Amber Heard Sparks Backlash After Declaring Defamation Trial Verdict A 'Setback'

Amber Heard faced another wave of criticism online after she called the verdict in Johnny Depp's defamation case against her a "setback" for victims of domestic violence.

On Wednesday, a jury in Fairfax County, Virginia, ruled in Depp's favor in his defamation trial, finding that Heard intentionally and maliciously defamed the actor when she wrote her 2018 Washington Post op-ed about her experiences as a domestic abuse survivor.

Following the verdict, Heard released a statement via Twitter saying she was disappointed "beyond words" and "heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of my ex-husband."

"I'm even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women," the actress continued. "It is a setback. It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously."

However, some Twitter users claimed that it was Heard who set back victims and survivors of domestic abuse years.

"No, Amber," wrote Twitch streamer Romanova. "You lying about Johnny is a setback for men who are victims and want to be believed [and] any of us women who have experienced abuse and want to be believed."

"Amber has claimed that the verdict has ‘set woman back.’ The only one that has set women back is her," U.K. broadcaster and journalist Sophie Corcoran claimed.

"The only thing that set women back is Amber herself," bestselling author and columnist Rebecca Jane claimed. "She set victims of domestic abuse back 10 years. Real victims will be afraid to come forward BECAUSE OF HER."

Another person tweeted: "Amber Heard didn’t lose because the justice system failed her. Amber Heard lost because she is the abuser. There is a mountain of evidence against her. And this verdict isn’t a setback for women. It is a wake-up call to stop believing someone based on their gender only. It is a wake-up call to go back to innocent until proven guilty."

Heard's fans and supporters fired back at the criticism and continued to tweet their support for the actress.

"Amber Heard is a better and braver person than most of you all will ever be. But most especially her haters. #IStandWithAmberHeard #MeToo," one person tweeted.

"My darling girl, you did everything you could. You did everything RIGHT. I am so proud of you and we will never stop fighting. We are always with you," a second Twitter user wrote.

"I am so sorry, Amber. I love you. I support you. I believe in you. I stand with you always and forever," another added.

NBC News tech and culture reporter Kat Tenbarge called the verdict "chilling" and slammed those mocking and spreading false information about Heard.

"Many of the criticisms of Amber Heard are rooted in misogyny, but beyond that, they're also rooted in a fundamental misunderstanding of how trauma and abuse work," she tweeted. "When people cherrypick from Amber’s testimony, hyper-fixate on her emotions and 'body language,' lie about her, and make fun of her, they feed into this culture that hurts ALL victims. Even if Amber isn't a victim, this behavior hurts victims."

Heard’s attorney, Elaine Bredehoft, told "Today's" Savannah Guthrie Thursday that her client "absolutely" plans to appeal the jury's decision.

"She has some excellent grounds for it," the lawyer said.

The attorney claimed that Depp won because Heard "was demonized," adding: "A number of things were allowed in this court that should not have been allowed, and it caused the jury to be confused."

Depp was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $350,000 in punitive damages.

Heard, for her part, was awarded $2 million by the jury in compensatory damages for her counterclaim, E! News reported. The jury found Depp liable after his attorney referred to Heard's claims as a "hoax."