Amber Heard ‘doesn’t care’ about Johnny Depp’s romance with married lawyer

Article content

After reports surfaced this week that Johnny Depp has found love with the lawyer who helped represent him in his U.K. libel trial, Amber Heard wants it to be known that she isn’t keeping tabs on his new romance.

Article content

According to Us Weekly, who were first to report the news, Depp has embarked on a relationship with Joelle Rich, a London-based attorney.

Article content

A source tells Entertainment Tonight, “Amber isn’t paying attention to Johnny or his personal life.”

“She doesn’t care who he dates and just wants to move forward with her life,” the source adds.

Rich, who is married but separated, attended Depp’s recent defamation trial against Heard to show “support” for the 59-year-old actor.

“There was no professional obligation for her being there. It was personal,” a source says.

According to her bio, Rich “helps individuals and families in the public eye protect their privacy and reputations” and has “expertise in libel, privacy and copyright disputes.” She “works to defend (clients’) reputations against false and defamatory allegations in print, online and on social media.” Her firm also worked on Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s 2018 case against the Mail on Sunday, which they won.

Article content

“Their chemistry is off the charts,” an insider exclusively told Us of the Pirates of the Caribbean star’s new relationship. “It’s serious between them. They are the real deal.”

But a separate source downplayed the burgeoning romance. “They are dating, but it’s not serious,” an insider told PEOPLE on Thursday.

Rich, who is married but separated, attended Depp’s recent defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard to show “support” for the 59-year-old actor.

Rich, a mother of two, was reportedly married when she first met Depp, but is now divorcing her husband.

Article content

Earlier this summer, Depp was linked to Camille Vasquez, one of the attorneys who represented him against Heard.

Later, Vasquez called speculation that she was dating her client “sexist” and “unethical.”

In July, Depp was spotted in Italy with a mystery redheaded woman whose identity gripped the Internet. But the woman was later identified as “a member of the staff” working on Depp’s upcoming film, Jeanne du Barry.

“She is his French teacher and there is no romantic connection whatsoever,” a source told Fox News.

Rich was part of Depp’s legal team that unsuccessfully sued the U.K. Sun for calling him a “wife-beater” in 2020. Depp tried to have the verdict overturned but a British court found the outlet’s claims were “substantially true.”

Article content

After losing the case against the Sun, Depp sued Heard in Virginia for $50 million over a 2018 op-ed in which she claimed to be a survivor of domestic abuse. The Edward Scissorhands star claimed the article ruined his career and maintained she was the abuser in their relationship.

In June, a seven-person jury mostly sided with him, awarding the three-time Oscar nominee $10.35 million in damages. Heard counter-sued Depp, who was found guilty on one count of defamation through his former lawyer Adam Waldman.

After the verdict, Depp said in a statement that the jury “gave me my life back.” Heard, meanwhile, said the judgment was a “setback” for other survivors of domestic violence.

Heard has announced she will appeal the jury’s decision and has hired a new legal team to help her mount her defence.

Article content

In response, Depp announced he will also appeal the $2 million judgement against him.

“If Ms. Heard is determined to pursue further litigation by appealing the verdict, Mr. Depp is filing a concurrent appeal to ensure that the full record and all relevant legal issues are considered by the Court of Appeal,” a source close to Depp told Deadline in July.

mdaniell@postmedia.com