The Lonely American (VIDEO)

An outstanding segment, from Laura Ingraham:

A Jury Has Awarded Johnny Depp $15 Million in Defamation Lawsuit Against Amber Heard (VIDEO)

I watched about an hour of Depp's testimony a couple of weeks ago, and he looked pained, an abused and harried man with a dangerous, unstable wife. 

There's been a lot of piling on, especially on Ms. Amber, who was probably abused herself. It's a matter degrees. She actually won her case two, but was award $2 million to Depp's $15 million.

I find it actually sad, a horrible statement not just on the couple, but on society. 

At WSJ, "Jury Rules in Favor of Johnny Depp in Defamation Lawsuit Against Amber Heard":

Jury awards Mr. Depp $15 million in damages; Ms. Heard receives $2 million in damages.

A Virginia jury ruled in favor of actor Johnny Depp in his case against Amber Heard, closing a widely watched and emotional trial centered on defamation and abuse accusations between the former couple.

The seven-member jury found Mr. Depp proved all three counts of defamation against his former spouse in an op-ed she wrote for the Washington Post in 2018, awarding him $15 million. The jury also found Ms. Heard was able to prove one of three counts of defamation against Mr. Depp, based on statements made by one of his attorneys. The jury awarded her $2 million in compensatory damages.

The trial, which started in April, drew massive attention on social media, where viewers attempted to analyze details of the proceedings. Fans of Mr. Depp gathered outside of the court Wednesday cheered in response to each of the verdicts coming down, according to a live stream of the scene.

The case began in 2019 when Mr. Depp filed a $50 million defamation suit against Ms. Heard over the 2018 op-ed she wrote. In the piece, Ms. Heard referred to herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse.”

Mr. Depp alleged that, while Ms. Heard’s op-ed didn’t specifically mention him by name, the actress falsely implied he was a domestic abuser and wrote the piece “with actual malice.”

He claimed the accusations of abuse damaged his reputation and career. The lawsuit also alleges Ms. Heard abused Mr. Depp.

Ms. Heard has denied his abuse accusations and accused Mr. Depp of defamation for claiming she fabricated injuries related to alleged abuse.

Ms. Heard countersued Mr. Depp for $100 million for defamation in August 2020. She has said the op-ed is accurate and that the actor emotionally and physically abused her throughout their relationship and marriage, often when he was drunk or high. The counterclaim also accused Mr. Depp of orchestrating efforts to destroy her career.

Mr. Depp has denied accusations of abuse, her claims that he made defamatory statements and sought to “destroy her career.”

Mr. Depp didn’t appear in court for the verdict due to “previously scheduled work commitments made before the trial” and would watch from the U.K., a person familiar with the matter said before the verdict was read. Videos posted on social media over the weekend showed the actor performing alongside singer Jeff Beck at a concert in England.

Ms. Heard sat between her lawyers in the courtroom as the verdict was read Wednesday.

Judge Penney Azcarate ordered the names of the jurors to be sealed for one year after the trial, according to court documents.

Mr. Depp previously lost a libel case in the U.K. in 2020 against a British tabloid that referred to him as a “wife beater” over his alleged treatment of Ms. Heard...

 

Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard: Defamation Trial (VIDEO)

I watched this and it's pathetically depressing. 

First, these two shouldn't have been under the same roof. With all of his and her resources, why not live apart and figure out what to do with the marriage. I don't read the tabloid magazines so I have no idea, but it's completely disheartening. 

Second, it's very sad that all of this is out in the open, on public display. You can hear them fighting at the audio, both yelling (and she screaming), and you know this isn't their best moments as humans. That is, the negative spotlight stays a while. Depp looks old and tired. Heard looks shamed and on the verge of tears. 

And these are beautiful people. Johnny Depp is by far one of the most talented actors of his (or my) generation. He's amazing and I love him, but not like this. I'm not familiar with Ms. Heard's work, but I followed her on Twitter some time back, for some reason, and she posts frequently (or at least she was before the trial) and looks full of life and love. 

