In the Hollywood saga of Johnny Depp and ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, Depp’s career may be on the rise with reports of a multi-year, seven-figure deal to continue as celebrity spokesmodel for Dior’s Sauvage cologne.
On Tuesday, Fox News stated that “a source close to the actor confirmed to Fox News Digital” that Depp and Dior had completed the deal, apparently confirming earlier reporting from TMZ.
The dramatic and somewhat entertaining defamation case against Heard and Heard’s countersuit was at the top of the public’s eye for the duration of the trial. If you’re on social media at all, you can find any number of hilarious memes from the trial.
Depp sued Heard over a 2018 Washington Post column in which Heard claimed she suffered physical and sexual abuse during a relationship. In his lawsuit, Depp alleged Heard smeared him with those accusations, although she did not mention him by name. The Post has kept the column available for viewing, but it now includes a statement regarding the defamation trial’s outcome.
On June 1, the jury found Heard liable for defaming Depp. Depp was awarded compensatory damages of $10 million, and $5 million in punitive damages.
The jury did award Heard $2 million for compensatory damages on one of the counterclaims of defamation she filed.
Depp decided to sue Heard after he lost a major role due to her allegations becoming public. Depp was let go from Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise as well as the “Fantastic Beasts 3” film.
Though Disney was quick to place guilt before proof, French fashion house Dior did not follow suit in the initial backlash against Depp.
The Heard defamation trial appeared to have redeemed Depp and helped restore his reputation.
Depp’s contract renewal with Dior suggests he is comfortable with the company’s loyalty.
Though Dior kept relations with Depp, he is not forgetting how Disney fed him to the wolves. Depp testified during the Heard trial that he would never work for Disney again, not even for “$300 million and a million alpacas.”
Even though the Depp v. Heard trial was often silly and sordid, it did contain indications of the state of our culture.
In a battle that was based largely on one woman’s claims of victimhood, Depp prevailed largely because he convinced the jury — and much of the public — he was making a difficult stand for “truth.”
In a statement made by Depp after the trial, he said, “From the very beginning, the goal of bringing this case was to reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome. Speaking the truth was something that I owed to my children and to all those who have remained steadfast in their support of me. I feel at peace knowing I have finally accomplished that.”
