Amber Heard Fires PR Team in Middle of Johnny Depp Defamation Trial

Amber Heard, who is accused of defamation by her ex-husband Johnny Depp, has fired her entire public relations team just days before she testifies in the high-profile case that has captured international attention.

“She doesn’t like bad headlines,” a source told the New York Post, which broke the story on Sunday. “[She] is frustrated with her story not being told effectively,” said another individual.

Depp is suing Heard for $50 million and claims the Aquaman actress defamed him in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed where she discussed being a victim of domestic abuse. The op-ed does not mention Depp by name, but the Pirates of the Caribbean actor claims that it “indirectly defamed” him and negatively affected his professional career.

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The superstar actor was fired from the Pirates franchise after the Post published the op-ed.

The weeks-long defamation trial began last month and has included troubling testimony about violent fights between the couple, including one where Depp’s fingertip was severed.

There’s also been an allegation that Heard intentionally defecated in the couple’s bed while angry. Depp’s doctor has testified about his extensive drug use and the actor’s talent agent said Depp was fired from the Pirates franchise because the negative headlines surrounding his personal life became a “distraction.”

The negative press about the trial has had a particularly negative impact on Heard, with some describing her as the aggressor in the couple’s fights. There’s even an online petition that’s been signed by more than three million fans calling for Heard to be fired from the Aquaman sequel.

In response, Heard replaced East Coast PR firm Precision Strategies, with Shane Communications, a Los Angeles-based crisis management team with Hollywood experience. The new firm is led by CEO David Shane, who has worked against Depp in the past.

However, the decision to fire a PR team in the middle of a trial is a risky one, and it may not pay off for the 36-year-old actress.

“It’s crazy to change teams in the middle of a trial like this because you don’t like the headlines,” a PR expert told the New York Post. “[Shane] is one of the best crisis firms … but they can’t rewrite the history of what’s happened.”