Legal Expert Says Johnny Depp’s Social Media Support ‘Means Nothing For The Case’

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are embroiled in a heated legal battle. The majority of social media is rallying around Johnny, but it appears that it will have no impact on the outcome.

According to People, a legal expert believes that the outpouring of internet support for Johnny Depp during his current defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard has no influence on the result of the trial. On Wednesday, Hollywood litigator and defamation specialist Daniel Gutenplan noted that while the trial has been “very pro” Depp, it “frankly means nothing for the case. But it gives you an idea of how the public is signing on this.”

Gutenplan goes on to say that Depp‘s “reputation and his career has been irreparably tarnished because of this, these allegations, these incidents that have come to light.” Depp, who is 58, is suing Heard, who is 35, for defamation in connection with a 2018 op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post on surviving domestic abuse, despite the fact that she never referenced Depp by name in the article.

The actor first filed the $50 million lawsuit in March of 2019. The exes married in February 2015 and split the following year.” Anyone in this world would love to have $50 million, but I think the case is bigger than that. I think it’s a case and a war on public opinion,” Gutenplan mentions how Depp was dismissed from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

“As much as he’d like to go get money in that pot of gold at the end of the lawsuit, I think he also has been taking this case all the way because he’s trying to regain his image in the court of public opinion.”

“What you’re seeing day to day in the trial in terms of the dirty laundry that’s being aired … I think it doesn’t necessarily bear on the defamation case so much, but it bears on the public’s opinion of [Depp].”

Gutenplan earlier stated last month that he feels Depp has an “uphill battle” in the Fairfax, Virginia, trial.

“Defamation is very hard to prove. First and foremost, truth is an absolute defense to any defamatory statement. So regardless of the alleged defamatory statement, if a defendant can establish that it is true, the defense is going to win.”

Gutenplan noted that Heard’s article included no mention of the Sweeney Todd actor, and “doesn’t detail any specific alleged events or any specific conduct. It is incredibly general in that regard.” He also stated that winning a defamation case  “has to be based on facts,” adding, “It can’t be based on opinion. And that’s where a lot of defamation plaintiffs get in trouble.”

Johnny has definitely won the case in the eyes of his devoted followers, but he still has a long way to go to truly defeat Amber. Let’s wait and see what happens next. To get the latest updates, keep an eye on Thirsty.

What’s your opinion on this one? Let us know in the comments!