The Johnny Depp/Amber Heard trial has captivated a global audience, and with the closing arguments made and the jurors currently deliberating, one way or another the curtain is set to close on one of the most explosive celebrity trials of recent times.
While many discussions sparked over over the course of the trial will no doubt continue to endure beyond the final verdict, the case between Depp and Heard has been notable just as much for the drama contained within the courtroom as the allegations that sparked it.
But even with the relentless media coverage the trial has received throughout its six-week runtime, it's been almost impossible to keep up with every twist and turn. So without further ado, here’s a roundup of things you might’ve missed during the Depp/Heard trial:
1. The Law & Crime Network Reports Record Viewing Figures
When the Law & Crime Network first launched in 2018, nobody – not even its creators – would have predicted that a TV channel dedicated to broadcasting live courtroom trials would’ve become a pop cultural juggernaut.
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An early post from the network following its launch bragged about the fact that the channel broke its own viewership records by reaching more than five million people. Yet, during the peak of the Depp/Heard trial, that figure ballooned to a staggering 330 million people as the two actors' story became the most talked-about news item in the world, eclipsing major world events such as the Ukrainian conflict, Eurovision and even Roe v Wade.
2. A Johnny Depp Superfan Flew More Than 30 Hours To Support Him
Stan culture has, for better or worse, played a major role in the way the reaction to the trial has unfolded and been talked about, and perhaps nobody encapsulates that more than Jacinta, a Johnny Depp superfan who flew all the way from Australia in order to show her support for the actor.
Often seen standing outside the courthouse brandishing a jolly roger flag, Jacinta said in an interview with 7News: “I believe he's innocent. He's suffered very bad consequences that he didn't deserve."
Although not the only superfan to go on a pilgrimage to the Virginia courthouse, Jacinta is probably one of the most noticeable. When asked how he felt about his fans in an interview with The Times last year, Depp said: "I’m proud of these people, because of what they are trying to say, which is the truth.
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"It’s a long road that sometimes gets clunky. Sometimes just plain stupid. But they stayed on the ride with me and it’s for them I will fight. Always, to the end. Whatever it may be."
3. The Judge & Courtroom Staff Received An Unprecedented Round of Applause
Whereas Depp and Heard are internationally-known celebrities who are somewhat used to this sort of lifestyle, the same can’t be said for the hardworking judge and court staff presiding over the trial, who never asked to be thrust into the spotlight of a global news story.
With this in mind, following the conclusion of both parties’ closing statements, Judge Penney Azcarate took a brief moment to thank the staff, stenographer, witnesses and attorneys for their professionalism throughout the trial.
“It’s much easier being a judge when you have excellent trial attorneys in front of you. It does make it easier,” she said.
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“And I also want to thank the attorneys and litigants for the kindness and the great demeanour you have shown my staff.
“And the courthouse staff and the deputies in the sheriff’s department, I really appreciate it. It means a great deal to me.”
This elicited a brief moment of lightheartedness as both sets of lawyers said that was the one thing that they could both agree on, before showing their support for the judge and staff with a round of applause.
4. Johnny Depp's Lawyer Was Caught Putting A Huge Handful Of Sweets In His Pocket
One of the consequences of seeing every minute detail of the trial broadcast live has been seeing the very human moments that punctuate the more official and headline-grabbing proceedings.
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One of these such moments caught on camera was when Depp’s lawyer, Ben Chew, was caught on camera emptying an entire bowl of sweets into his palm before hastily stuffing them into his pocket.
“Ben Chew reminds me of #mrbean,” one user captioned the clip before swiftly uploading it onto TikTok, where it has since racked up nearly 100,000 likes.
Chew wasn't the only one getting in on the act either, with Depp following his attorney's lead and following suit by also munching down on sweets. A YouTube video documenting this, titled ‘Johnny Depp and his Lawyer are Continuously Chewing Candy During Court’, has been viewed more than 1.4 million times.
5. A Woman Claimed That Depp Was The Father of Her Child
A trial of this magnitude is always going to attract some headlines, and lo and behold, during one day of testimony the proceedings were interrupted when a woman burst into the courtroom brandishing a child and waved it in the air, shouting 'This baby is yours!' at the bewildered actor.
“Johnny, I love you! Our souls are connected,” the woman exclaimed as she stood up with the baby, prompting a meek smile and wave from Depp as he attempted to play it cool before the woman was escorted from the courtroom.
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According to a Law & Crime reporter who caught up with the woman later, the woman later admitted she’d only been joking.
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Topics: Johnny Depp, Amber Heard, US News, Celebrity
