Friday 20 May 2022 04:55 PM Johnny Depp superfans are CAMPING outside courthouse to cheer on actor and bag ... trends now

Johnny Depp's superfans are camping outside the Fairfax County Circuit Court overnight in the hope that they can bag a seat to watch the actor's defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard.

Fans have for weeks lined the streets to cheer on the 58-year-old actor, with many of them frantically waving 'Justice for Johnny' signs and thrusting presents towards Depp's outstretched arms as he drives past them in his SUV.

Hundreds of people, some of whom have traveled from across the US as well as from countries including the UK, have camped outside the courthouse with the hope of trying to get one of the 100 seats in the courtroom to watch the trial.

Some of Depp's fans have spent as much as $30,000 to travel to Virginia and others have huddled together in their sleeping bags since the early hours of the morning waiting to catch a glimpse of the actor. Some have camped since 1am every day so that they can sit in the courtroom.

So many fans have been arriving at around 8pm in the evenings and camping out in their cars and on the streets surrounding the courthouse that the Fairfax County Sheriff's office have put up signs telling the superfans not to arrive before 1am.

One of Depp's supporters has even revealed that they have spent $2,200 on new outfits especially for their appearance at the trial, which is broadcast on a livestream. 

Ivan De Boer, 59, from Los Angeles told PEOPLE that she has used her annual paid vacation leave to attend the trial and has so far spent $30,000 on expenses. 

'I took my whole year's vacation so I could be here for Johnny. I'm the same age as Johnny. I'm single, so I do what I want to, basically,' she said, adding that she has 'no regrets' about spending so much money. 'I'd regret it more if I wasn't here.'

Many of the fans have showered Depp with gifts, cards and bouquets of flowers as he drove by them. The actor has revelled in their support, waving to them as he drives by. 

Depp and Heard were banned from giving autographs to fans hoping to meet the pair outside the court by a judge last month ahead of the start of their defamation trial - in an attempt to stop the case from becoming a circus.

The trial revolves around a 2018 Washington Post op-ed written by Heard where she referred to herself as a 'public figure representing domestic abuse'. Depp is suing his ex-wife for $50 million, alleging defamation in the op-ed whilst Heard has countersued for defamation for $100 million from the actor.

The couple married in a private civil ceremony at their LA home in February 2015 but after just 15 months of marriage, Heard filed for divorce in May 2016, citing irreconcilable differences. Four days later a judge issued a temporary restraining order against Depp over domestic violence allegations. 

The high-profile defamation trial has meant hundreds of fans have camped outside the Fairfax courthouse to catch a glimpse of Depp and Heard.

'We've been here since 8.30pm last night,' Gabrielle, a fan of Depp who drove from North Carolina, told Fox News on Wednesday.

'We're on Johnny's team,' another fan, who had been in line since 3am, said. 'With Johnny all the way.'

Sharon Smith, 52, from the UK, said she decided to pack up her things and fly to Virginia so that she could watch the trial after leaving her 12-year relationship. She queues up outside the courthouse at 1am every day to ensure she has a spot to sit in the courtroom. 

'I've been coming back and forth [to Virginia] from Los Angeles so you're looking at $600 to $700 each time, 10 hours of our life in the air. But yeah, hotel, food, drinks, about $10,000,' Smith told PEOPLE of the amount of money she's spent so far on the trial.

Another Depp fan, Emily, 26, from Arlington, Virginia, told the outlet she woke up at 2am on May 4 so that she could be one of the first to queue up outside the courthouse.

'My friends think I'm insane for doing it but I think it's a historic trial and I think it's really interesting that it's taking place in Northern Virginia,' she said.