Amber Heard has publicly addressed the aftermath of her legal battles with Johnny Depp in a new documentary premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, revealing how the experience stripped her of her voice and highlighting the chilling effect of defamation lawsuits on women speaking out about abuse.
The documentary, titled “Silenced,” directed by Selina Miles and featuring human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson, explores how defamation suits are weaponized to silence women. Heard agreed to sit for an interview in the film, her first appearance since 2023’s “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.” She stated bluntly, “I have lost my ability to speak. I am not here to tell my story. I don’t want to tell my story. In fact, I don’t want to use my voice anymore. That’s the problem.”
Heard’s comments refer to the 2018 libel case where Johnny Depp sued British newspaper The Sun over an article labeling him a “wife beater,” with Heard as a key witness for the defense. During the trial, she faced intense public scorn, with Depp fans dressed as Capt. Jack Sparrow hurling insults and trash at her. She reflected, “I didn’t understand it could get so much worse for me as a woman, using my voice.”
“Silenced” broadens its scope to include other women silenced by defamation suits, such as Brittany Higgins, a political staffer in Australia, and Catalina Ruiz-Navarro, a magazine editor sued in Latin America. Robinson, in the Variety Studio at Sundance, explained the “chilling effect” of such lawsuits, where alleged perpetrators sue for defamation, forcing women to prove their claims in court at great financial cost. “What does free speech mean if you can’t afford to defend it?” she asked.
Since the Depp trial, Heard has largely retreated from the public eye, moving to Spain and welcoming twins last year. In contrast, Johnny Depp’s career has rebounded, with new directing and acting projects. TMZ reported that Heard’s image hasn’t recovered, while Depp’s has, highlighting the personal and professional fallout.
Heard described her participation in the Sun trial as a Catch-22, where the outcome depended on her, and she depended on the outcome. She credited Robinson with understanding the bigger picture, noting that her experience is an “amplified version” of what many women endure. The film depicts the harassment she faced, reinforcing the documentary’s theme.
Despite the trauma, Heard expressed hope, finding strength in seeing other women take on the fight for justice. “Looking at my daughter’s face as she grows up and slowly starts to walk into this world… I believe it can be better,” she said. This optimistic note underscores the documentary’s aim to spark change.
“Silenced” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on Saturday and is currently seeking distribution. The timely film adds to the ongoing conversation about abuse, defamation, and gender power imbalances in the post-#MeToo era, with Heard’s candid reflections serving as a poignant centerpiece.