All of this is a travesty. 

Scroll forward at the video a bit and you'll hear the tape-recorded fight scenes. Neither party comes out well, and, actually, Ms. Heard comes off the worse.

Yesterday, at the New York Times, "Johnny Depp, Accused of Spousal Abuse, Says Ex-Wife Was the Aggressor":

The actor testified in a defamation case that he filed against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, who has said he often struck her during their relationship.

The actor Johnny Depp took the stand for the second day on Wednesday to describe his turbulent marriage to the actress Amber Heard, whom he has sued for defamation, accusing her of “demeaning name-calling” that often escalated into physical violence.

“It could begin with a slap, it could begin with a shove, it could begin with throwing a TV remote at my head, throwing a glass of wine in my face,” Mr. Depp told a jury at Fairfax County Circuit Court in Virginia.

Ms. Heard has accused Mr. Depp in court papers of repeatedly assaulting her throughout their relationship, from slapping and kicking to dragging her across the floor by her hair and grasping her throat, making her fearful that he would kill her.

But over the past few years of legal wrangling in the United States and Britain, Mr. Depp has maintained that Ms. Heard was the one who was violent toward him. In testimony on Tuesday, Mr. Depp denied ever striking Ms. Heard or any woman.

Ms. Heard denied in court papers that she had ever struck Mr. Depp except in self-defense or in defense of her sister.

Mr. Depp has sued Ms. Heard for defamation over an op-ed she wrote in 2018 in which she said she was a “public figure representing domestic abuse.” The article did not mention Mr. Depp’s name, but he testified that the time-frame reference in the op-ed was clearly in reference to their marriage, which lasted less than two years.

The seven-person jury will also consider Ms. Heard’s countersuit, which asserts that Mr. Depp defamed her when his former lawyer made statements saying that her allegations of domestic abuse were a hoax.

During more than five hours of testimony on Wednesday, the jury heard snippets of recorded arguments between the couple. Those included audio of Mr. Depp confronting Ms. Heard about kicking a door into his head the previous night and Ms. Heard asking, “Why are you obsessing over the fact that I can’t remember it the way you remember it?”

During his testimony, Mr. Depp strove to present his side of several incidents that have surfaced as their problems in their relationship became public, including the time Mr. Depp’s middle finger was severed. The injury occurred in 2015 while the couple was in Australia for the filming of the fifth “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie.

Mr. Depp told the jury that, at the time, Ms. Heard was angry about a meeting she had with a lawyer about a potential postnuptial agreement and threw two vodka bottles at him, one of which missed while another shattered into his hand, causing his finger to bleed “like Vesuvius.” He testified that he then experienced a “nervous breakdown” and used his bloody finger to write on the walls messages that “represented lies that she told me.”

Ms. Heard, who is expected to take the stand later in the trial, has given a very different account of the incident in Australia, writing in court papers that Mr. Depp became violent with her during an argument about his drug use. She has said that at one point he grabbed her by the neck and collarbone and slammed her into a countertop, then hit her with the back of his hand and slammed a phone against a wall until it “smashed into smithereens,” injuring his finger.

Upon her return to Los Angeles, Ms. Heard wrote in court papers that “I had a busted lip, a swollen nose and cuts all over my body.”

In 2016, Ms. Heard was granted a temporary restraining order against Mr. Depp after telling a court in California that Mr. Depp had thrown a phone at her face at close range, bruising it. (Mr. Depp testified that he “flopped” the phone onto the couch and has asserted in court papers that Ms. Heard’s facial marks were of her own doing.)

Many of the accusations being lobbed back and forth in Virginia have already been aired in a court in London. After Mr. Depp sued The Sun newspaper there for a headline in which they referred to him as a “wife beater,” citing “overwhelming evidence” during their marriage, a British judge ruled against the actor...

 

Domestic Violence Victims Avoid the Police, Fearing Deportation

This is why people hate the media. We're supposed to feel bad for battered illegals? Go back to Mexico and report your illegal domestic abuser, sheesh.

