Featured Image Credit: Law and Crime Network
Topics: Johnny Depp, US News
Jess Hardiman
Footage shows Johnny Depp’s lawyer Benjamin Chew taking a huge handful of sweets from his desk in court and putting the candy into his suit jacket pocket.
Many people have been watching courtroom live-streams to keep up with the events of Depp’s defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard, which continues this week in Virginia before its expected end date on 27 May.
Through the power of technology, viewers have been able to see the drama unfold in real time – including an unexpected moment when Depp’s lawyer picked up a bowl of sweets that had been sat on the desk, pouring it into his hands before decanting into his pocket.
Sharing the footage on TikTok, one user wrote: “Ben Chew reminds me of #mrbean.”
Someone else asked in disbelief: “They have sweets in court?”
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Another admitted they would ‘probably do the same’, while a fourth explained how Chew often brings sweets in with him as well.
Indeed, according to Kristen Johnson, an attorney who worked with Chew for nine years at previous law firm Squire Patton Boggs, her former colleague loves candy.
She told Insider that he often brings gummy bears and M&Ms with him to snack on during the lengthy sessions at court.
There’s even a YouTube video titled ‘Johnny Depp and his Lawyer are Continuously Chewing Candy During Court’, which has more than 1.4 million views.
While Johnson said Chew is ‘really thoughtful’ with colleagues, she added: "The thing that throws people off about him is that he looks happy, but he's actually a cutthroat lawyer.”
She said that, with more than 25 years of experience, Depp hiring Chew came as no surprise.
"He's not intimidated by anyone, so it doesn't matter who's on the other side," Johnson explained. "It would probably give him a boost to have a formidable opponent."
According to Insider, Chew was introduced to Depp by a mutual friend, and has previously represented a number of other high profile clients including Cher and two Olympic gold medalists.
The outlet added that former co-workers it had spoken to claimed he loves cracking jokes outside of court, and doesn’t take himself too seriously.
One unnamed interviewee said: "Ben has got his place in the world, and he's very comfortable there.”
They added: "He's found a way not to just be a corporate shill. He's still just Ben."