Entertainment
BBC hit with complaints over coverage of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial-Louise Griffin-Entertainment – Metro
The broadcaster has publicly responded.
Johnny Depp won his case against Amber Heard (Picture: Reuters/Getty Images)
The BBC has been hit with complaints over its coverage of the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial.
The Pirates of the Caribbean actor won his defamation case against his ex-wife after a lengthy court battle.
The BBC has now revealed that some viewers took issue with its coverage, saying: ‘We’ve received complaints from audience members who feel our reporting on the verdict of the Johnny Depp defamation trial has been biased against him, or we haven’t provided sufficient context for the outcome.’
The broadcaster responded to the complaints publicly, adding in a statement: ‘We have provided detailed coverage of the trial, including the evidence brought forward and witness testimonies, throughout its duration.
‘When the verdict was announced, we again provided a thorough analysis of the story, and we included a range of reactions to the verdict in our reporting. Some of these voices included fans who were outside the courtroom, spokespeople from domestic violence charities, and the statements provided by Mr Depp and Amber Heard themselves.
‘Further to this, we have also explained the wider context of the previous court case in the UK, and the implications this trial could have for both Mr Depp and Ms Heard.
Depp won after a lengthy court battle (Picture: REUTERS)
Amber Heard will sit down for her first TV interview after the verdict (Picture: Getty)
‘We appreciate that this has been a highly emotive issue, and there has been a significant audience interest in the outcome of this trial. However we don’t consider we have taken a view on this story at any point, we have simply reported on the facts and the reactions to it.’
Depp was awarded a total of $15million (£12m) in compensatory and punitive damages after a jury found Heard did defame him in a 2018 article she wrote about her domestic abuse experience.
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The actor, 58, initially filed the lawsuit suing his ex-wife for $50m (£40m), but Heard then counter-sued for $100m (£80m).
Heard was also awarded $2m (£1.6m) in compensatory damages, therefore reducing Depp’s total to $8.35m (£6.7m).
After the explosive six-week trial wrapped up, Heard’s lawyer Elaine Bredehoft revealed that the Aquaman actress couldn’t afford to pay the damages, and is now planning on filing an appeal. It was claimed during the trial that Heard had lost work in Hollywood in light of the legal dispute between her and Depp.
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Following the verdict, Heard said she was ‘heartbroken’ and described it as a ‘setback’ for women. She is set to sit down for her first TV interview since the verdict this week.
Depp thanked the jury in his statement and said he was humbled. He most recently joined Jeff Beck on his UK tour.
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