Johnny Depp’s lawyers did a TV appearance this week to diffuse rumors that an online smear campaign affected the verdict. As many are aware, social media clearly chose sides in this battle. Some claim the influx of negative press affected Amber Heard’s verdict. But his team is quick to point out that it wasn’t a ‘smear campaign’ and was just the public’s reaction to the frightening claims.
Johnny Depp’s lawyers have sort of become legal eagle superheroes to the masses. And while some people may see the anti-Heard discourse as problematic, it’s just how society works now. Camille Vasquez and Ben Chew took to The Today Show to clear up those smear campaign rumors.
Chew was quick to call the rumors baseless.
EXCLUSIVE: Johnny Depp’s attorneys say they feel “very confident that there are no errors that would justify any kind of successful appeal.” pic.twitter.com/Uh6qk3pTUO
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) June 8, 2022
“In fact, very early in the case, the prior Chief Judge White had thrown out accounts and counterclaims that related to that. It was absolutely absurd and baseless.”
The Court of Public Opinion
Johnny Depp’s lawyers are also quick to shut down Heard’s team’s theory that the jury’s verdict was influenced by the social media smear campaign. The fact of the matter is that the jury had no access to social media. That is why juries are put up in hotels with limited access to the public. This all stands in bitter opposition to Elaine Bredehoft doing press this week stating the outcome was biased. How could social media have affected a verdict if no one on the jury had access to it? It is a simple question but one with merit.
Ben Chew responded more to these accusations:
“I don’t think there’s any reason to believe that the jurors violated their oath. And again, that suggestion was disappointing to hear.”
The reality is this case was ugly and exhausting to both the parties involved and to those who watched it. It seems Heard’s team is grasping at straws when really everyone now just needs to move on and get this behind us.
