Johnny Depp’s lawyers have said that social media "played no role whatsoever" in the jury’s verdict in his defamation case against Amber Heard.
In a pair of talk show appearances, Depp's attorneys Ben Chew and Camille Vasquez spoke about the verdict ruling, which awarded the actor $10.4 million in compensatory damages.
The six-week high-profile trial concluded on June 1 after a Virginia jury voted unanimously for the 58-year-old Pirates of the Caribbean star and agreed that he was defamed by his ex-wife.
Depp sought legal action against the 36-year-old Aquaman star over what he considered to be defamatory statements in her 2018 op-ed published by The Washington Post.
Vasquez and Chew appeared on NBC's Today Show on Wednesday (June 8) to discuss the trial victory and were asked by host Savannah Guthrie whether the response on social media to Heard impacted the trial outcome.
Watch the Today Show interview below:Chew disagreed that the jury was "swayed" by social media, saying: "I don't think there’s any reason to believe the jurors violated their oath."
He also continued and said that it was "disappointing" to hear Heard's lawyer say that the jury was "influenced by social media" and that it was "lopsided" for Heard.
Vasquez added that media coverage of the trial was "everywhere" but they were admonished every single night and they had a tremendous amount of disrespect I think for the court and the process and they were doing the best they could".
Their comments come after Elaine Bredehoft appeared on NBC’s Today show last week, hours after the jury handed down its verdict finding to discuss Heard's loss. She was asked by Guthrie if the jury was influenced by social media.
The lawyer responded: "There's no way they couldn't have been influenced by social media. And it was horrible. It was lopsided."
Throughout the six-week trial, an online campaign blew up on various platforms, with social media users sharing memes, edited clips, and opinions about the stars at the center of the case.
The online frenzy was especially skewed in favor of the Fantastic Beasts star, with trending hashtags including #amberheardisaliar and #justiceforjohnnydepp.
The lawyers made another appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America on Wednesday morning and were once again asked by host George Stephanopoulos if the social media campaign against Heard has impacted the case’s outcome.
"My view is that social media played no role whatsoever," Chew told GMA. "This was a decision made by the jury, on the evidence presented by both sides. And as Camille [Vasquez] said, it was overwhelmingly in Mr. Depp’s favor."
Both lawyers - who have also become internet celebrities following the trial - insisted to Stephanopoulos that the "key to victory" was the "facts" and "evidence" heard in the courtroom.
Vasquez added that Depp's testimony was "six years in the making", saying: "He was able to connect with the jury and the general public and tell what really happened in this relationship".
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