UK libel loss against The Sun over wife-beater article
BBC and AP covered the November 2020 High Court ruling that The Sun's article was substantially true, and the March 2021 Court of Appeal refusal of permission to appeal. Separate from the later U.S. case with @amberheard.
Editorial timeline of public reporting, not a legal finding.
- The Sun publishes wife-beater article about Fantastic Beasts casting - BBC reported that on 27 April 2018 The Sun's website published an article criticising the casting of @johnnydepp in Fantastic Beasts and calling him a wife beater. That piece became the basis of his UK libel claim. Johnny Depp loses libel case over Sun wife beater claim
- High Court: article substantially true; 12 of 14 incidents - BBC reported Mr Justice Nicol found The Sun had proved the article substantially true and that 12 of 14 alleged domestic-violence incidents had occurred. @johnnydepp's lawyer called the ruling perverse and said he intended to appeal. Johnny Depp loses libel case over Sun wife beater claim
- Court of Appeal refuses permission to appeal - BBC and The Guardian reported that on 25 March 2021 the Court of Appeal refused @johnnydepp permission to appeal, saying the application had no real prospect of success. Johnny Depp refused permission to appeal libel verdict