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Netflix Losses $50 Billion In Value Amid Surprising Subscriber Drop; Zoo: Animals Are Being Found Bullet-Riddled From Russian Attacks; Johnny Depp Accuses Ex-Wife On Instigating Fights, Violence; Amber Heard Heard On Tapes Admitting To Striking Johnny Depp; Putin Claims Mariupol Victory, Tells Forces Not To Storm Factory; Putin To Forces: Block Mariupol Stronghold So Fly Cannot Get Through; Ukraine: War Can End In Direct Talks Between Putin, Zelenskyy. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired April 21, 2022 - 07:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[07:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: More bad news for Netflix less than 24 hours after the streaming giant reported at lost subscribers for the first time in more than a decade. Stock shares dropped 35 percent and wiped out $50 billion in market cap. And if that wasn't bad enough, Netflix says the numbers are expected to be even worse in the next quarter.

Joining us now is Gina Keating. She is the author of Netflixed: The Epic Battle for America's Eyeballs. OK. So Gina, what's going on here?

GINA KEATING, AUTHOR, "NETFLIXED: THE EPIC BATTLE FOR AMERICA'S EYEBALLS": Well, I mean, you have several historical trends that are going on here and some new things. And first of all, Netflix first and second quarters are typically its slowest in terms of subscriber additions. That's kind of old news.

Losing the Russian market certainly didn't help its first quarter numbers, but if you back out the 700,000 steps the company lost by suspending it service there. It actually had net subscriber growth of about half a million, but that's still a $2 million subscriber less than what they projected.

[07:35:09]

KEATING: So that's not good news. COVID-- the growth that it experienced during COVID is pretty historic for Netflix. It typically grows a lot in times of bad economic times, or instability. People want to stay home and cocoon, they don't have the money to go out to get entertainment. So they'll stay home and do Netflix.

But what's new is that during the COVID pandemic, and a little bit before, a lot of new players entered this market, and this is the first time that they've ever actually had to compete on a streaming basis, with companies that have much bigger libraries than they have, and much better title, better known titles.

So, it's a lot of things going on. And it's probably going to take a little while to sort out whether they can continue the level of growth that they historically have.

KEILAR: What about the original programming? Because I mean, I think that's some place, Netflix that I have gone for that, but at the same time, there's so many other offerings outside of Netflix that are great, that, you know, you hear people talking at the water cooler essentially, about the shows that they're watching, and sometimes it's not Netflix.

KEATING: Yes. I mean, subscribers are going to follow content, that's what they're going to do. And, you know, when Netflix was growing, the streaming business, it did a lot of purchasing, or-- of, you know, getting these deals with these studios that didn't want to get into streaming, they didn't think that it was going to be a big deal.

The advertising-- loss of advertising wasn't a good tradeoff for them. But when Netflix started reaching these astronomical subscriber numbers, they realized that they had to get in, and they had to keep their own content. And in a lot of cases, that content is a lot better known than what's on Netflix.

And, you know, people, they just-- they're just better-- the studios are better. They've got a longer history at making content. They know what people like. They have franchises that people relate to. So, yes, it's a very hard thing that they're doing because they have to do both a technological and worldwide expansion along with making really great content, which kind of isn't really their bailiwick.

KEILAR: Yes. They've done OK, certainly on some things I will say, Bridgerton, anyone, for instance?

KEATING: Yes.

KEILAR: Gina, thank you so much. Right. Guilty pleasure there. Gina Keating, really appreciate you being with us. Thank you. Jim, I want to go back to you in Ukraine.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: Brianna, thank you. One of the characteristics of this war and we see it every day is the ruthlessness of Russian forces during the evasion. The deliberate targeting of civilians, the execution style murders, bodies left in the streets, even of their own soldiers.

Earlier this morning, I recorded questions for Alexander Feldman. He's the founder of a zoo in Kharkiv in the eastern part of the country, where we saw another example of ruthlessness. Employees who stayed behind just to feed the animals they were killed by Russian forces. Why? Here's part of our conversation.

Please tell us what happened to the employees at the zoo who stayed behind just to feed the animals to keep them alive? What do you know about how and where they were killed? ALEXANDER FELDMAN, FOUNDER, FELDMAN ECOPARK ZOO (through translator):

There were two young men. They were not afraid of the explosions and they did not flee, and they stayed behind to feed the animals. And the work of a zookeeper is quite a complex one. If one zookeeper that feeds the lions cannot feed the apes. And a zookeeper that feeds the apes doesn't feed the tigers.

