Tasmanian Greens leader Cassy O'Connor has apologised for "the hurt and confusion" caused by comments she made in support of actor Johnny Depp.
Ms O'Connor said she had "watched too much" of the defamation trial involving Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard.
"I want to acknowledge, and genuinely apologise for, the hurt and confusion I have caused by allowing myself to be drawn into debate on the evidence of the Depp Heard trial," she posted on social media.
"The trial itself has been triggering for victim-survivors everywhere, including me."
Unlike a previous libel trial against The Sun that Mr Depp lost in the UK, the actor won his US defamation case against Ms Heard.
During the six-week trial in Fairfax, Virginia, Mr Depp and Ms Heard accused each other of violence.
The seven-member jury found a statement that Ms Heard made about domestic abuse in a 2018 opinion piece clearly referred to Mr Depp.
He was awarded $US10.35 million.
The jury also found in favour of Ms Heard, who said she was defamed by Mr Depp's lawyer when he called her abuse allegations a hoax.
Jury members found Ms Heard should receive $US2 million.
Fans of Mr Depp were at the Fairfax County courthouse daily during the trial, and the proceedings were televised.
Experts have warned the public nature of the case and the intensity of the public discourse surrounding it could have a chilling effect on survivors of domestic abuse.
Ms O'Connor used her Twitter account to show support for Mr Depp and criticised Ms Heard and her evidence at the trial.
She also raised the trial in state parliament last week, interjecting during a debate to criticise Labor MP Michelle O'Byrne, whom Ms O'Connor said was "about as good at that lectern as Amber Heard is in the Johnny Depp trial, a total fake".
Ms O'Connor withdrew the comment after Ms O'Byrne raised a point of order, saying she took personal offence to the comment.
In her apology posted on Twitter, Ms O'Connor also said:
"I acknowledge the trial & verdict have been weaponised by those who hate women, abusers, & hard right elements. To have a world that is safer for women and children, & all vulnerable people, we have to maintain the just rage against those forces, as I have throughout my life.
"To victim-survivors, and those who represent them, as well as Greens supporters, I am sorry not to have bitten my tongue in this instance. I had watched too much of the trial. I hope my record of advocacy and law reform over the past 14 years will, ultimately, speak for itself."
Shortly before Ms O'Connor apologised, feminist writer Clementine Ford weighed in, saying it was "concerning to see the leader of the Tasmanian Greens … coming out so hard" in support of Mr Depp.
"What a terrible slap in the face to Tasmanian victim-survivors," Ms Ford tweeted.
Elinor Heard from Engender Equality, an organisation that supports people affected by family and domestic violence in Tasmania, said focusing on a celebrity trial was not helpful.
She said it was good to see "self-reflection" from Ms O'Connor in the form of her apology.
Kathryn Fordyce, the chief executive of northern Tasmanian sexual assault support service Laurel House, said it was "regrettable" that Ms O'Connor weighed into commentary about Ms Heard.
"She is a woman with a leadership role and a very public profile and comments that make it more difficult for victim-survivors, or for anyone, to talk openly about their experiences of family and sexual violence is concerning," Ms Fordyce said.
