Johnny Depp testified in his personal defamation trial on Tuesday, pronouncing that the abuse allegations his ex-wife Amber Heard made towards him are “heinous” and “now not based totally in any species of fact.”
The “Pirates of the Caribbean” actor took the stand at the fourth day of the trial. Depp has accused Heard of defamation associated with a 2018 op-ed she wrote in The Washington Submit. Heard has countersued Depp within the case.
Within the op-ed, Heard referred to as herself a “public determine representing home abuse.” The “Aquaman” actor didn’t title her ex-husband within the piece, however Depp’s legal professionals have argued that Heard referenced a restraining order she received in 2016 towards Depp amid their divorce complaints.
“About six years in the past, Ms. Heard made some relatively heinous and anxious ― introduced those anxious legal acts towards me that weren’t based totally in any species of fact. It was once an entire surprise … It simply didn’t want to cross in that course,” Depp mentioned. “Not anything of the type had ever took place, regardless that there have been arguments, issues of that nature. However by no means did I personally succeed in the purpose of hanging Ms. Heard in any respect, nor have I ever struck any lady in my lifestyles.”
“So on the time, for the reason that information of her accusations had permeated the business after which made its approach via media and social media, become relatively a world, let’s say ‘reality,’ if you are going to,” he mentioned.
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Depp started his testimony via describing the abuse he skilled as a kid, specifically from his mom. The actor mentioned the verbal, emotional and mental abuse was once worse than the bodily abuse, and that when Depp’s father left the circle of relatives, his mom spiraled into melancholy and tried suicide.
Depp additionally mentioned his battle with substance abuse started at age 11, when he would take capsules his mom used for nerve ache. He mentioned he’d used ingredients off and on through the years, to not “birthday celebration” however “to numb myself of the ghosts, the wraiths that have been nonetheless with me from my adolescence.”
Heard’s legal professionals have argued that a lot of the abuse she allegedly skilled took place whilst Depp was once below the affect of substances or alcohol. Heard has alleged that Depp was once not able to take care of sobriety, and that he would develop into violent towards her after ingesting or the usage of medication. Depp mentioned that he become hooked on opiates sooner than he were given right into a courting with Heard, and that he detoxed throughout the connection. He maintains that he has now not taken opiates since then.
“The characterization of my substance ‘abuse’ that’s been delivered via Ms. Heard is grossly decorated and, I’m sorry to mention, however a large number of it is only evidently false,” Depp testified. “I feel it was once a very simple goal for her to hit as a result of when you’ve depended on someone for a certain quantity of years and also you’ve advised them the entire secrets and techniques of your lifestyles, that data then after all can be utilized towards you, particularly if it’s taken to some degree this is teetering on unattainable.”
Depp, 58, and Heard, 35, met at the set of “The Rum Diary” in 2009, and started relationship about 3 years later ― regardless that Depp testified on Tuesday that the 2 shared a kiss in his trailer throughout the filming of “Diary.” The couple married in 2015 and divorced two years later.
“She was once too just right to be true,” Depp testified when describing the early days in their courting, calling Heard “attentive,” “loving,” “sensible,” “humorous” and “working out.” He mentioned that they had many stuff in not unusual, and that for roughly a yr and a part the connection “was once superb,” till it began going downhill.
“I labored relatively so much. Once I would come house from paintings, I might are available the home or lodge and she or he would sit down me down at the sofa and provides me a pitcher of wine and take my boots off, set them to the facet ― and I’d by no means skilled the rest like that during my lifestyles,” Depp mentioned. “It become a typical factor that she did, this type of regimen.”
The actor mentioned that one night time he got here house from paintings to search out Heard busy at the telephone, so he sat down and took off his personal boots. In keeping with Depp, Heard then approached him, disenchanted that he’d taken his boots off, pronouncing “That’s my task, you don’t do this.”
“I felt that ordinary,” he testified. “After which when you realize one thing like that, then you definitely begin to realize the little tidbits ― after which inside of a yr, yr and a part, she had develop into someone else, nearly.”
Depp is predicted to proceed his testimony Wednesday.
Want lend a hand? Within the U.S., name 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline.
In case you or any individual wishes lend a hand, name 1-800-273-8255 for the Nationwide Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You’ll be able to additionally textual content HOME to 741-741 without cost, 24-hour enhance from the Disaster Textual content Line. Out of doors of the U.S., please consult with the Global Affiliation for Suicide Prevention for a database of sources.