Johnny Deppis speaking out after ex-wifeAmber Heardfollowed through on her plans to appeal the verdict in their defamation trial.

On Thursday morning, the 36-year-old actress, who had previously said she would appeal the Virginia verdict,made it official when she filed a notice of appealin the Circuit Court of Fairfax County.

A spokesperson for Heard said in a statement about kicking off the appeal process, “We believe the court made errors that prevented a just and fair verdict consistent with the First Amendment. We are therefore appealing the verdict. While we realize today’s filing will ignite the Twitter bonfires, there are steps we need to take to ensure both fairness and justice.”

“The jury listened to the extensive evidence presented during the six-week trial and came to a clear and unanimous verdict that the defendant herself defamed Mr. Depp, in multiple instances,” read the statement. “We remain confident in our case and that this verdict will stand.”

Johnny Depp.JIM WATSON/POOL/AFP/Getty

US actor Johnny Depp testifies during his defamation trial in the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, on April 19, 2022. - Depp is suing ex-wife Amber Heard for libel after she wrote an op-ed piece in The Washington Post in 2018 referring to herself as a public figure representing domestic abuse. (Photo by JIM WATSON / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

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The new development comes one week after Judge Penney Azcaratedenied Heard’s request for a mistrialover an issue involving one of the jurors seemingly not being the one from their household summoned for jury duty. The judge said no evidence of fraud was found among the jury and noted that Heard’s team had weeks to speak up about the error rather than wait until after an unfavorable verdict. Depp’s team hadresponded to the post-trial motionwith similar arguments before the judge’s ruling.

When the judge made the verdict official late last month, she ruled that the damages will come with a 6 percent annual interest, and noted that if Heard were to appeal she would have to post a bond for the full amount of the damages she owes.

EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/POOL/AFP via Getty

Amber Heard reacts next to her lawyer Elaine Bredehoft after the jury announced split verdicts in favor of both her ex-husband Johnny Depp and Heard

In reaction to the verdict last month, Depp said in a statement he felt like the jury, made up of five men and two women, “gave me my life back.” Heard, meanwhile, called the verdict a “setback” for women.

Separately, Heard is in alegal battle with her insurance providerover who is liable for paying her court fees, and Deppreached a pre-trial settlementwith a crew member from one of his movies who accused him of assault, which he denied.

source: people.com