Johnny Depp Criticised For Going 'On Tour' As Defamation Verdict Looms

Johnny Depp has been criticised for 'going on tour' in England as he awaits the verdict in his defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard.

The actor, 58, made another surprise appearance on stage on Monday night (30 May) at the Royal Albert Hall alongside musician Jeff Beck at the latter’s concert in London.

Depp was pictured playing his electric guitar and smiling and clapping towards the audience. The duo performed their cover of John Lennon’s 1970 song ‘Isolation’.

The Pirates of the Caribbean actor is also a member of the band Hollywood Vampires with Alice Cooper and Joe Perry.

Depp previously joined Beck on stage on Sunday (29 May) at a show in Sheffield which equally left fans in shock.

Together, Depp and Beck also performed Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On' and Jimi Hendrix's 'Little Wing'.

In light of his latest London gig, critics have taken to social media to hit out at the Edward Scissorhands actor for 'going on tour' as the verdict looms.

One penned on Twitter: "yeah, performing two nights in a row definitely shows that depp is traumatised by this trial. definitely. not." (sic).

"Trolls: 'he’s moving on with his life, she should too.' She can’t. She has to wait for a verdict. He’s on tour," wrote journalist Eve Barlow.

yeah, performing two nights in a row definitely shows that depp is traumatised by this trial. definitely. not. #IStandWithAmberHeard

— steff 🌻 (@sugarplum6996) May 31, 2022

"It wasn’t about the verdict for him. It was about the opportunity of a trial to further his abuse. Whatever the verdict, he continues freely. She does not."

A third shared: "He’s on stage while she fears for her life…." in regard to negative online commentary Heard is facing.

Heard is reportedly currently still in Virginia where the trial took place as she awaits the verdict.

His latest appearance comes as both Depp and Heard's attorneys rested their cases and offered closing arguments last week after six weeks of testimony.

The jury will reconvene to deliberate on Tuesday after they did not come to a decision on Friday, while Monday was Memorial Day, a bank holiday in the US.

Depp is suing Heard for $50 million following abuse claims she made in an op-ed for The Washington Post back in 2018.

Depp’s legal team argued the article implies Heard was physically and sexually abused by Depp when they were married, although the article does not refer to him by name. 

Heard, who has starred in The Rum Diary and Aquaman, is countersuing Depp for $100 million following statements Depp’s lawyer Adam Waldman made to the press following her op-ed article.