A social media forensic expert examined hashtags related to Amber Heard - including #AmberHeardIsAnAbuser and #AmberTurd - following the star's claims her ex Johnny Depp abused her. The expert did not find one positive tweet in the samples taken over a two year period

A social media forensic expert has claimed over 2.38million negative tweets were made about Amber Heard over a two year period, following the actress making allegations of abuse against her former husband Johnny Depp.

Ron Schnell, director of Berkeley Research Group, testified in Virginia's Fairfax County Courthouse on Thursday and the court heard how he analysed social media posts about Ms Heard and Mr Depp between January 2018 and January 2021.

Ms Heard has accused Mr Depp's attorney Adam Walden of orchestrating a smear campaign against her in order to damage her career and leaking stories to the press about her lying about being a victim of domestic abuse.

The legal professional, who has worked with Mr Depp since 2016, also gave evidence on Thursday - refusing to answer a series of questions due to attorney-client privilege.

Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images) POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Mr Schnell - a former business partner of Sylvester Stallone - told the court how he performed forensic analysis on posts made on Twitter, Instagram, Reddit and Facebook following Ms Heard's allegation that her former husband had been physically abuse.

The social media took samples from four hashtags related to Ms Heard - #JusticeForJohnnyDepp, #AmberHeardIsAnAbuser, #AmberTurd, #WeJustDontLikeYouAmber - and couldn't find one single positive tweet about the actress in the samples.

Image: REUTERS) REUTERS)

Mr Schnell also looked at the hashtag #JohnnyDeppIsAWifeBeater and only noted a spike in negative tweets after the actor lost his libel lawsuit against The Sun in November 2020.

Prior to the social media expert giving evidence in court on Thursday, Mr Depp's attorney Mr Walden's video deposition was played to the court.

The legal professional has previously called Ms Heard's claims of abuse 'a hoax' and 'fake'.

Image: Law & Crime Network/Youtube) Law & Crime Network/Youtube)

During his video deposition filmed in February 2022, Mr Waldman - who was subpoenaed by Ms Heard’s legal team - was repeatedly told by Ben Chew, Mr Depp's attorney in the defamation trial, not to answer certain questions due to attorney-client privilege.

'I accept the instruction,' Mr Waldman stated several times, after being advised not to answer Ms Heard's attorney, Elaine Bredehoft.

Mr Waldman stated in his testimony that his client never hit is former wife Ms Heard throughout their relationship.

Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images) POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The legal professional claimed during the video deposition that he first met Mr Depp in October 2016 when the actor hired him as part of his legal team.

Mr Depp is suing Heard for alleged defamation over an op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in 2018, in which she stated she was a victim of domestic abuse.

The opinion piece did not mention the actor by name, but Mr Depp argues that he has lost work and been financially impacted by the piece.

The actress is countersuing her ex-husband for $100million (£81million).