Sales of Pirates of the Caribbean-themed outfits soar after defamation verdict
Following his defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard, there has been a significant increase in demand for Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow Halloween costumes. Depp, known for portraying the eccentric pirate in five Pirates of the Caribbean films, has seen a 90 per cent rise in sales of costumes resembling his iconic character, according to reports from TMZ.
The surge in costume sales comes after a highly publicised legal battle, where Depp was awarded $10 million (£8 million) in compensatory damages and $5 million (£4 million) in punitive damages. The case centred around a 2018 op-ed written by Heard in The Washington Post, in which she implied Depp had abused her. The jury ruled that Heard defamed Depp, although she was granted $2 million (£1.6 million) from a countersuit, after the jury determined one of Depp’s lawyers had defamed her by labelling her abuse allegations a “hoax.”
In the wake of the trial’s verdict, Depp has re-entered the public eye, and his role as Captain Jack Sparrow has gained even more prominence. Halloweencostumes.com, one of the world’s largest costume retailers, reported that sales of two Jack Sparrow-themed outfits have skyrocketed, with one costume priced between $85 and $95 (£75 to £84) and the other ranging from $245 to $299 (£216 to £264). Stocks of these costumes have already been nearly depleted, with more than 85 per cent of the stock gone.
Notably, Depp’s character has outperformed costumes from other popular films released this year, including Top Gun: Maverick, Hocus Pocus 2, and Lightyear.
Meanwhile, Amber Heard has signalled her intention to appeal the defamation verdict, submitting a four-page court document last week. Her legal team argues that the jury’s decision was “inherently and irreconcilably inconsistent.”
