Johnny Depp awarded $15 Million, Amber Heard $2 Million defamation lawsuit
The high-profile court case has come to an end. The jury have said that Amber Heard defamed Johnny in her accusations, saying that the Aquaman star acted with “actual malice” with her claims. They went on to award Johnny $10million in compensatory damages. There was an additional $5million in punitive costs, this means that Johnny has been awarded $15million overall.
However, there was a partial win for Amber, as the jury awarded her $2million after finding that Johnny had defamed her through his attorney. Amber was present for the drama-fuelled moment, but Johnny was not be there, as he was performing in the UK at a rock concert.
Friday, in the closing arguments, Johnny’s attorneys asked them to “give him his life back” after he claimed it had been “ruined” by Amber’s allegations of domestic abuse.
In turn, Amber’s lawyers said that ruling in favor of Johnny would make jurors an “accomplice” to his abuse and “campaign of global humiliation”. They also called him out for “laughing” during the trial.
The judge also reduced the $5 million punitive damage award for Depp, because Virginia law caps punitive damages in these cases at $350,000. The net result means that Heard owes Depp $8.35 million. In a statement, Depp said “the jury gave me my life back. I am truly humbled…The best is yet to come and a new chapter has finally begun.” In her own statement, Heard said, “the disappointment I feel today is beyond words.”
Heard’s spokesperson Alafair Hall told The New York Times she now plans to appeal. It is not clear on what grounds she plans to appeal. To be granted an appeal, Heard would likely need to demonstrate that there were errors in the trial, or in the presiding judge’s reading of the law. Heard would also need to post bond of the full $10,350,000, plus interest charges over the course of an appeal trial.
John Madden to grace cover of Madden NFL 23 video game
Madden, the Hall of Fame coach who died Dec. 28, will be on the cover of all three editions of this year’s game, which will be released in August.
“We were thinking about this year’s game and who was going to go on it; it almost became an obvious answer,” Seann Graddy, the executive producer of Madden NFL, told ESPN. “I say that because we really wanted to celebrate Coach in the product this year and what he’s meant to us for the 30-plus years that we’ve been using his name in our game.”
No, Tom Brady did not make a hole-in-one in that video
(If you haven’t seen the video, click here to watch.)
Ohio Announces Start Date for Sports Betting
Sports betting in Ohio will officially start on Jan. 1, 2023, according to the Ohio Casino Control Commission. Officials with the commission met Wednesday to share the universal start date for sports betting.
The announcement comes months after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed the legislation into law, permitting sports wagering in Ohio, under the regulatory authority of the Ohio Casino Control Commission and the Ohio Lottery.
The bipartisan bill creates three types of licenses to be overseen by the Ohio Casino Control Commission. The measure will create licenses governing mobile wagering, gambling in bricks-and-mortar operations run by casinos and racinos and by professional sport teams and events, and bars and restaurants with gaming kiosks.
Ohio sports betting proceeds would be subject to a 10% state tax with the money going to Ohio K-12 schools.
Sports gaming applications will be accepted starting June 15.
Jada Pinkett Smith Hopes Will & Chris Rock ‘Reconcile’ After Slap
Jada Pinkett Smith is Starting her spin game two months after Will struck the comedian in the face at the 2022 Academy Awards. At the beginning of Wednesday’s Red Table Talk, Jada said into the camera, “About Oscar night. My deepest hope is that these two intelligent, capable men have an opportunity to heal, talk this out and reconcile. With the state of the world today, we need ’em both, and we all actually need one another more than ever. Until then, Will and I are continuing to do what we have done for the last 28 years — and that’s [to] keep figuring out this thing called life together. Thank you for listening,” Jada concluded. Wednesday’s new episode explores people’s stories of living with alopecia, a condition Jada has openly struggled with. Which is her way of trying to shame Chris Rock and change the narrative of what really happened. I think we are all smart enought to know the slap had nothing to do with alopecia. She is someone unable to take a joke. On Oscars night, Rock joked about Jada’s shaved head, which led to Will walking onstage and striking the comedian. Will was banned from future ceremonies and related events for 10 years by the Academy. Jada is just trying to spin this.
Mama June Loses Custody of Honey Boo Boo to Lauryn ‘Pumpkin’ Shannon
Mama June Shannon officially has lost custody of her daughter Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson.
A judge in Georgia granted Lauryn “Pumpkin” Shannon sole custody over Honey Boo Boo, with visitation rights being decided by Pumpkin, court documents filed on April 11 and obtained by Page Six show.
Mama June, who will be allowed to contact the “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” star by phone every day, will have to pay Pumpkin $800 per month in child support until Honey Boo Boo, currently 16, turns 18 years old.
The court documents provide insight into Mama June’s income, stating that she earns approximately $25,000 per month, though it depends on “production and endorsements.” At the time of the filing, Mama June’s show had “not been renewed for a new season,” so her only “certain income is disability in the amount of $1,015.00 per month.”
Pumpkin, 22, was first awarded temporary guardianship over Honey Boo Boo in August 2019 – with permission from her father, Mike “Sugar Bear” Thompson – after Mama June, 42, was arrested on drug possession charges that year with then-boyfriend Geno Doak.
Pumpkin will have her hands full now that she’s reportedly expecting twins. She’s also mom to son Bentley, 10 months, and daughter Ella, 4, with husband Joshua Efird.