TMZ video of Johnny Depp left Amber Heard ‘giggling’: ex-employee

Former TMZ contributor Morgan Tremaine is testifying about the source of an exclusive video in the Johnny Depp defamation case.

When TMZ exclusively received a leaked video from Johnny Depp The footage appeared to angrily slam kitchen cabinets, but left out some key contexts seen by a Virginia jury: belongs to amber “Apparently giggling” towards the end of the tape, the former employee of the famous tabloid testified on Wednesday.

Last month, during the ex-couple’s trial, a jury saw footage of Depp seen angry at their West Hollywood home, and Heard recorded him.

“We’re not even fighting this morning,” Heard said in the clip while taking it. “I just apologized”

“Did something happen to you this morning?” Depp yells, I don’t think so! You wanna look crazy? I’m going to drive you damn crazy.”

Morgan Tremainewho took the witness stand over his former employer’s objections, said the end of the tape that played in court looked different than what came via TMZ’s email tip line.

“When I clicked on the direct link we received and watched the video in its entirety. It was much shorter than the video we received – the video that played in the process,” Tremaine testified. “In the beginning there was something played where Ms. Heard appears to be setting up the camera and positioning herself. And then there’s a bit at the end where she appears to be giggling and looking at the camera. That part was not present in what we received.”

During the lunch hour, TMZ’s attorneys fought unsuccessfully to keep Tremaine from taking a stand. Their emergency request to intervene indicated that they feared Tremaine would burn their source, although he didn’t know who leaked it.

“Journalists’ promises of confidentiality are critical to reporting the news,” lawyers for TMZ wrote in a 7-page filing. “Therefore, the law strongly protects the ability of journalists to keep their promises. The court should allow TMZ to keep the promise made here.”

Tremaine witnesses the video of #Johnny Depp Slamming the kitchen cabinets The TMZ recording was shorter than the one played in rehearsal. He said the beginning where #AmberHeard sets the camera up and the ending where “she appears to be giggling and looking at the camera” wasn’t in what we recorded. pic.twitter.com/PcnZW5KYxw

— Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) May 25, 2022

Depp’s attorney sneered that TMZ’s style of journalism “isn’t exactly like that Edward R MurrowYour Honour”, in reference to the famous radio journalist and war correspondent.

But TMZ’s attorney noted that the same First Amendment principles of journalistic ethics and privilege apply.

“Apparently the First Amendment applies to everyone, citizens, The New York Times and TMZ” Karl Tobin counters.

Just as TMZ claimed, Tremaine testified that he did not know the source of the video, which was transmitted via the organization’s email tip line. Heard’s attorney Elaine Bredehöft suggested that Tremaine take a stand to ride the massive exposure of a court broadcast in front of hundreds of millions of people around the world.

“That’ll get you your 15 minutes of fame, won’t it?” asked Bredehöft.

“I’m not going to win any of this,” Tremaine said, adding that he makes himself a target for TMZ.

Judge Penney Azcarate stated in its decision that TMZ may elect to pursue any alleged breach of any non-disclosure agreement that may apply.

(Screenshot via Law&Crime Network)

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