Mutual friend's explosive testimony rocks Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial

Friend said that Depp 'resented' being sober and was addicted to OxyContin

A mutual friend said that Johnny Depp and his wife Amber Heard were very in love yet often 'vicious' towards one another.

Johnny Depp leaves court after jury selection in his $50 million defamation lawsuit against former wife Heard. EPA

US actress Amber Heard leaves the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Virginia on April 11. AFP

Depp filed a defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard, after she wrote an opinion piece in 'The Washington Post' in 2018 that, without naming him, accused him of domestic abuse. Reuters

Jury selection began on April 11 in the defamation case involving allegations of spousal abuse between Depp and Heard. AFP

Depp fan David Laman holds a poster outside the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse as jury selection progressed. Reuters

Tiffany Lunn, a supporter of Depp, outside the court in Fairfax, Virginia. AP

Johnny Depp fans at the courthouse. AP

The defamation case brought by Depp against former wife Heard is expected to last between five and six week. Reuters

Depp leaves the High Court in London, England, on July 22, 2020, during the libel case there. Reuters

Heard arrives at the High Court in London. Reuters

Depp and Heard at the 72nd Venice Film Festival in northern Italy, 2015. Reuters

On the night of their wedding, Johnny Depp said that, now that he and Amber Heard were married, he could “punch her in the face and no one could do anything about it”, a mutual friend testified on Tuesday.

Appearing before the court in a pre-recorded video deposition, iO Tillett Wright dropped several bombshells in the multimillion-dollar Depp v Heard lawsuit.

The actor is suing his ex-wife for $50 million in damages over an op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in which she called herself a victim of domestic abuse. Though Heard did not mention Depp by name, he claims she was referring to him, and that he has lost work because of her allegations.

In his sworn testimony, Mr Wright said that he and Heard had met in 2011 through a mutual friend. He and Depp met in 2013.

“Johnny, when sober, was lovely and magical … when sober, he was lucid, funny and imaginative,” said Mr Wright.

He also said that “when sober”, Depp was generous and kind, offering his empty homes to people “that could have afforded to stay elsewhere”.

The two were friends until 2015, the year Heard filed for divorce, he said. Before that, Mr Wright was very close to Depp, at one point even living in one of the actor's homes in the Hollywood Hills.

After a dinner at Heard’s home, “Johnny came up to me and said, ‘I don’t really know how to say this because it doesn’t happen to me very often, but I think I love you’”, Mr Wright said.

However, he noted in his evidence that “alcohol would bring out a very ugly side of him”, which Depp acknowledged, and though he said it was “exhausting” to get sober, he had vowed to do so for Heard.

“But he resented it — he didn’t want to be [sober],” said Mr Wright.

James Franco and Amber Heard at the premiere of 'The Adderall Diaries' at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival. Heard said her ex-husband, Johnny Depp, 'hated' Franco. Photo: FilmMagic

Heard said that being cast with Franco caused her ex-husband to become violent. Reuters

Depp with his friend, rock singer Marilyn Manson in 2001 in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Manson was dropped by his record label after his ex-fiance, actress Evan Rachel Wood, accused him of sexual and other physical abuse. AP

Heard dated Elon Musk after her divorce from Depp. AFP

Heard said that she met Musk and his mother, supermodel Maye Musk, at the Met Gala in New York in 2015. AFP

Actress Winona Ryder began dating Depp when she was only 17 years old. Depp once had a tattoo that read: Winona Forever. New World Pictures / Getty Images

Moss and then-boyfriend Johnny Depp at the premier of 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' in 1998. EPA

Heard said that actor Paul Bettany witnessed her ex-husband passed out while working together. Sarah Dea / The National

Heard said that she thought Depp might 'accidentally' kill her. AP

Heard said that she has lost work because of Depp's lawsuit. Reuters

Heard said that she only wanted to go on with her life and wished that Depp would, too. Getty Images

Aaron Eckhart and Heard star in 'The Rum Diary', an adaptation of the book by Hunter S Thompson. She met Depp on set. Photo: FilmDistrict

Heard, seen here at the Met Gala, said that Depp was supposed to attend with her and failed to show up. Reuters

Heard filed a restraining order against Depp and then for divorce. EPA

Mr Wright said that Depp would try to seek advice from him about his relationship with Heard and would often bring up concerns of her cheating with her co-stars, which “she wasn’t”.

Mr Wright said that after dental surgery, Depp became addicted to OxyContin.

“He referred to it as the hardest thing he has ever tried to kick,” he said.

He added that Depp had a “marijuana closet” and that he witnessed the actor snort cocaine on numerous occasions — including a time in London with Marilyn Manson.

Depp expressed shame and regret about being so inebriated that he urinated on himself in front of his children, said Mr Wright.

Mr Wright testified that he witnessed Johnny Depp and Marilyn Manson do copious amounts of cocaine on a trip to London. AFP

“There was a time that he passed out on the sand in the Bahamas in front of his children and the staff whisked him away,” he said.

In May 2015, Mr Wright said he received a call from Heard. During the call, the two began to laugh, at which point Depp became angry. Mr Wright said that he heard a slap and “the phone dropped”. The he heard the actress scream.

He also said that Depp often talked about his mother, saying that she was “viciously cruel” and frequently called him many names. When Heard pleaded with Depp to get sober, he would compare the two.

“He said he already had one awful mother and that he didn't need another,” Mr Wright claimed Depp said in reference to Heard.

A personal journal that Johnny Depp and Heard kept for 'love notes' was presented as evidence. EPA

Amber Heard on her second day of cross-examination. AFP

Depp's lawyer produced photos of Heard on a photo shoot but declined to ask any questions about them. EPA

Heard on a photo shoot in evidence. EPA

A love letter from Heard to Depp. EPA

Another love letter produced as evidence. EPA

Personal texts messages as evidence. EPA

Heard said that she wants to move on with her life. AFP

A photo of Depp and Heard entered as evidence. EPA

Another personal love letter entered into evidence. EPA

Courtroom observers watch a screen showing evidence. EPA

Spectators in the courtroom. AFP

Evidence showing a picture of Heard appears on a screen. AFP

Spectators in the courtroom listen during the Depp vs Heard defamation trial. AFP

Another love letter entered as evidence. AFP

Heard listens in the courtroom. Reuters

Depp listens in the courtroom. AFP

Depp speaks to his lawyer. Reuters

Heard said that Depp cannot look her in the eye because he is 'guilty'. AP

Depp in the courtroom. AP

Spectators in the courtroom on Tuesday. AFP

Lawyers Camille Vasquez and Ben Chew speak in the courtroom. Reuters

Depp gestures towards his fans in the courtroom. AP

Depp waves to courtroom fans. AP

Depp departs the courtroom. EPA

This photo was taken at the Los Angeles courthouse the day Heard filed her domestic violence restraining order against Johnny Depp.

Depp's attorneys produced video of actor James Franco visiting Heard after Depp allegedly struck her in the face with a phone though did not ask a question about it.