Amber Heard‘s sister Whitney has praised the movie star in a message of support on social media.
The 34-year-old declared to her nearly 30K Instagram followers that ‘the truth is forever on your side’ following the verdict in the actress’ legal battle with ex-husband Johnny Depp.
The 36-year-old Aquaman star was found by a jury in Fairfax, Virginia, to have defamed her ex in an article in which she claimed she was a victim of domestic abuse. Depp was awarded $15million in compensatory and punitive damages.
Proud of her: Amber Heard’s sister Whitney has praised her movie star sibling for ‘standing up for yourself’
She was by her side: Whitney is seen far left with Amber, far right, in Virginia on June 1
Heard’s sister had also testified on her behalf during the case.
Whitney shared a post on Instagram which read: ‘I still stand with you, sissy.
‘Yesterday, today and tomorrow I will always be proud of you for standing up for yourself, for testifying both here in Virginia and in the UK, and for being the voice of so many who can’t speak to the things that happen behind closed doors.’
Whitney then shared: ‘We knew that this was going to be an uphill battle and that the cards were stacked against us. But you stood up and spoke out regardless.’
I stand with Amber: The 34-year-old declared to her nearly 30K Instagram followers that ‘the truth is forever on your side’ following the verdict in the actress’ legal battle with ex-husband Johnny Depp
Her ex: Pirates Of The Caribbean star Depp seen on the stand in Virginia in late April
Stressed Amber: Whitney shared a post on Instagram which read: ‘I still stand with you, sissy’
Whitney insisted she felt ‘honored’ to have been able to testify during the defamation trial on behalf of her sibling and says she’s sorry the jury didn’t find in her favor.
She added: ‘I am so honored to testify for you, and I would do it a million times over because I know what I saw and because the truth is forever on your side.
‘I’m so sorry that it wasn’t reflected in the decision made by this jury, but I will never give up on you, and neither will anyone who stands with you. Forever by your side… #istandwithamberheard.’
Depp sued Heard for $50million for defamation following the publication of a 2018 piece in The Washington Post in which she alleged she was a victim of domestic abuse but had not named him specifically.
There for family: The sister continued, ‘Yesterday, today and tomorrow I will always be proud of you for standing up for yourself, for testifying both here in Virginia and in the UK, and for being the voice of so many who can’t speak to the things that happen behind closed doors’
Hard to take: ‘We knew that this was going to be an uphill battle and that the cards were stacked against us. But you stood up and spoke out regardless,’ added Whitney
I’ll be there for you: Whitney insisted she felt ‘honored’ to have been able to testify during the defamation trial on behalf of her sibling and says she’s sorry the jury didn’t find in her favor
The jury found that the actress had acted with ‘malice’ and awarded Depp $15million in damages.
Heard had countersued her ex for $100million and the jury awarded her $2million in punitive damages.
The actress released a statement after the court case, admitting to being ‘heartbroken’ by the decision.
Always there: ‘I’m so sorry that it wasn’t reflected in the decision made by this jury, but I will never give up on you, and neither will anyone who stands with you. Forever by your side… #istandwithamberheard,’ she also wrote. Seen on May 25
She said: ‘The disappointment I feel today is beyond words. I’m heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of my ex-husband.
‘I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women.
‘It is a setback. It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously.’
The actress also claimed that the jury overlooked ‘the key issue of freedom of speech’.
She added: ‘I’m sad I lost this case. But I am sadder still that I seem to have lost a right I thought I had as an American – to speak freely and openly.’
Since the verdict was announced, Depp has been celebrating in England as he spent $62,000 on a curry dinner and before that played guitar on stage with Jeff Beck.
They were once a power couple: Johnny and Amber hand in hand at the Met Gala in 2014
