Why Johnny Depp Was Absent During Trial Verdict

Due to prior commitments, Johnny Depp was not present in the Fairfax, Virginia, courtroom on Wednesday when the jury announced the verdict in the $50 million defamation lawsuit he filed against his ex-wife, Amber Heard.

A source close to Depp told Newsweek that "due to previously scheduled work commitments made before the trial, Mr. Depp will not be physically present for today's 3 p.m. verdict and will be watching from the United Kingdom."

The jury had returned to the courtroom to deliver the verdict, but Judge Penney Azcarate sent the jury back to the deliberation room to fill out a section regarding damages on the verdict forms that the jury left blank. While no indication was given as to the verdict, the judge told the jury that the form had to list damages of at least $1.

When jurors returned, they ruled in Depp's favor, finding that Depp proved his ex-wife defamed him on all three counts, awarding him $15 million in damages.

Some already suspected that the Pirates of the Caribbean actor would not be in court for the verdict, as Depp was in the U.K. performing at a Jeff Beck concert in the English city of Sheffield, as the jury was deliberating, a move that has been highly debated by fans.

Several legal experts have noted that it is not a requirement for either party to be present for the verdict reading in a civil suit such as this one. Still, Depp's absence was noted.

Depp sued Heard for $50 million for defaming him in an op-ed she wrote in 2018 published by The Washington Post in which she alleged she was a victim of domestic abuse. Heard countersued Depp for $100 million for nuisance.

From the U.K., Depp released a statement, which was posted on his Instagram after the verdict was read, in which he said that he was "truly humbled" by the verdict.

"Six years ago, my life, the life of my children, the lives of those closest to me, and also, the lives of the people, who for many, many years have supported and believed in me were forever changed," Depp said. He continued, saying that the statements made against him were false and severely hurt his career. "And six years later, the jury gave me my life back. I am truly humbled."

Follow Newsweek's live blog for additional updates on the trial.