At the stupid Los Angeles Times, "Fearing deportation, many domestic violence victims are steering clear of police and courts."

Domestic violence reporting by Latinos has fallen sharply in CA, in face of increased ICE action. My latest: https://t.co/7Zy8D36pxT

— James Queally (@JamesQueallyLAT) October 9, 2017

Literally Unhinged Mother in Paterson, New Jersey, Arrested After Smashing Car Windows with Children Inside (VIDEO)

I'm watching the video, on Twitter, thinking wtf?!! I would've been out of that car in a second smashing that crazy woman with anything I could get my hands on!

She's literally about to kill someone, dang.

Turns out it was a domestic dispute, and the children's father, who was inside as well, called the police.

At the Bergen County Record, "Paterson mom charged with taking hammer to car with kids inside."

Amber Heard Files Domestic Violence Restraining Order Against Johnny Depp (VIDEO)

Following-up, "Amber Heard Accuses Johnny Depp of Domestic Violence: Hollywood Turns Blind Eye to Abuse."

Amber Heard Accuses Johnny Depp of Domestic Violence: Hollywood Turns Blind Eye to Abuse

Well, I thought it was just a regular falling out, perhaps too much shotgun to the wedding.

But it appears there's more to it, a lot more. Bruisingly more, in fact.

At People Magazine, via Memeorandum, "Amber Heard Accuses Johnny Depp of Domestic Violence with Graphic Photo of Bruise."

Amber Heard submitted this photo as evidence for her domestic violence restraining order https://t.co/sA3BZc3D6f pic.twitter.com/VjHxoobna6

— People Magazine (@people) May 27, 2016

And more, at the Daily Beast, "Amber Heard Says Johnny Depp Beat Her. It Will Ruin His Career. Just Kidding!":

When you Google the term “actors charged with domestic abuse”—as I did following the TMZ report that actress Amber Heard is seeking a restraining order against Johnny Depp, whom she filed for divorce from after one year of marriage this week—you are greeted with a slideshow of 80 celebrities who have been charged with the crime.

Eighty.

Ten times the number of people who attended my last birthday party.

Half the people who will attend my sister’s wedding.

Eighty.

The number of those celebrities for whom those charges negatively affected their careers? Roughly, zero.

This most casual jaunt of investigative reporting—literally just a Google search—was spawned by TMZ’s scandalous headline reporting that Heard arrived at court Friday for divorce proceedings alleging that Depp physically assaulted her during their short marriage. According to TMZ, she arrived with photographic evidence of bruises she says Depp inflicted. As the celebrity news site writes, “Three days after Depp’s mom died, Amber filed for divorce. And one week after his mom died, she’s claiming domestic violence.”

It’s important to note, I guess, that these are allegations. As we always do, we will wonder whether this is a victimizing cash-grab ploy by the woman. The celebrity couple did not have a prenup and Heard is seeking spousal report, which Depp is asking the judge to reject. Depp is reportedly worth $400 million.

It is also important to note how Hollywood reacts to male celebrities when there are allegations of domestic violence, which is not at all...

Keep reading.

And no prenuptial? What's up with that?

Perhaps Edward Scissorhands thought he was really in a storybook wedding?

Australian Man Charged with Attempted Murder After Going on Bulldozer Rampage (VIDEO)

Maybe he got tired of all the trans this and trans that.

Sheesh.

At Telegraph UK, "A man in Australia has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly stealing a bulldozer and demolishing a house where a woman and her children lived."

'Roaring Success'— Super Bowl Television Review

The O.C. Register decided to put a television review on the front-page, which seems a bit more, er, normal than the L.A. Times' domestic violence PSA above the fold this morning.

See Michael Hewitt, "Late-game heroics remind us Super Bowl not just about commercials, halftime show (those were good too)":

The biggest TV show of the year delivered on all fronts Sunday: laughs, tears, controversy, music, dance – and a heck of a football game.

