Johnny Depp's Lawyers Were 'Concerned' He 'Might Lose His Temper' on the Stand in Amber Heard Trial

Mar. 15, 2025

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard during the April 2022 trial.Photo: JIM LO SCALZO/POOL/AFP via Getty; JIM WATSON/POOL/AFP via Getty

Johnny Depp’s attorneys are looking back at his tricky testimony during his trial withAmber Heard.Two of the actor’s lawyers, Benjamin Chew and Jessica Meyers, shed light on the 2022 Virginia defamation case and their legal strategy in the new A&E specialInterrogation Raw: Celebrity Under Oath, which aired Thursday, Dec. 26.At one point, Chew explains why the legal team thought Depp making jokes on the stand while testifying was helpful, and that they worried the actor might have anoutburst during his cross-examination.“Johnny’s use of humor really undermined whatever serious point Amber’s counsel was trying to make,” says Chew. “We wanted to humanize Johnny before the jury so they could understand why hitting the woman he loved was something that he’s just not capable of.““But,” he recalls, “the one thing that we’re concerned about is whether he might lose his temper. The other side is gonna do everything possible to get Johnny to show anger.“Chew explained, “One of the things that lawyers try to do on cross-examination is to maintain control of the witness. That’s something that Johnny simply did not allow [Heard’s attorney Ben Rottenborn] to do.“Johnny Depp testifying on April 21, 2022.JIM LO SCALZO/POOL/AFP/GettyDepp, 61, sued ex-wife Heard, 38, for defamation over an op-ed she wrote about surviving domestic abuse, though she did not name him in the article. The jury sided with Depp, and, after reaching a settlement, she was ordered to pay him $1 million in damages.Chew said on theInterrogation Rawspecial that the team called Depp after the verdict since the actor was unable to be in the courtroom that day. “He was elated, and he sounded as if the weight of the world was off of his shoulders,” he recalls. “I mean, he sounded like a kid. He was thrilled.“Benjamin Chew in court on May 27, 2022.STEVE HELBER/POOL/AFP via GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.In astatement directly after the verdict, Heard, who now lives a quiet life in Spain, said she was “heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence and sway of my ex-husband.” She also felt the outcome “sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously.“Depp at the same time said the “jury gave me my life back.” He added, “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.“Amber Heard testifying on May 16, 2022.STEVE HELBER/POOL/AFP via GettyNone of Heard’s lawyers from the trial participated in theInterrogation Rawspecial. Elaine Charlson Bredehoft, who represented the actress during the trial, told PEOPLE earlier this year that itwas a “huge mistake” to allow the trial to be televisedand that “social media completely hijacked that trial.““You should never have cameras in a courtroom for sexual assault or domestic violence [cases]. I hope that the rest of the world has figured that out and that mistake won’t be repeated,” she said.Heard didan NBC News interview with Savannah Guthrie after the verdictin June 2022, when she said she felt Depp used his charisma to win over the jurors. “He’s a beloved character and people feel they know him. He’s a fantastic actor,” she said at the time.Heard also shared in that interview whybeing cross-examined on the stand was so nerve-rackingfor her: “The scariest, most intimidating thing for anybody talking about sexual violence is not being believed, being called a liar or being humiliated.”

Johnny Depp’s attorneys are looking back at his tricky testimony during his trial withAmber Heard.

Two of the actor’s lawyers, Benjamin Chew and Jessica Meyers, shed light on the 2022 Virginia defamation case and their legal strategy in the new A&E specialInterrogation Raw: Celebrity Under Oath, which aired Thursday, Dec. 26.

At one point, Chew explains why the legal team thought Depp making jokes on the stand while testifying was helpful, and that they worried the actor might have anoutburst during his cross-examination.

“Johnny’s use of humor really undermined whatever serious point Amber’s counsel was trying to make,” says Chew. “We wanted to humanize Johnny before the jury so they could understand why hitting the woman he loved was something that he’s just not capable of.”

“But,” he recalls, “the one thing that we’re concerned about is whether he might lose his temper. The other side is gonna do everything possible to get Johnny to show anger.”

Chew explained, “One of the things that lawyers try to do on cross-examination is to maintain control of the witness. That’s something that Johnny simply did not allow [Heard’s attorney Ben Rottenborn] to do.”

Johnny Depp testifying on April 21, 2022.JIM LO SCALZO/POOL/AFP/Getty

JIM LO SCALZO/POOL/AFP/Getty

Depp, 61, sued ex-wife Heard, 38, for defamation over an op-ed she wrote about surviving domestic abuse, though she did not name him in the article. The jury sided with Depp, and, after reaching a settlement, she was ordered to pay him $1 million in damages.

Chew said on theInterrogation Rawspecial that the team called Depp after the verdict since the actor was unable to be in the courtroom that day. “He was elated, and he sounded as if the weight of the world was off of his shoulders,” he recalls. “I mean, he sounded like a kid. He was thrilled.”

Benjamin Chew in court on May 27, 2022.STEVE HELBER/POOL/AFP via Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In astatement directly after the verdict, Heard, who now lives a quiet life in Spain, said she was “heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence and sway of my ex-husband.” She also felt the outcome “sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously.”

Depp at the same time said the “jury gave me my life back.” He added, “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.”

Amber Heard testifying on May 16, 2022.STEVE HELBER/POOL/AFP via Getty

None of Heard’s lawyers from the trial participated in theInterrogation Rawspecial. Elaine Charlson Bredehoft, who represented the actress during the trial, told PEOPLE earlier this year that itwas a “huge mistake” to allow the trial to be televisedand that “social media completely hijacked that trial.”

“You should never have cameras in a courtroom for sexual assault or domestic violence [cases]. I hope that the rest of the world has figured that out and that mistake won’t be repeated,” she said.

Heard didan NBC News interview with Savannah Guthrie after the verdictin June 2022, when she said she felt Depp used his charisma to win over the jurors. “He’s a beloved character and people feel they know him. He’s a fantastic actor,” she said at the time.

Heard also shared in that interview whybeing cross-examined on the stand was so nerve-rackingfor her: “The scariest, most intimidating thing for anybody talking about sexual violence is not being believed, being called a liar or being humiliated.”

source: people.com