that Heard should have been able to renegotiate her “Aquaman 2” salary for $4 million or more, but she couldn’t because she had no leverage.
Upon questioning, Depp’s attorney Wayne Dennison objected to several companies, suggesting that the actors are more famous than Heard.
Denison indicated that the damage to Heard’s career may have been due to negative press linked to the 2020 defamation trial in the UK. Denison also argued that Depp is not responsible for the negative social media campaign targeting Heard.
Depp’s team is expected to call their witnesses on Tuesday and Wednesday to refute Heard’s claim. They are also expected to play testimony from Walter Hamada, president of DC Films, who is expected to state that Heard had no setbacks while participating in the “Aquaman” sequel.
Depp sued Heard for $50 million in 2019, claiming she discredited him by calling herself a “public figure who represents domestic violence” in a Washington Post op-ed. Heard filed a counterclaim after Waldman accused her of a “hoax”.
Much of the trial focused on often horrific allegations of violence, as well as Depp’s drug and alcohol use. Deep Heard has been accused of throwing a bottle of vodka at him at a house in Australia, cutting off the tip of his right finger.
Heard’s team called Richard Moore, an orthopedic surgeon, who testified that the injury was inconsistent with Depp’s account of it. Heard said he likely cut it when he smashed a phone, and Moore testified that he would also have matched his pinch in an accordion-style door.
Heard’s lawyers also contacted psychiatrist David Spiegel, who testified that Depp’s behavior was consistent with a substance use disorder and with being a perpetrator of intimate partner violence. Spiegel also testified that Depp’s memory had apparently been damaged by drug use.
Depp’s team has indicated that both Depp and model Kate Moss, Depp’s ex-girlfriend, will be called as rebuttal witnesses on Wednesday. However, the tables remain fluid.
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