Nothing in American culture is quite like the Super Bowl, an unofficial national holiday that about one-third of the country celebrates by watching four-plus hours of television together.

Super Bowl XLIX proved worthy of the attention, thanks mostly to the seesaw battle between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, won by New England, 28-24, and a nearly flawless performance by NBC Sports.

So many years we spend Monday morning talking about the commercials or the halftime show, but much postgame chatter this year will be about New England rookie Malcolm Butler’s game-saving goal-line interception or Seahawks receiver Jermaine Kearse’s improbable catch seconds earlier. Both plays were perfectly captured by NBC’s cameras, allowing us to drop our jaws again and again with the replays.

The visual image that will stick the longest may well be NBC’s sideline reporter Michele Tafoya chasing after Butler to score a post-game interview, as the unlikely hero ran off, seemingly overwhelmed by the moment.

Keep reading.

NFL's 'No More' Domestic Violence Super Bowl Ad

Here's Mary MaNamara's front-page story at today's Los Angeles Times, "Most important thing on TV this year could be this Super Bowl PSA."

I guess domestic violence is more important than Pete Carroll's play calling.

Here's the ad: "NO MORE's Official Super Bowl Ad: 60 Second."

Boys Won't Slap Girl in 'Social Experiment' in Italy: 'Why? Because I'm a man!' (VIDEO)

I don't know why someone thought this would be a good "experiment," but then, you can't stop watching. And of course, the boys are all well-raised. They've been taught that boys don't hit girls, as I was when I was a little boy.

At ABC News Los Angeles, "YOUNG BOYS ASKED TO SLAP A GIRL IN SOCIAL EXPERIMENT."

From the comments:

The media shouldn't be teaching children what they should be learning at home, but unfortunately a lot of parents aren't such good role models. Turn off the TV and be a better parent.

Not all the other commenters agree, sadly.

More at London's Daily Mail, "'Why not? Because I'm a man': Tearjerker video shows touching reactions of boys who are asked to slap a girl in the street."

Yes, it's a tearjerker. Such a sweet video, despite the questionable motivations of the "investigators."

Bell Gardens Mayor Had Squabbled with His Wife Over Finances

The wife, Lyvette Crespo, says she shot her husband because he was beating their son. But the L.A. Times reports that there was squabbling in the household over finances, and Mayor Crespo's brother sounds like he's not buying the wife's story.

Here, "Bell Gardens mayor's wife shot him to stop him from beating son, sources say":

Authorities have not released a possible motive for the shooting, but Daniel Crespo's brother, William, told KTLA-TV that the couple had been arguing over finances Tuesday.

William Crespo recalled his brother telling him: "'She’s over here fighting that I spend too much money.'"

He also described his brother as being "really tired" after having worked days and nights.

"She won't let him sleep," William Crespo said of his brother's wife, Levette.

Daniel Crespo, 45, was elected to the City Council in 2001. Aside from his duties as mayor, he worked as a Los Angeles County probation officer for more than a decade, according to the city.

PREVIOUSLY: "Mayor of Bell Gardens Daniel Crespo Shot and Killed by Wife."

Mayor of Bell Gardens Daniel Crespo Shot and Killed by Wife

I guess the wife was striking a blow against the patriarchy.

At LAT, "Bell Gardens Mayor Daniel Crespo fatally shot by wife, authorities say."

WATCH: Roger Goodell Denies NFL Saw Ray Rice Tape, but Law Enforcement Sent Video to League in April

At the Associated Press, "AP NEWSBREAK: SOURCE SAYS RICE VIDEO SENT TO NFL."

And Norah O'Donnell has the interview with Commissioner Goodell, from this morning.

"Did the NFL drop the ball?"



PREVIOUSLY: "NFL's Roger Goodell May Be In Trouble Too."

NFL's Roger Goodell May Be In Trouble Too

At LAT, "NFL faces troubling questions after a second video surfaces that leads to Ray Rice's indefinite suspension":

The grainy images, captured without sound, show a man and a woman in an elevator.

