Billie Eilish Makes Surprise Reference To Johnny Depp While Performing Gig

Billie Eilish made a surprise reference to Johnny Depp’s recent defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard at her Manchester gig on Tuesday night.

The 'Bad Guy' hitmaker performed a new track, titled 'TV', alongside her brother and co-writer Finneas O’Connell at the first night of her two AO Arena concerts on 7 June.

Sitting on a stool while Finneas played the acoustic guitar, Billie told the crowd: "We haven’t played a new song live before it’s out since 2017 or 2018. This is one we just wrote, and we just wanted to play for you."

The 20-year-old sang: "What’s the point of anything, all of my friends are missing again, that’s what happens when you fall in love."

And then, referencing Depp and Heard’s case, Billie sang: “The internet’s gone wild watching movie stars on trial, while they’re overturning Roe v Wade.”

The 'Happier Than Ever' singer’s appearance in Manchester marks her first gig in England since her 2019 performance at the Reading festival. Billie is also set to headline Glastonbury festival later this month.

The Grammy winning artist’s reference comes a week after Depp won his defamation trial against Heard over an op-ed she wrote in The Washington Post.

The Pirates of the Caribbean actor sued his ex-wife for $50 million (£38.2 million) over the 2018 article, which was titled: "I spoke up against sexual violence — and faced our culture’s wrath. That has to change."

Although the article did not mention Depp by name, his lawyers said it falsely implied he physically and sexually abused the Aquaman actor while they were together.

Heard also counter-sued Depp over comments previously made by his lawyer Adam Waldman, who allegedly referred to her abuse claims as a 'hoax'.

The conclusion of the trial, which dominated headlines for the past six weeks, saw the jury deliver a unanimous verdict in Depp's favour, announcing that he would be awarded $10m in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive.

Alamy

As Vulture reports, under Virginia law – the state the trial is taking place – punitive damages are capped at $350,000, meaning that Depp is set to get just over $10 million in total.

They also state that the net amount that he gets will be more around $8 million, as Heard will be awarded $2 million in damages thanks to one of her competing claims.

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Topics: Billie Eilish, Music, Celebrity, Johnny Depp, Amber Heard

Lisa McLoughlin