Johnny Depp’s $50 million dollar defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard is heating up in court
In opening arguments Depp’s team claimed Amber Heard destroyed his life with “a lie” and that she is “obsessed” with her image.
But Heard’s team argued the Pirates of the Carribean star brought her to court simply to “destroy her”.
Heard’s lawyers say they’ll show how Depp was an “obsessed ex-husband” who engaged in drug and alcohol abuse” – a statement Depp’s lawyers firmly denies.
Witnesses testify
The first witness called for the trial was Depp’s older sister, Christi Dembrowski, who faced a barrage of questions from Heard’s lawyers about Depp’s alcohol and drug use.
Close friend to Depp, Isaac Baruch told the court that he has previously seen the couple argue but never witnessed any physical violence.
Baruch is the second witness called in the trial over Depp’s allegations that Heard falsely portrayed him as a domestic abuser.
Baruch says he is not angry, and only wants this all to be resolved quickly.
Baruch adds that Depp has financially supported him, providing him with places to live and giving him about A$130,000 over the years.
“His family has been completely wrecked by all of this stuff, and it’s not fair,” Baruch said. “It’s not right, what she did. … It’s insane.”
Heard claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse in an article and the case was brought forward.
In terms of the opinion piece written by Heard – Depp says the article – which does not mention him by name – is defamatory and derailed his career.
But a lawyer on her team says the Hollywood star is telling the truth.
The 58 year old has denied any abuse and has sued his ex-wife for $50 million dollars
Heard has in turn, sued him, with a $100 million counterclaim.
The trial underway in a Virginia court is expected to last up to six weeks.
We know what our words are worth at Netflix on 9/20. Photo: J.W. Hendricks
A recently ratified Writers Guild of America (WGA) contract is poised to revolutionise the landscape of Hollywood.
This monumental agreement brings forth fundamental alterations in the way the entertainment industry operates. In a nutshell, the contract redefines compensation structures, solidifying fair pay for writers and creators across various platforms.
One notable change is the integration of more equitable profit-sharing mechanisms, guaranteeing writers a more significant slice of the proverbial pie. Additionally, the contract underscores the importance of proper crediting and recognition for writers, ensuring their vital contributions are acknowledged and duly compensated.
Artificial intelligence was of course another major point of discussion with agreements outlined below stating:
“We have established regulations for the use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) on MBA-covered projects in the following ways:
AI can’t write or rewrite literary material, and AI-generated material will not be considered source material under the MBA, meaning that AI-generated material can’t be used to undermine a writer’s credit or separated rights.
A writer can choose to use AI when performing writing services, if the company consents and provided that the writer follows applicable company policies, but the company can’t require the writer to use AI software (e.g., ChatGPT) when performing writing services.
The Company must disclose to the writer if any materials given to the writer have been generated by AI or incorporate AI-generated material.
The WGA reserves the right to assert that exploitation of writers’ material to train AI is prohibited by MBA or other law.”
The WGA contract also takes steps to address issues of diversity and inclusion within the industry, fostering an environment that welcomes voices from all backgrounds and experiences. This shift towards a more inclusive landscape is seen as a crucial step towards rectifying historical disparities within the entertainment realm.
Deepfakes are the online phenomenon changing the way in which we consume and trust social media
Have you ever scrolled through social media and found a celebrity selling something a bit left of centre?
Chances are you have fallen victim to a deepfake.
These images and videos are a type of artificial intelligence, which promises to create doctored videos, which are almost impossible to tell apart from the real thing.
They have typically been used in pornographic clips and for celebrity endorsements.
Harry has long spoken out about his anger over press intrusion, which he blames for his mother’s death
Prince Harry, his wife Meghan and her mother were involved in a “near catastrophic car chase” involving paparazzi photographers in New York.
The incident took place after they left the Ms. Foundation for Women, where Meghan was honoured for her work.
“This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD (New York Police Department) officers,” said Prince Harry’s spokesperson.
The chase involved paparazzi driving on the sidewalk, running red lights and driving while taking pictures.
“I thought that was a bit reckless and irresponsible,” New York Mayor Eric Adams said.
Harry has long spoken out about his anger over press intrusion, which he blames for his mother’s death.
Princess Diana was killed when her limousine crashed as it sped away from chasing paparazzi in Paris in 1997.
Harry and Meghan stepped down from their royal duties in 2020, partly over what they described as intense media harassment.
Harry is currently involved in numerous court cases in London where he has accused papers of using unlawful methods to target him and his family.