Benjamin Chew and Camille Vasquez. Image Source: ABC News 

Johnny Depp’s attorneys, Benjamin Chew and Camille Vasquez finally decided to share their successful win as they appeared for their first interview post-verdict on Good Morning America and shared that the actor Johnny Depp, who was not in the courtroom when the verdict was announced, was over the moon when they told him.

Benjamin Chew said that it felt like the weight of the world had been taken off his shoulders and that he felt that, after six long years, Johnny Depp had got his life back. Camille Vasquez shared that at Fairfax County Court, Virginia, Johnny Depp had the opportunity to speak the truth for the first time, and it was six years in the making. The attorney, who was highly appreciated for her cross-examining, said that Johnny Depp was able to connect with the jury and the public and tell what had happened in the relationship honestly.

The attorneys were also asked about their feelings on Amber Heard’s spokesperson stating that the verdict was a setback for the women and how they were treated in the courtroom, to which Camille Vasquez answered that they were only speaking about what had happened in this specific case, right? She also added that the facts and the evidence that were presented in front of the jury and the audience were overwhelmingly positive for Johnny Depp and the verdict speaks for itself. When asked if they think that the verdict is in any way a setback to the #MeToo movement, the attorney answered that they encourage any victim to come forward and stated that domestic violence does not have a gender and added that the facts are what they were. The jury heard everything for six weeks, went through each fact and deposition, and made a unanimous decision.

Camille Vasquez mentioned that during the cross-examination of Amber Heard, they were very much focused on using her words against her and mentioned that it was very important to them that every question that they asked her was in some way related or tied to what she had said on-stand. Camille continued that the jury and the world got to see and hear from Amber Heard in that relationship on every single topic.

Benjamin Chew added that the real contrast between Johnny Depp taking the stand and Amber Heard taking the stand was taking ownership of what they had done. He mentioned that Johnny Depp took ownership of a lot of things, including his substance abuse and text messages, whereas when it comes to Amber Heard, she had an answer for everything and she was not taking accountability for anything, and that is, according to them, what the jury saw.

Pointing out how Amber Heard’s attorney, Elaine Bredehoft, mentioned in her interviews that according to them, there is no way that jurors did not get influenced by social media, especially when they had a 10-day break in the middle and everybody is on social media nowadays, Benjamin Chew said that it’s very disappointing to hear such things. He said that it’s very unfortunate to hear that the other team would question the jurors' credibility and said that, according to him, social media played no role whatsoever in the verdict and that it was all of the evidence presented by both sides and the testimonies that helped them arrive at a decision.

Benjamin Chew added that the case was always about Johnny Depp restoring his reputation and clearing his name of the accusation for his kids, friends, and fans, and he has done that. The attorneys were also asked if the viewers could see a compromise in which Amber Heard foregoes the appeal in exchange for Johnny Depp dismissing any monetary damages, to which Benjamin Chew responded that they could not reveal any attorney-client communications, but added that the case was never about the money for the actor, as Johnny Depp testified and they had made it pretty clear. Question was prompted by the fact that Elaine went on record to say that Amber Heard does not have the money to pay Johnny Depp. 

While speaking to Law and Crime on their YouTube channel, Benjamin Chew said that Johnny Depp, when he heard about the verdict, looked ten years younger, and one of his longtime friends said that he had not seen Johnny Depp smile like that in six years. Ben was emotional and said hearing that made them very pleased and very gratified. During the interview, he also revealed that the team was not nervous before Johnny Depp took the stand because they believed that he was consistent with everything and truthful. Sure, they had some suggestions as an attorney, but what he says is all in his own words.

The lawyers also appeared on NBC’s Today show where they were asked why did the jury not believe Amber Heard to which Benjamin Chew replied that according to his understanding it had to be with accountability. Benjamin Chew also mentioned Elaine's claim that a lot of evidence was suppressed during the trial and said that there was some evidence from both sides that was excluded for proper evidentiary purposes. He was also asked about the statement that came from Amber Heard's team that it was unprofessional for Johnny Depp's team to do interviews as victory laps, to which he said that Elaine went to give an interview a day after the verdict to give her spin, so if they have a problem with this, maybe they should take a look in the mirror.

Johnny Depp has sued Amber Heard for an essay she wrote for the Washington Post in 2018 in which she described herself as a survivor of domestic abuse and although she never mentioned Johnny Depp by name, it was evident that she meant him as she had obtained a restraining order against him during 2016 divorce. Amber Heard filed a countersuit against Johnny Depp in 2020, based on three remarks made by Johnny Depp's former attorney Adam Waldman to the Daily Mail 2020, in which he called Amber Heard's abuse allegations against Johnny Depp a "hoax."

The jury in the Fairfax County Court believed that Johnny Depp was able to prove that the op-ed was about him and that it was intended to defame him and his reputation, as well as sabotage his career, and they, awarded him $5 million in punitive damages and $10 million in compensatory damages, though the latter was later reduced to $10.35 million. In her counterclaim, the jury awarded Amber Heard $2 million in compensatory damages but no punitive penalties.