He turns toward her, then walks away. She comes at him, and he punches her on the side of the head, knocking her off her feet and into a railing. When the doors open he drags her limp body behind him.

Ray Rice, who threw the punch, was a star running back with the Baltimore Ravens. The woman was Janay Palmer, at the time Rice's fiancee, now his wife.

Within hours of the video's release by TMZ Sports, Rice's career as a professional football player was in jeopardy. His contract was terminated by the Ravens and the NFL announced he was suspended indefinitely.

But the league and its commissioner, Roger Goodell, may be in trouble too.

The surveillance video released Monday is the second look at that altercation. The first, which surfaced six months ago, shows Rice pulling Palmer out of a casino elevator. It led to Rice's being charged with third-degree assault, a felony; Palmer with simple assault, a misdemeanor. Rice agreed to enter a diversionary program, allowing him to avoid trial.

In July, the NFL suspended Rice for two games, which drew widespread criticism as too lenient.

Now, with the release of the latest video, the league is facing more troubling questions: Either its initial investigation failed to turn up the second, more graphic video; or its leaders were not being truthful Monday when they said they were seeing that footage for the first time...

More.

PREVIOUSLY: "Ray Rice Booted by Ravens After Brutal Elevator Knock-Out Video Goes Public."

BONUS: At CNN, "Sklar: NFL is an organization that needs immediate change."

Ray Rice Booted by Ravens After Brutal Elevator Knock-Out Video Goes Public

Following-up from this morning, "Ray Rice Fiancée Elevator Knock-Out Video."

At the Los Angeles Times, "Ray Rice is released by Ravens and suspended indefinitely by NFL."

Looks like the dude sucker-punched himself out of an NFL career.

More at Memeorandum.

Ray Rice Fiancée Elevator Knock-Out Video

At TMZ, "Ray Rice -- ELEVATOR KNOCKOUT ... Fiancee Takes Crushing Punch (Video)."

And at WaPo, "Graphic new video shows Ravens’ Ray Rice domestic violence incident."

More, at Hot Air, "Newly released video calls NFL action on Ray Rice into question … again; Update: NFL says they never saw it."

Nigella Lawson Moves Out of Family Home

An update on the British celebrity wife-choking story.

At London's Daily Mail, "Nigella packs her bags: Hopes of saving her marriage look grim as removal men clear home of her belongings... and she's even taking the cookbooks and the blender."

Well, she had to take the blender. She's a professional cook for crying out loud.

BACKGROUND: "Nigella Lawson Attacked by Husband Charles Saatchi at Scott's Restaurant in Mayfair," and "Charles Saatchi Admits to Throat-Choking Assault of Wife Nigella Lawson."

Charles Saatchi Admits to Throat-Choking Assault of Wife Nigella Lawson

He was "cautioned for assault," but not charged with a crime.

That dude needs to be throttled is what it is.

At Mirror UK, "Nigella Lawson photos: Charles Saatchi reveals why he accepted police caution but makes no public apology."

PREVIOUSLY: "Nigella Lawson Attacked by Husband Charles Saatchi at Scott's Restaurant in Mayfair," and "BNP Leader Nick Griffin is One Sick Bastard."

BNP Leader Nick Griffin is One Sick Bastard

Pretty astonishing, really.

At the Mirror UK, "Nigella Lawson 'attacked': BNP leader Nick Griffin tweets sick joke about shocking pictures."

If I had the opportunity to squeeze Nigella Lawson, her throat wouldn't be my first choice.
— Nick Griffin MEP (@nickgriffinmep) June 17, 2013

More at GQ (UK), "Nick Griffin is a horrendous human being."

It's just beyond politics for me. I'm disgusted by idiot piggish men.

RELATED: At the Guardian UK, "Nigella Lawson pictures: if it's a 'playful tiff', what does a serious one look like?"

PREVIOUSLY: "Nigella Lawson Attacked by Husband Charles Saatchi at Scott's Restaurant in Mayfair."