In a second day of dramatic testimony, a sobbing Amber Heard on Thursday described more instances of abuse — physical and verbal — that she says primarily occurred when her ex-husband Johnny Depp was intoxicated.
The star of the Pirates of the Caribbean films is suing Heard for $50 million, saying she defamed him when she claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse. The Aquaman star consequently countersued Depp for $100m, claiming she suffered “rampant physical violence and abuse” at his hands.
Heard said that the few times she suggested his substance abuse might be a problem, the more belligerent Depp would become. In her recounting of a holiday dinner with Depp and his children, Heard said that as Depp became more and more inebriated, the more uncomfortable they all became.
When she suggested that, for the children’s sake, he slow down his drinking, Heard said that it only made him angrier.
“Johnny became upset with me for judging him,” said Heard. “I couldn't win … If I didn't say anything to him about the drinking … it got worse. If I did acknowledge it, it was my fault and I was nagging.”
Heard said that Depp’s wrath only escalated when they returned to the hotel where he lobbed several insults and expletives her way — with his children in the adjoining room.
“I was concerned about them hearing us as he screamed at me … I had just met them and I didn't want them to think poorly of me,” Heard said.
She said that many of the names her called her were too disgusting to repeat.
Depp filed suit against Heard over an op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in 2018 in which she described herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse”.
Heard did not name Depp in the op-ed, but he is suing her for implying he was an abuser.
James Franco
Heard added that Depp tried to control the roles that she would take, though in a moment of kindness, told her that “no girl of mine will ever have to work”. When she went to audition for The Adderall Diaries, Depp accused her of having an affair with her future co-star James Franco — again.
“He hated, hated James Franco and was already accusing me of kind of secretly having a thing with him in my past since we had done Pineapple Express together,” she said.
It was on a plane trip from New York to Los Angeles, Heard said, that Depp ramped up his accusations and taunts, which turned violent. Heard said that she thought that moving away from Depp, not engaging with him, might make things better — but it only made it worse.
“I remember moving more than once and Johnny came to me each time,” said Heard, describing a situation that occurred in the presence of his assistant and other employees.
“I resolve to just sit the rest of the time at the front of the plane. And as I get up he kind of kicks the swivel chair into my hip … and he yells, ‘What are you going to do about it?’”
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This photo was taken at the Los Angeles courthouse the day Heard filed her domestic violence restraining order against Johnny Depp. AP -
Evidence showing pictures of injuries to Heard appear on a screen. EPA -
Actor Johnny Depp is seen laying in a hospital after his finger was injured while he and his ex-wife Amber Heard were in Australia in March 2015. Photo: Johnny Depp Legal Team / Reuters -
Evidence presented by US actress Amber Heard showing a bald spot in her head. AFP -
Evidence showing US actress Amber Heard's hair she testified was pulled out by her ex-husband Johnny Depp. AFP -
Evidence showing pictures of US actress Amber Heard's injuries presented in court. AFP -
Evidence showing pictures of US actress Amber Heard appear on a screen during a defamation trial. AFP -
More evidence showing pictures of US actress Amber Heard. AFP -
Johnny Depp reportedly wrote messages in his own blood to his former wife Amber Heard. EPA -
Pictures of shattered glass presented as evidence by Amber Heard's defence team. EPA -
Photo presented as evidence by Amber Heard's defence team. EPA -
This is a photo of the ping pong table where Amber Heard testified she was sexually assaulted by her former husband Johnny Depp. EPA -
Johnny Depp's scribblings presented as evidence by Amber Heard's defence team. EPA -
Evidence appears on a monitor during the Depp vs Heard defamation trial. EPA -
Evidence appears on a monitor during the Depp vs Heard defamation trial. -
A photo of Johnny Depp that Amber Heard says she took of him whilst he was passed out. EPA -
Communications presented as evidence by Amber Heard's defence team. EPA -
Evidence appears on a monitor in the courtroom during the 50 million US dollar Depp vs Heard defamation trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Virginia, EPA -
More evidence was shared in the courtroom in the US actor Johnny Depp/Amber Heard trial. EPA -
Johnny Depp's emails were submitted as evidence in today's trial. EPA -
An image taken by US actress Amber Heard of her former husband, Johnny Depp, passed out was submitted as trial evidence. EPA -
Johnny Depp testified that these pictures were taken during the period when he had 'fallen off the wagon'. EPA -
Evidence shown in today's proceedings. When asked if he would often drink whisky in the morning, Mr Depp replied: “Isn’t happy hour anytime?” -
US actress Amber Heard reacts as she listens to an audio recording of she and US actor Johhny Depp arguing. AFP -
US actor Johnny Depp testifies during the 50 million US dollar Depp vs Heard defamation trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Virginia. EPA -
US actress Amber Heard during the trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Virginia. EPA -
Images of Amber Heard admitted as evidence. AP -
Images of Amber Heard admitted as evidence. AP -
Images of Amber Heard admitted as evidence. AP
Heard said that instead of anger, she felt sadness and yearned for Depp to again be the person with whom she was deeply in love. So, she looked into his eyes before moving seats.
