Amber Heard has finally opened up about the decision of her six-week defamation battle in the United States with her ex-husband Johnny Depp, almost two weeks on from her losing her case.
The 36-year-old Aquaman actress believes that her trial wasn't 'fair' when the jury ruled in Depp's favour on June 1.
And while the Pirates of the Caribbean star was quick to post on social media for fans around the world from the heart of Newcastle City Centre when the verdict landed, his ex-lover decided to keep her opinions to herself until now.
Read more: Watch the moment Johnny Depp wows the packed crowd while on stage at the Sage Gateshead
The Mirror reports that in her first sit-down interview since losing her legal battle, Amber says she understands why the jury reached their verdict in favour of the actor. She chatted to Today's Savannah Guthrie in a pre-recorded interview, which is set to air on Tuesday and Wednesday on NBC.
Amber told Savannah: "I actually understand. He's a beloved character and people feel they know him. He's a fantastic actor."
But Amber then referred to the negative social media coverage she faced, and how she feels it contributed to the jury's verdict.
"I don't care what one thinks about me or what judgments you want to make about what happened in the privacy of my own home, in my marriage, behind closed doors," she adds.
"I don't presume the average person should know those things. And so I don't take it personally."
She concludes: "But even somebody who is sure I'm deserving of all this hate and vitriol, even if you think that I'm lying, you still couldn't look me in the eye and tell me that you think on social media there's been a fair representation. You cannot tell me that you think that this has been fair."
Following the verdict Heard said she felt 'heartbroken' by the ruling, adding she was 'sadder still' that she had 'lost a right' to 'speak freely and openly'.
“The disappointment I feel today is beyond words. I’m heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of my ex-husband,” she said in a statement.
“I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. It is a setback. It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated.
“It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously. I believe Johnny’s attorneys succeeded in getting the jury to overlook the key issue of freedom of speech and ignore evidence that was so conclusive that we won in the UK.
“I’m sad I lost this case. But I am sadder still that I seem to have lost a right I thought I had as an American – to speak freely and openly.”
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