Amber Heard is in danger of losing her career and finances after losing a high-profile defamation case against ex-
husband Johnny Depp, which resulted in a $8.35 million damages claim.
Experts say there’s ‘no way back for Heard in Hollywood,’ adding that the dramatic six-week court battle has left the
actress, 36, ‘too icky for a studio,’ raising concerns about her future earnings and career.
Throughout the trial, the actress stated that the case has harmed her career, revealing how Depp’s lawsuit
prevented her from fulfilling a pledge to donate $7 million to the American Civil Liberties Union. Kathryn Arnold, an
entertainment industry expert, testified that Heard missed out on up to $50 million in potential earnings.
In the aftermath of her trial loss, Heard is confronted with a slew of issues. In terms of her future career, Hollywood
executives are unlikely to consider her for roles. Financially, the actress and witnesses alluded to her financial
difficulties, while Depp’s massive outpouring of support may cause brands and companies to avoid him.
Heard may now find it difficult to meet various financial obligations, including those to organizations like the ACLU,
and the financial strain may limit her activism career, which has seen her support women’s rights organizations.
The damages bill could force her to sell assets such as a $570,000 rural hideaway in Yucca Valley and a Range Rover
she kept from her divorce with Depp.
The main question will be how Heard will pay the massive damages bill, which she will have to pay over the next 30
years. Attorney Sandra Spurgeon of Spurgeon Law Group in Lexington, Kentucky, recommended one probability
could be Depp exempt from paying the bill or bargaining a lower amount.
She told CBS MoneyWatch: ‘He’s [Depp] in the driver’s seat right now. For an individual who doesn’t have the
money to pay the judgment and no ability to post the bond, then there is a serious difficulty if the winning party
intends to execute the judgment.’
However, if he does order her to pay the whole sum, another option might see Heard appeal the damages. Though
an appeal with a different judge might work in her favour, she will still have to provide the whole sum while the
appeal is heard – something that could lead her to file for bankruptcy.
A third alternative, according to CBS News legal contributor Jessica Levinson, is that her future earnings might be
garnished – meaning a portion of her salary from future films or TV series could go to Depp until the debt is
covered.
Ms Levinson said: ‘That’s not an unusual case when somebody says, ‘I don’t have – I can’t fulfill this,’ and so I
certainly think because she has earning potential portion of her income might be garnished as a result.’
However, the court may rule that Heard’s future employment prospects are bleak, citing Hollywood insiders’ claims
that the actress is unlikely to be considered by studio executives in light of the defamation case.
Some have speculated that she would pursue a career as an advocate for victims of domestic violence, however it’s
unclear how this would assist her afford her legal difficulties.
Heard previously stated that she had to ‘fight’ to keep her position as Mera in the Aquaman sequel and that she
had only been cast in one other picture in the past two years. Mera earned roughly $3 million for her role.
Mark Borkowski, a British public relations professional, stated: ‘There is no way back for Heard in Hollywood. If
you’re sitting there making a movie or thinking about casting it, are you going to hire her?
‘Look at the huge outcry about Aquaman 2 [where a petition to have her kicked off the film hit four million
signatures last night]. The trial pollutes any marketing or PR to launch a film.’
Matthew Belloni, a former entertainment lawyer who now writes for the Puck newsletter on the business of
Hollywood, said: ‘Both of them will work again, but I think it will be a while before a major studio will consider them
`safe´ enough to bet on.
‘The personal baggage that was revealed in this trial was just too icky for a studio to want to deal with.’
‘Amber’s career appears to be in danger right now,’ said Alexandra Villa of In House PR, a reputation management
specialist. The major Hollywood studios will be terrified by what has occurred. Smaller productions will also be
hesitant to invest in Amber for any project.
‘In my opinion, at this moment, producers will have to consider carefully whether they will hire her as the
momentum of public opinion has shifted against her.
‘People forget Hollywood studios are businesses. They hire stars on whether they will bring in profits or not. She has
a mountain to climb. Much of her testimony has holes in it and she may need to address those issues.’
In light of her feud with Depp, Heard is also facing a petition to have her name removed from the Aquaman cast.
The petition is approaching its 4.5 million signature goal, with 4.48 million presently signed.
Meanwhile, Janet Comenos, CEO of Spotted Media, noted that film makers are closely monitoring statistics to see
what the public thinks of Depp and Heard.
Comenos said: ‘It has come up in several conversations of ours with producers; they are curious to understand if
there’s a discrepancy between the actions taken by the studios and the public’s opinion.
‘I think the results show pretty clearly that Johnny Depp is extremely hireable and that it would be a risk to a
production company to hire Amber Heard because of the precipitous drop in appeal that she has had since the
beginning of the trial.’