Amber Heard Opens Up About Devastating Aftermath of Johnny Depp Trial
Amber Heard has given a rare and poignant interview about the profound personal consequences she has faced since losing the high-profile 2022 defamation trial against her ex-husband, Johnny Depp. The actress, who has largely retreated from public life following the verdict, participated in a new documentary titled Silenced, which premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
'I Have Lost My Ability to Speak'
In the documentary, directed by Australian filmmaker Selina Miles, Heard made a striking declaration about her current state. "This is not about me. I have lost my ability to speak. I am not here to tell my story. I don't want to tell my story. In fact, I don't want to use my voice anymore. That's the problem," Heard stated, as reported by Variety. Her comments underscore the deep emotional and psychological toll the legal battles have taken on her.
Documentary Focuses on Weaponization of Defamation Laws
Silenced follows international human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson's efforts to combat the use of defamation laws to silence survivors of gender-based violence. Robinson previously represented Heard during the 2018 UK trial where Depp sued British tabloid The Sun for labelling him a "wife beater"—a case that concluded in victory for the newspaper.
Reflecting on that earlier trial, Heard explained, "The outcome of that trial depended on my participation, and I depended on the outcome of that trial. When I first met [Robinson], I immediately got the sense that she got the bigger picture. What has happened to me is an amplified version of what a lot of women live through."
Intense Cyberbullying Campaign During 2022 Trial
Heard addressed the severe online harassment she endured during the 2022 trial, describing it as one of the worst instances of cyberbullying documented. "I remember at the close of the trial, the idea that I could say something to the press came up. [Robinson] asked if I was sure about that. [I thought], 'If they throw things at me, it will make this point more obvious.' I didn't understand it could get so much worse for me as a woman, using my voice," she recounted.
The trial saw Heard subjected to a widespread and sustained campaign of online abuse led by Depp supporters, which studies have highlighted as particularly vicious and damaging.
A Message of Hope and Resilience
Despite the challenges, Heard concluded her interview on a note of optimism and strength. "It gives me strength seeing other people take on the fight," she said. "Women brave enough to address the imbalance of power. Looking at my daughter's face as she grows up and slowly starts to walk into this world... I believe it can be better."
Life After the Trial
Since the trial, Heard, a single mother of three, has relocated to Spain and shifted her focus to theatre acting. Last year, she appeared in Jeremy O'Harris's Spirit of the People production at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Silenced marks her first film project since 2023's Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, signalling a cautious return to the cinematic world amidst her ongoing personal recovery.
