Wednesday 1 June 2022 11:04 PM Today show: Johnny Depp's career will thrive after winning his defamation trial trends now
Today host Karl Stefanovic has offered his two cents on the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard trial, which came to a dramatic conclusion on Wednesday after a jury ruled her 2018 article in the Washington Post was defamatory of her ex-husband.
Stefanovic, 47, who previously described the trial as an unedifying spectacle that should have taken place behind closed doors instead of broadcast around the world, said Depp will most likely make a career comeback after being vindicated in court.
But he doubts Depp - who was in England when the verdict was delivered - will ever work with a PR-conscious Hollywood studio like Disney again given some of the admissions he made about his private life, including his heavy drinking and drug use.
Stefanovic was less sure of Heard's post-trial career prospects, saying on Thursday's show she has a 'difficult' future ahead of her after she was ordered to pay the Pirates of the Caribbean actor US$15million (AU$20.9million) in damages.
Having his say: Karl Stefanovic (left, with Allison Langdon and Sam Rubin) has offered his two cents on the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard trial, which came to a dramatic conclusion on Wednesday after a jury ruled her 2018 article in the Washington Post was defamatory of her ex
Discussing the outcome of the trial with LA-based entertainment correspondent Sam Rubin, Stefanovic said: 'I mean you can't imagine him going and working for Disney tomorrow, given the admissions he made about his own substance abuse.
'But you have to imagine also there's going to be [career] possibilities for him down the track; whereas for Amber, it's going to be difficult.'
He continued: 'Effectively, the jury came back with a verdict that she defamed him, that she did lie. That is, at the end of the day, something that she can't deny, that is very difficult for her to get over that.'
Prospects: Stefanovic said Depp (pictured on May 27) will most likely make a career comeback after being vindicated in court - but doubts he will ever work with a PR-conscious Hollywood studio like Disney again given some of the admissions he made about his private life
Rubin suggested that Depp's performance on the stand during the six-week trial in Fairfax County Circuit Court in Virginia could even lead to career resurgence.
He noted how much people 'enjoyed' seeing the '90s heart-throb give evidence and field questions during cross-examination, with many of his wry and self-effacing responses going viral on TikTok.
Rubin said Depp exhibited 'candour' and 'charm' while discussing some of the lowest moments of his life - including drug and alcohol binges - making him seem like a lovable rogue in comparison to Heard's 'shrill' and sometimes 'disingenuous' manner.
Struggles: Stefanovic was less sure of Heard's (pictured) post-trial career prospects, saying on Thursday's show she has a 'difficult' future ahead of her after she was ordered to pay the Pirates of the Caribbean actor US$15million (AU$20.9million) in damages
Rubin added that Depp may receive support from the 'sober community' in Hollywood, which could assist with a career comeback even if other filmmakers and producers consider him a liability because of his erratic behaviour in the past.
'There are people in positions of power, people [with the ability] to grant Johnny Depp jobs, who could say, "You know what? I've been on the bottom too, and I've battled these problems too, and I'm better know, and maybe so is he,"' he said.
Depp has said he 'feels at peace' and is 'truly humbled' after winning his multimillion-dollar U.S. defamation lawsuit against his former wife Heard.
The actor, 58, said his decision to pursue the case 'was only made after considerable thought' and his goal was to 'reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome'.
Mr Depp sued the Aquaman actress, 36, for $50million over a Washington Post piece, titled: 'I spoke up against sexual violence - and faced our culture's wrath. That has to change.'
The article does not mention him by name, yet
