Actor Johnny Depp is suing ex-wife Amber Heard for $50 million for defamation of character after she published an op-Ed in the Washington Post titled, “Amber Heard: I spoke up against sexual violence.” In the piece Heard doesn’t mention Depp by name but insinuates that her experience with domestic violence and her relationship with Depp were connected. 

Depp and Heard met in 2009 on the set of The Rum Diary. Later that same year, Heard was arrested for physically assaulting her then-girlfriend Tansya van Ree. Allegedly Heard grabbed and hit van Ree’s arm however all charges were then dropped by van Ree. 

According to Depp, he and Heard began dating around the end of 2011 or early into 2012. After several years of dating, Depp and Heard were married during a private ceremony in their L.A home. In May 2016, Heard filed for divorce from Depp, followed by a temporary restraining order, four days later. 

Heard alleged that two days before filing for divorce, there was an incident in which Depp threw a phone at her, leaving bruises on her face. Heard added on to her allegations, accusing Depp of physically abusing her throughout their relationship whilst under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Depp denied Heard’s accusations through his legal representatives and claimed that Heards accusations were nothing more than an attempt to secure a premature financial resolution.  

Outside of court on Aug. 16, 2016, Heard and Depp reached a $7million settlement after Heard agreed to withdraw her request for a domestic violence restraining order and her spousal support request of $50,000 a month. 

An incident of domestic violence includes the alleged altercation in March 2015. Heard claimed that during the fight, Depp sexually assaulted her and caused her to sustain major wounds with significant blood loss, Depp claimed that he was the victim when his fingertip was removed after Heard allegedly threw a vodka bottle at him. 

Depp’s lawyer, Camille Vasquez, began questioning Heard when she took to defense, asking why Heard did not seek medical attention after she was allegedly physically and sexually assaulted, if she had truly been the one assaulted that night. Heard responded by saying she would never hurt Depp and that most of his alleged assaults occurred whilst he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.“I think he was using cocaine because there was a jar—a jar of cocaine on the table, “ Heard said during the trial.

Depp’s fans have turned this evidence into a viral meme in which they edited the clip from the court alongside the famous scene from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Fans will remember this iconic scene when Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp, frolics across the boat deck while yelling, “I have a jar of dirt.”

Depp has received an outpouring of support from fans including the creation of the #justiceforjohnny that has nearly 7 billion views between Tik Tok and Twitter, and fan appearances outside the courthouse. Heard has also received some online support with the creation of #justiceforamberheard with around 25 million views. Heard has hired a new public relations team in response to the negative publicity.

The end date of the trial has been extended many times however at this point the court said they’ll have the decision sometime around May 27, since the trial was scheduled to be five weeks long. At this moment the verdict is unclear, but spectators await the court’s decision.