Gary Lineker criticised for joke about Depp v Heard trial verdict

Former footballer and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker has been criticised after he posted a joke immediately after the verdict was announced in the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamation trial.

The 61-year-old ex-England striker wrote: "Depp wins and gets Heard immunity."

On Wednesday, a jury found that Heard had defamed her ex-husband in an article that she wrote for the Washington Post in 2018. As a result Depp will receive $10 million in compensatory damages and and a further $5m in punitive damages.

Heard was however awarded $2 million in damages after she won three counter-claims against Depp. Afterwards, the Aquaman actress called the verdict a 'disappointment' and a 'setback' for women.

Many felt that the result of the trial will spark a new and uncertain future for women who speak out, whilst on the opposite side of the argument, Conservative women celebrated the verdict as the end of the #MeToo movement.

Although Lineker's post didn't make a direct comment about either Depp or Heard many felt that now wasn't the right time to be joking about such a matter, given the seriousness of the situation.

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