But they-- so it was quite a problem for them. But they coped with this problem admirably and they stayed behind. And then they disappeared. We lost touch with them.

So, two more men went out to look for them. And these two men were shot just outside their bus by the Russian army. And then yesterday, by accident, we found these our two guys, the zookeepers in the bathroom. They were shot from guns, they were shot and right in the bathroom.

And the scary weapons that they were carrying were a bucket full of carrots, and the second guy was carrying feed for the dogs. So, these were the scary Ukrainian fighters that the Russian army decided to destroy.

SCIUTTO: When they did decide to stay behind despite the threat from Russian forces heavy shelling, did you try to convince them to leave with everyone else, and what did they tell you at the time as to why they stayed?

[07:40:04]

FELDMAN (through translator): This was their duty. They understood this to be their duty. And we, of course, explained to them that this was dangerous, and that we could come out ourselves and feed the animals. But the animals were starving. And they-- this was their job, they didn't want to leave. They said that, that's what they're going to do.

And this was their life, the zoo. It wasn't just a job for them. It was their life. And they left young children behind whom, of course, we will take care of. And they have lost their fathers. But-- and they were killed. They were killed just because somebody didn't like their faces.

SCIUTTO: The zoo suffered other losses as well. Can you tell us how much was lost there?

FELDMAN (through translator): We have lost everything. We have lost 100 percent of the zoo. We have managed to save the animals. We've just got a few missions left to save the most dangerous ones, bears and tigers. But 100 percent of the zoo is gone, And just destroyed in strikes and airstrikes.

And just the other day, a shell fell on the areas where we kept the horses, stables, and just 10 minutes after we managed to get the horses out. So, we have to rebuild the zoo. And we have to move the animals and create a new zoo for the animals that we saved. There's nothing to save. There's nothing left to save in the zoo. Maybe just the tulips and the roses that it was famous for.

But we've managed to save almost all the animals. We just lost one chimpanzee to a heart attack, and two orangutans were killed by shrapnel. But these are difficult animals. They are quite dangerous. They're-- we had a large collection of apes. And they're not just sort of like your household pets.

So, it's quite a difficult job. We need to create a new zoo for them. And we are being helped. We need a lot of people, not-- a lot of labor to carry heavy stuff to load stuff onto vehicles. And we're being helped by volunteers and local zoos helpers. But yes, we've lost everything.

I just wanted to add, so we've just had a walk about zoo and all the animals that are in the cages, there isn't a single enclosure where there isn't a dead animal. And they died just of stress as well as the strikes, or the young animals died because they were squeezed or they just died in the commotion.

And everywhere in every cage, be it lions, or jaguars, or goats or camels. There are some dead, mostly young animals. And basically, we lost them all even the rare animals that we acquired from Africa recently.

Yes. And this was world famous Zoo. This was a zoo that was famous in all of Ukraine, and in Europe, and we were known for our kind attitudes to the animals, and for our very good care. And now every enclosure has an animal dead.

SCIUTTO: You know, Brianna watching the story, this is one thing we have to highlight repeatedly. This is not an accident, right? The deliberate killing of civilians, the rapes, the torture, the killing of animals for, you know, God given reason, right? It's deliberate. It's about terrorizing a people.

And when you hear Putin speak, I mean, he demonizes the entire people, the entire country. And that's how you end up having Russian forces killed peoples who stayed behind to feed the animals at a zoo, right? It's deliberate. And we're seeing it every day.

KEILAR: It's so upsetting to hear him talk about that, that they found the bodies of these two zookeepers by accident, and that one of them had a bucket full of carrots.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

KEILAR: And the other one had dog food. And yet, he's sort of--

SCIUTTO: Yes.

KEILAR: -- saying in a very dark way, these are the weapons that they were holding. This is why the Russians decided they needed to kill them. Obviously, they didn't, and they knew it, and it was obvious, and they still did it, Jim. It's terrible.

SCIUTTO: Yes. They're no threat, right? They're no threat. It's about terrorizing and wiping the city off the map. I mean, it's-- like I said, I've said this a bunch of times, I feel like I'm living in a World War II newsreel, right? Some of the things we're seeing play out here.

