Johnny Depp Just Won His Trial Against Amber Heard & Here's How The Verdict Played Out

The jury in the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial delivered its verdicts in court on Wednesday, and the result was largely a win for Depp.

The jury agreed with Depp's claim that Heard published an op-ed specifically to defame him, and awarded him a total of $15 million in compensatory and punitive damages - less than the $50 million he asked for. It also agreed that her statement about being a victim of domestic abuse was "false" and that she acted with "malice."

The jury also ruled that Heard did not fully prove her defamation case, although it did award her $2 million in compensatory damages for part of it. That was based on "malicious" comments made by Depp's lawyers.

Depp was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and another $5 million in punitive damages. However, the judge knocked that $5 million down to $350,000.

The verdict was slightly delayed as the judge sent the jury back to fill out the verdict form properly.

Heard was in the courtroom to hear the verdict on Wednesday, while Depp seemingly couldn't make it amid his multi-day musical tour of the U.K.

Heard did not break down when the verdicts were read out.

It was a dramatic end to one of the most high-profile lawsuits in recent memory, as the actors and former married couple aired their toxic relationship in court. The trial was livestreamed online, where millions watched it each day.

It also spawned conspiracy theories, memes, explainers and a ton of TikTok content.

The jury had been asked to rule on each actor's defamation case.

In Depp's case, he was suing Heard for $50 million over a 2018 Washington Post op-ed, in which she claimed to be a "public figure representing domestic abuse." She didn't name Depp but he argued that it clearly pointed to him, and that he lost major roles and millions of dollars because of the damage it did to his reputation.

Depp had to prove that Heard was deliberately lying about him just to hurt him, and the jury found that he did.

Heard counter-sued Depp for $100 million. She claimed that his lawyer defamed her and harmed her reputation by calling the op-ed a hoax. Her lawyers also defended her by saying that she was telling the truth about Depp, and that her opinion is protected free speech.

Heard had to prove that Depp's team dismissed her op-ed as a "hoax" just to damage her career, and that they knew they were lying when the called it a "hoax." The jury found that she did not.

Several disturbing stories emerged over the course of the trial, as the actors described how they got together and what happened before the end of their brief marriage from 2015-2016.

The court heard about a poop left in Depp’s bed, a bitter fight in which his fingertip was severed, the first time Depp allegedly hit Heard and several other claims of abuse.

Depp insisted that he’d never struck Heard, and that she mentally and physically abused him while they were together.

Heard accused Depp of physically and sexually abusing her on multiple occasions, often while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. She acknowledged hitting him, but said that she did not abuse him.

The verdicts triggered some strong feelings online, where Depp's supporters trumpeted it as a victory and blasted Heard, much as they've done throughout the trial.

Heard can still appeal elements of the case.