The world of cinema is buzzing with anticipation as Amber Heard prepares to make her comeback at the illustrious Taormina Film Festival with her latest film, “In The Fire.” While fans celebrate her return, a storm of controversy surrounds the festival’s decision to showcase Heard’s movie amidst ongoing disputes with her ex-husband, Johnny Depp. As battle lines are drawn on social media, Hollywood finds itself at a crossroads, with calls for support of survivors echoing throughout the industry.
Renowned as the Italian equivalent of the Academy Awards, the Taormina Film Festival has a prestigious history spanning over six decades. As it gears up for its 69th edition in Sicily, Italy, the inclusion of Amber Heard’s film has stirred up heated debates across the virtual landscape.
Tag: Amber Heard
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Amber Heard’s film premiere ignites controversy
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Amber Heard secretly sells home for big profit after defamation trial loss
Actress Amber Heard has secretly sold her home in Southern California for a big profit after the defamation trial loss. TMZ has reported that the 36-year-old actress has begun raising some of that cash by selling her Yucca Valley home in the California desert for $1.05 million, a profit of about $500,000 for her, with a July 18 closing date. She reportedly bought the property back in 2019 through an anonymous trust tied to her, reports aceshowbiz.com.
There’s speculation about Heard’s ability to immediately cover the damages, which includes $10 million in compensatory damages and $350,000 in punitive damages. She will also receive $2 million from Depp in a counter-lawsuit, leaving her with just over $8 million to pay. The reports of Heard’s selling her house came just days after she filed notice to appeal against Depp in the defamation case. The appeal filing came despite Heard being denied her request for a new trial.
Depp’s representatives repeated their confidence the payout decision would not be reversed. On July 21 in the wake of Heard’s appeal application, a spokesman for Depp told Daily Mail: “The jury listened to the extensive evidence presented during the six-week trial and came to a clear and unanimous verdict that the defendant herself defamed Mr Depp, in multiple instances. We remain confident in our case and that this verdict will stand.” In early July, Heard’s attorneys asked the judge to declare a mistrial. They argued one of the jurors on the case should not have been eligible to sit as his summons was intended for his father, who had the same name and address.
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‘Broke’ Amber Heard to sign multi-million dollar deal for book, says report
Actor Amber Heard will soon sign a deal to write a ‘tell all’ book, weeks after losing the defamation case against her ex-husband, actor Johnny Depp. As per a new report, Amber is opting to take up the project as she is ‘broke’ and considers that her ‘career in Hollywood’ is over. Author-lawyer Dror Bikel has said that Amber should be ‘extremely careful’ as Johnny’s lawyers will ‘be reading and listening to everything’. Dror added that if Amber ‘crosses the line’, she will face ‘another defamation suit’. Recently, Amber faced a six-week-long trial in Fairfax County, Virginia. A seven-person jury reached a verdict on June 1, deciding that Johnny proved that Amber defamed him in a 2018 op-ed. The jury awarded Johnny $15 million in damages but Amber will only have to pay $10.35 million due to a Virginia law limiting punitive damages (the judge reduced the amount). In her countersuit, Amber won one of the three defamation counts and was awarded $2 million in damages. OK Magazine quoted a source saying about the book deal, “Amber considers her career in Hollywood over. She’s already in talks and is excited about it. At this point, she has nothing to lose and wants to tell all.” Source: HT
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Amber Heard tells jury Johnny Depp assaulted her
Aquaman actor Amber Heard choked back tears on Wednesday as she testified that ex-husband Johnny Depp physically abused her, starting with slaps after she laughed at one of his tattoos and escalating to a “cavity search” of her body for cocaine. Heard took the witness stand for the first time in a widely followed U.S. defamation case brought by Depp, saying the actors had a “magical” relationship until it turned violent.
Depp’s first physical outburst, Heard said, came after she asked what was written on one of his faded tattoos. She said he replied “Wino,” and she laughed, thinking it was a joke.
“He slapped me across the face,” Heard said. “I didn’t know what was going on. I just stared at him.”
Heard said he slapped her twice more and said “you think it’s funny, bitch?”
Depp, 58, testified earlier in the trial that he never hit Heard and that she was the one who was the abuser.
The star of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films and others is suing Heard, 36, for $50 million, saying she defamed him when she claimed she was a victim of domestic abuse. Heard has counter-sued for $100 million, saying Depp smeared her by calling her a liar.
Heard, who alternated between crying and speaking calmly, said she stayed with Depp because she wanted to believe his apologies and promises to never hit her.
But, Heard said, Depp assaulted her “several times,” usually when he was drinking or using drugs. During a weekend away with friends in May 2013, Heard said, Depp became angry and accused her of inviting what he perceived as suggestive advances from another woman.
That evening, Heard said Depp tore her dress, ripped off her underwear and stuck his fingers “inside” her.
“He proceeds to do a cavity search,” she said. “He’s looking for his drugs, his cocaine.”
Earlier, psychologist Dawn Hughes testified that Heard had told her that Depp had put his fingers up her vagina to search for cocaine.
The case hinges on a December 2018 opinion piece she authored in the Washington Post. The article never mentioned Depp by name, but his lawyer told jurors it was clear Heard was referencing him. The couple’s divorce was finalized in 2017 after less than two years of marriage.
Depp, once among the biggest stars in Hollywood, said Heard’s allegations cost him “everything.” A new “Pirates” movie was put on hold, and Depp was replaced in the “Fantastic Beasts” film franchise, a “Harry Potter” spinoff.
In his earlier testimony, Depp said the fight over the “Wino” tattoo, which was originally the name of former girlfriend Winona Ryder, “didn’t happen.”
Source: Reuters