KEILAR: Yes. I think there's a reason you feel that way.

[07:45:01]

KEILAR: So, just in, taking a turn here. A new book claiming that House Minority Leader, Kevin McCarthy wanted Donald Trump to resign for his-- the presidency after January 6th.

And that Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell cheered Democrats on impeaching him and their efforts to impeach him. The reporters who broke this news are going to join us next.

And soon, Johnny Depp is going to return to the stand for cross examination in his defamation trial against ex-wife, Amber Heard. The chilling details revealed so far.

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KEILAR: This morning, actor Johnny Depp returns to the stand for cross examination in his $50 million defamation trial against his ex-wife, Amber Heard.

This comes after bombshell tapes played in court Wednesday reveal Heard admitting to hitting Depp while under the influence of a prescription sleeping pill.

[07:50:02]

KEILAR: CNN's Jean Casarez is joining us now with the story. This was revelatory of what we heard.

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, it's amazing when you all listen to this but, Amber Heard when she put the op-ed in The Washington Post one of the things she said, "I am a public figure, and I have an example of domestic abuse."

Well, Johnny Depp brought this defamation suit because he believes that that is what caused him to lose his career. And his direct testimony really is going to the heart, "I was not the abuser, you were."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNNY DEPP, ACTOR, HOLLYWOOD: I wanted to try to make it work.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CASAREZ: Johnny Depp taking the stand for a second day in a Fairfax County Virginia courtroom on Wednesday.

DEPP: I was sort of not allowed to be right. Not allowed to have a voice. CASAREZ: He is suing his ex-wife, Amber Heard for $50 million for defamation over a 2018 Washington Post opinion piece she wrote about her experience with domestic abuse.

While the article does not name Depp, Depp testified that allegations of abuse have cost him quote, "Nothing less than everything." On the stand Depp testifies about the mental and physical abuse he says he endured from Heard.

DEPP: It could begin with, you know, throwing a TV remote at my head, it could be throwing a glass of wine in my face.

CASAREZ: According to Depp, a 2015 argument over post nuptial agreements led to her throwing two vodka bottles, one of them severing part of his finger.

DEPP: It was-- blood was just pouring out. And at that point I think that I went into some sort of, I don't know, what a nervous breakdown feels like. But that's probably the closest that I've ever been.

And I knew in my mind and in my heart, this is not life. This is not life. No one should have to go through this.

CASAREZ: Heard has denied the claim. She filed a countersuit for 100 million against Depp alleging defamation. That case is ongoing. Depp also testified that Heard put a cigarette out on his face.

DEPP: The green dot is a wound from Ms. Heard taking my cigarette, and this is after the finger had gone away. And she stopped it out in my in my face-- on my cheek

CASAREZ: In a photo presented to the court, Depp alleges that Heard is responsible for the bruise on his left cheek.

DEPP: I believe that's-- well, it's definitely me after receiving kind of a roundhouse punch from Ms. Heard.

CASAREZ: Jurors were presented with multiple audio recordings of arguments between Heard and Depp, and one of them Heard seems to admit hitting Depp.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

AMBER HEARD, ACTRESS, HOLLYWOOD: I'm sorry that I didn't hit you across the face in a proper slap, but I was hitting you. It was not punching you. Babe, you're not punched.

DEPP: Don't tell me what it feels like to be punched. Did you start physical fights?

HEARD: I did start a physical fight.

DEPP: Yes, you did, and I had to get the (BLEEP) out of there.

HEARD: Yes, you did. You did the right. The big thing, that you know what, you are admirable. (END AUDIO CLIP)

CASAREZ: Depp explaining to the jury what they just listened to.

DEPP: What was just played on the audio recordings was very much the tone and the aggression, and the attitude, and the need for a fight from Ms. Heard.

CASAREZ: And if you're wondering about that finger, a large part of the top portion of the finger was actually severed completely off. And the bones were crushed and sticking out. And the jury saw a picture of that.

And actually, someone found the severed part of the finger he was rushed to the hospital ultimately came to Los Angeles for plastic surgery to put it back on.

