This is the reason why Johnny Depp chose not to look at Amber Heard throughout their entire defamation case.
It was a defamation case like no other, that millions would tune in to watch everyday.
Almost two years on from Depp winning the defamation case against his ex-wife, curious viewers can relive the whole trial as a Netflix documentary - titled Depp v. Heard - capturing the entire case has been released.
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Depp sued Heard for $50 million over a 2018 article she wrote in the Washington Post, titled: "I spoke up against sexual violence — and faced our culture’s wrath. That has to change."
Though the article did not mention Depp explicitly, his lawyers said it falsely implied he physically and sexually abused Heard while they were together.
Throughout the trial, Heard also accused Depp of abuse during their relationship - but Depp took an interesting approach to the case.
Throughout the cross examination of Heard by Depp’s much-loved lawyer Camille Vasquez, she was asked why he hadn’t looked at her at all.
In court, she said: “Mr. Depp hasn't looked at you once this entire trial, has he?”
To which Heard replied: “Not that I've noticed, no.”
“You've looked at him many times, haven't you?” Vasquez continued, as Heard responded: “Yes, I have.”
Despite the tactic coming off as ‘concerning’ to some - as usually a lack of eye contact implies some sort of guilt - there was actually a reason why Depp refused to look at Heard during the trial.
Vasquez cleared this up, and asked: “You know exactly why Mr. Depp won't look back at you, don't you? He promised you would never see his eyes again, isn't that true?”
And while Heard told the court that she wasn’t entirely sure that he ever said that, his attorney played a clip from the couple's last in-person meeting in 2016.
In the recording, Depp can be heard saying: “We won't have to see each other again. You will not see my eyes again.”
And it seemed as though he was determined to stick to his word.
However, Heard continued to deny that it was because of his promise, stating: “As far as I know, he cannot look at me.”
Vasquez responded: “He won't look at you, right Ms. Heard?”
Attempting to change the narrative, Heard insisted: “He can’t.”
Spectators at the time were hugely divided on Depp’s body language throughout the trial.
Julie Grant, lawyer and host of Court TV, spoke to Good Morning Britain last month following Heard’s testimony and said: “Him looking down most of the time was concerning.”
However, it was Heard that was found guilty at the end of the trial, and Depp was awarded $15 million in damages.
Depp vs Heard, is available to stream on Netflix now.
Topics: Johnny Depp, Celebrity, Netflix, Documentaries
Mia Williams