“I wanted to get through to him … I just look at him one more time, wanting to penetrate the monster to see the man that I love underneath that,” Heard said through sobs.
As she walked away, Depp’s boot landed squarely on her back, knocking her to the floor.
“No one said anything … you could you could hear a pin drop on that plane. You could feel the tension but no one did anything,” Heard said.
Depp, who gave evidence for four days earlier in the trial, denied engaging in any kind of abuse towards Heard and claimed she was the one who was frequently violent.
Pre-nuptial
When Depp proposed to Heard in London in an epically romantic fashion, she pushed her reservations about him aside. Reserving the same hotel suite where their relationship began, Depp got down on one knee and said, “I want you to be my girl be my girl forever, my woman”, Heard said.
Depp told Heard that his goal for the rest of their lives would be to make her smile, she said.
“I looked into his eyes and I saw my future hope, you know, like blind hope. I can't describe that kind of joy,” Heard said.
She said that she had thought an engagement, a commitment would calm him down, but despite a “million promises to get clean and sober”, couples therapy and stints in rehab, Depp would inevitably resume drinking and using drugs.
When she suggested that they sign a pre-nuptial agreement, Heard said that Depp became abusive and accused her of trying to get out of the relationship.
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A scene from 'The Rum Diary', the film where Johnny Depp and Amber Heard met in 2011. Photo: FilmDistrict -
A scene from 'The Rum Diary', the film set where Johnny Depp and Amber Heard met in 2011. Photo: FilmDistrict -
A scene from 'The Rum Diary', the film set where Johnny Depp and Amber Heard met in 2011. Photo: FilmDistrict -
Aaron Eckhart and Amber Heard star in 'The Rum Diary', an adaptation of the book by Hunter S Thompson. -
Johnny Depp in The Rum Diary.
He said, she said
Heard also gave evidence about other occasions when Depp allegedly struck her, including one in which she said “I suspected I had a broken nose” and another when he slammed her head against the wall and choked her.
She also said that in 2015, while the couple was in Australia filming a Pirates sequel that Depp sexually assaulted her with a liquor bottle.
During the assault, Depp repeatedly said, “I'll [expletive] kill you”, she told the jury.
“I was scared,” she added. “I had just married him.”
Earlier in the evening, Depp had accused her of conducting relationships with co-stars in her movies, including Billy Bob Thornton and Eddie Redmayne — charges she denied.
The same night, the tip of Depp's middle finger was severed and Depp used the opportunity to write vulgar messages in blood on the walls of their rented house.
Depp said that Heard had cut his finger by tossing a vodka bottle at him.
Heard said she'd taken sleeping pills after she was attacked and was not awake when the finger was severed.
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Actor Amber Heard testified that her ex-husband repeatedly struck her. Reuters -
Actor Johnny Depp spent the majority of his ex-wife's testimony doodling. -
Actor Amber Heard testified that the beginning of her relationship with Johnny was 'magical'. AP -
Actor Amber Heard said that Johnny Depp lavished gifts on her, including a horse. AP -
Actor Amber Heard testified that she declined accepting a horse from Johnny Depp. AP -
US actor Johnny Depp returns to the courtroom after a lunch break. AFP -
Actor Amber Heard testified that she worked in a soup kitchen and with deaf children as a teen-ager in Texas. EPA -
Actor Amber Heard convenes with her legal team at lunch break before taking the stand. EPA -
Actor Johnny Depp arrives at Fairfax County Circuit Court during his defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard in Fairfax, Virginia. Reuters -
Depp greets his legal team as he arrives at Fairfax County Circuit Court, where he is suing his ex-wife for libel. EPA -
Depp talks to his lawyer in the courtroom. Pool Photo via AP -
A pile of gummy bears sits on Depp's table in the courtroom. Reuters -
Depp is reflected in a courtroom monitor while listening to an audio recording. AFP -
Actress Amber Heard arrives at Fairfax County Circuit Court. Reuters -
Heard speaks with her lawyer in the courtroom. Pool Photo via AP -
Heard (C) stands with her legal team at Fairfax County Circuit Court, where she is being sued by her ex-husband Johnny Depp. EPA -
Clinical and forensic psychologist Dawn Hughes gives evidence during the case. Reuters -
Forensic psychologist Dr Dawn Hughes testified as the first defense witness for actress Amber Heard. AP
