The Washington Post published a correction about Amber’s defamatory article about Johnny 

The Washington Post updates Amber’s 2018 Op-Ed after the defamation verdict

On June 3, 2022, the Washington Post made a significant update to Amber’s 2018 op-ed, which played a central role in Johnny’s ex-wife’s defamation lawsuit. The newspaper added a note at the top of the article, noting the lawsuit and the jury’s findings. The note read: “In 2019, Johnny sued Amber for defamation in connection with this article. On June 1, 2022, a jury in Fairfax County found Heard guilty of three defamatory statements.”

The three statements cited by the jury included:

• “I spoke out against sexual violence – and faced the outrage in our culture. That has to change.”
• “Two years ago, I became a public figure representing domestic abuse, and I felt all the anger in our culture toward women who spoke out.”
• “I had the rare advantage of seeing, in real time, how institutions protect men accused of abuse.”

Legal experts weigh in on the Washington Post’s decision

Legal expert Emily D. Baker praised the Washington Post’s decision to retain the article and add clarification instead of removing it completely. Speaking to People magazine, Baker commented: “This case has been widely followed, and the decision to clarify further is a smart move. It provides readers with context about the case and the jury’s findings without removing the original article.”

She added that withholding the article would allow the public to understand the specific statements found defamatory by the jury, enhancing transparency and accountability for both the media and public figures they are relevant to the case.

Amber’s Defense and Request for Editorial Changes

During her highly publicized trial, Amber defended her statements in the Washington Post article, claiming they were true. However, she clarifies that the title, “I spoke out against sexual violence — and faced outrage in our culture. That has to change,” was edited by the newspaper without her input. Amber explained that at the time she was unaware of this editorial change and did not request the edit.

Johnny’s legal battle against defamation

Before this legal victory, Johnny previously lost a defamation lawsuit against The Sun in the UK in 2020. The British tabloid published articles accusing Johnny of domestic violence against Amber during their marriage. Judge Nicol, the presiding judge in that case, ruled that the accusations were “substantially true.” Johnny’s appeal was rejected in 2021 and he was ordered to pay $5 million in damages, along with £630,000 in legal fees, to The Sun.

Origins of the Johnny -Amber libel case 

The defamation lawsuit between Johnny and Amber began in 2019, following her Washington Post article published in 2018, two years after their divorce. Although Heard did not mention Johnny by name, the article suggested that she had been a victim of domestic abuse, leading to widespread consequences for Johnny. He lost a number of prominent movie roles and became the subject of controversy in Hollywood.

Johnny sued Amber for $50 million, claiming her accusations were false and had damaged his career. In response, Amber counterclaimed for $100 million, asserting that Johnny’s legal team defamed her by calling her accusations a hoax.

Tragedy and courtroom testimony

The libel trial lasted six weeks, involving more than 100 hours of testimony from various witnesses. Witnesses often gave conflicting accounts about the couple’s personal life. Amber’s legal team accused Johnny of sexual assault, while multiple witnesses, including doctors, nurses, neighbors, and security officers, testified in support of Johnny, saying they never saw signs of abuse in Amber.

Amber admitted to hitting Johnny during their marriage but claimed it was in self-defense and to protect her sister. Her sister, Whitney, was the only witness to testify that she saw Johnny assault Amber.

The Washington Post’s correction of Amber’s commentary was part of the fallout from one of the most widely watched libel trials in recent years. Additional clarifications provide insight into the jury’s decision and the specific statements deemed defamatory, providing readers with full transparency about the case.