[07:55:08]

CASAREZ: Now, cross examination cross examination, it could all turn around because we're going to hear the other side now, according to the defense, which is Amber Heard's attorney, and so it could get dicey. They may want to rile him up to show that he's prone to violence. We just have to see how it all plays out, Brianna.

KEILAR: Wow. It was stunning, though, there Jean, just to hear this. I want to bring now into this discussion, former LA County prosecutor and CNN Legal Analyst Loni Coombs with us.

LONI, what did you think of this day in court?

LONI COOMBS, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yes. Good morning, Brianna. This was very damning (ph) evidence against Amber Heard. You know, it's one thing they hear Johnny talk about these incidents, saying that she would use cutting words to verbally abuse him that she would actually physically attack him.

But those recordings allowed us to essentially step right into their relationship. We heard her use very cutting ugly words, attacking him as a man, attacking him as a father. And you also heard her admitting, "Yes, I hit you", in that recording. She goes onto say, "I hit you, but Johnny, I didn't punch you. I didn't knock you out."

She sounded more irritated and disgusted that he wasn't taking this violence just a normal part of the relationship. All confirming what he's been saying, which is very important, because in an abuse allegation like this, it's usually a he said/she said, you rarely have evidence, like these recordings to really confirm what Johnny's been saying.

But remember, as Jean said, this is Johnny's defamation case that he's brought, meaning that he has the burden to prove that he was not an abuser, that he did not attack her. They may prove very well that Amber attacked him that she was an abuser.

But in a domestic abuse situation, you can be a perpetrator and still be a victim. So, on this cross examination, they are going to be going after Johnny and say, let's forget about her behavior. Let's look at you. What did you do? Did you abuse her? Because that's the real question.

KEILAR: Yes. That's a really interesting point there, Loni. I do want to listen to something, a part of a recording that we also heard about Amber Heard talking about how she had used Ambien, sort of blaming the Ambien on one moment.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

HEARD: I was upset. There was a lot going on and I was on an Ambien.

Depp: OK. OK. But wait.

HEARD: Like why are you obsessing over the fact that I can't remember the way you remembered? I said, I was sorry.

DEPP: OK.

HEARD: I didn't deny it.

DEPP: OK. I know that.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

KEILAR: What is your impression? What was the-- of that moment, Jean and of other moments, what was your impression of sort of the pattern of their communication in Vanessa's communication?

CASAREZ: You know, what we've heard through his testimony--

KEILAR: Amber.

CASAREZ: -- but also the psychologist that was their couples therapist, he would retreat. When things got bad, he would lock himself in a bathroom, he would lock himself in a bedroom, he would leave the residence.

And she admitted to the psychologist that sometimes she would instigate and just start hitting him, so he wouldn't leave.

KEILAR: I mean, this is unbelievable. And we're going to be seeing more of this here with the cross-examination continuing. I imagine it's going to be more revelations. Loni, Jean, thank you so much to both you. I do appreciate it.

And of course, if you or someone you love is a victim of domestic violence. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is there for support. This is the number on the screen, a very important resource, especially in light of what we've been listening to hear today. New Day continues right now.

Good morning to the viewers here in the U.S., and around the world. It is Thursday, April 21st. I'm Brianna Keilar in Washington with Jim Sciutto in Lviv, Ukraine. John Berman is off today, and we are beginning with breaking news.

Mariupol is on the brink of falling into Russian hands. The Kremlin declaring it can take control of the Azovstal Steel Plant in three to four days.

And moments ago, Vladimir Putin announcing storming the area is no longer necessary. Instead, he says he wants to block anyone from escaping of course, storming the areas he put it would come with considerable cost to Russian troops, which may be part of this calculation.

This is a man whose troops are firing on women and children as they are trying to evacuate, slaughtering innocent civilians.

Overnight, Russian forces bartered the already battered port city again, as a desperate push gets underway to save nearly 120,000 people who are still trapped there. Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, likening the Russian siege at Mariupol to a terrorist operation.

Zelenskyy also warning that his forces simply don't have enough serious and heavy weapons to defeat the Russian army.

SCIUTTO: Also breaking this morning. Russian forces attempting to make a new push into the Donbas region in the eastern part of the country in Luhansk--

END on't have enough serious and heavy weapons to defeat the Russian army.

SCIUTTO: Also breaking this morning. Russian forces attempting to make a new push into the Donbas region in the eastern part of the country in Luhansk--

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