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Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy took aim at The Washington Post: The shocking verdict of Johnny Depp’s defamation lawsuit Against his ex-wife Amber Heard.
A jury found Wednesday that Heard was liable for derogatory remarks made against Depp in a 2018 op-ed published in the Post, which accused him of abusing her during their marriage. During the trial it was revealed that the ACLU had done ghostwriting, which was published a few days before the release of their film “Aquaman”.
The jury awarded Depp a total of $15 million and awarded Hurd $2 million in compensatory damages in a counter-defamation lawsuit, although his defamation claims were largely denied.
During the “emergency press conference,” Portnoy suggested that the paper that originally published Hurd’s defamatory op-ed should not be let off the hook.
Johnny Depp verdict: Actor wins defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard
“She originally posted this thing saying that Johnny Depp hit her, abused her, all these horrible things, domestic violence, sexual deviance, all this stuff in the Washington Post. And what is the Washington Post? He has no responsibility in this?” Portnoy wondered in a video message.
This combination of two separate photos shows actors Johnny Depp, left, and Amber Heard in the courtroom to close an argument at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse on Friday, May 27, 2022 in Fairfax, VA. A 2018 op-ed piece in The Washington Post refers to himself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse.”
(AP Photos/Steve Halber, Poole)
“Amber Heard, seemingly scoundrel, fair trial, smoked. Everyone thought the matter. Washington Post—You can do just about anything, you just say anything, and they have no responsibility, in sports There’s no skin, they all cause harm to Johnny Depp? But no—’Oh, she wants to say he does, the other thing we’ll publish it now. We won’t do any research on our own, someone Won’t fact check. This is crazy,” Portnoy told his Twitter followers.
Portnoy grouped the post with other outlets such as The New York Times and Business Insider, which had previously published sexual misconduct claims against him as “left-wing nutbags” that “can print whatever they want.”
“And then when it’s a total bull—and a man– his life is destroyed, they’re like ‘Oops, we didn’t know. Not our fault. Everyone we talked to wasn’t completely truthful’ We did ‘Don’t do any digging. We trusted them. And we printed it, ruined it, no, it’s not our fault.’ F— in crazy times. Maybe things are starting to change a little bit,” Portnoy said. “But if you ask me, the Washington Post is to be held responsible too. Like you gave it the platform, don’t you like, don’t you have any responsibility to make sure what you publish isn’t — -?”
“I think time will tell if this trend continues,” he said.
The Washington Post did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment.
David Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, speaks during a radio broadcast ahead of Super Bowl LIV on January 30, 2020 in Miami Beach, Florida. The San Francisco 49ers will face the Kansas City Chiefs in the 54th game of the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 2.
(Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
During the trial, both Depp and Heard were intent on mutual destruction, uncovering the taut details of their failed marriage in a tit-for-tat that shattered their reputations.
The lengthy court battle began in 2019 when Depp sued Hurd in Fairfax County Circuit Court in Virginia over a 2018 op-ed in which she identified herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse.”
She did not mention Depp by name, but her lawyers have argued that the piece portrayed Heard as a domestic violence victim and ruined her life.
Warring veterans began their fight two years ago on May 27, 2016 – a central date in their saga.
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That’s when Heard went to a Los Angeles courthouse to obtain a restraining order against Depp after he allegedly beat her in the face with a cellphone.
She exited the courtyard next to her preacher, and was photographed by a crowd of photographers, with a major bruise under her right eye.
Depp’s team argued that he painted over the scratch and tipped the press.
The photos and allegations of abuse went viral, made international headlines, and triggered a vicious public feud that has continued for six years – doubling their relationship.
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard
(AP)
Depp’s attorney, Camille Vasquez, argued during the closing statements that Depp was the only victim of their doomed romance.
“There’s a misdemeanor in this courtroom, and it’s not Mr. Depp,” Vasquez told jurors on Friday, noting that it was the six-year anniversary of the day Heard obtained the restraining order. . “Ms. Heard is really the abuser and Mr. Depp is the abuser.”
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Heard’s attorney, Ben Rottenborn, said in closing statements That Depp’s lawsuit against the “Rum Diaries” actress is a continuation of a relentless smear campaign launched against her after her ex-husband filed for divorce.
“In Mr. Depp’s world, you do not spare Mr. Depp, and if you do, he will launch a campaign of global humiliation against you,” he said, a verdict in favor of “Pirates of the Caribbean”. The star will have a chilling effect on First Amendment protection — especially for victims of domestic abuse.
Fox News’ Rebecca Rosenberg contributed to this report.