Watch Live as Johnny Depp Takes a Stand as Amber Heard Defamation Case Continues
Johnny Depp took the stand on Tuesday afternoon to give evidence in his $50 million (£38.2 million) libel lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard. His testimony resumes at 10 am this morning in the Fairfax County, Virginia courthouse.
Heard is being sued for defamation by Depp for implying that he abused her in a 2018 article. Although she did not name him, her lawyers say her allegations have made it difficult for the actor to land movie roles.
In his testimony, Depp says the abuse allegations turned him from “Cinderella to Quasimodo” in the eyes of others. He recalled a traumatic childhood with an abusive mother, how he came to Hollywood and later how pirates of the Caribbean changed his life. He also talked about the beginning of her relationship with Heard.
Earlier on Tuesday, the court heard from Depp’s security guard, Sean Bett, and his friend Keenan Wyatt, a sound engineer and longtime colleague in movies.
Heard has filed a $100m (£76.6m) counterclaim against Depp for nuisance and immunity from the actor’s accusations. Depp has previously lost a UK libel case against Sun newspaper about the same Heard article.
Five things we learned from yesterday’s testimony
It was the fifth day of Johnny Depp’s $50 million libel trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard, and for the first time the Hollywood star took the stand to testify.
Here are five things we learned from the trial on Tuesday before Depp’s testimony resumes at 10 a.m.
Oliver O’Connell20 April 2022 14:40
Depp says he’s ‘not ashamed’ as he testifies
Johnny Depp testified on Tuesday that “about six years ago, Mrs. Heard made some pretty egregious and disturbing criminal allegations” against him, adding that the allegations were not within “any kind of truth.”
He said, “It was a complete shock… I just didn’t need to go in that direction.”
The actor’s testimony continues today at 10 am ET.
Oliver O’Connell20 April 2022 14:15
Depp tells court he saved nervous Heard from nude scene
Johnny Depp described how he helped a nervous Amber Heard avoid a nude scene on the set of the rum diary movie.
Depp, who starred in and produced the film based on a Hunter S. Thompson novel, told the court in the former couple’s multimillion-dollar libel trial how his ex-wife had “appreciated” the move.
Oliver O’Connell20 April 2022 13:55
Depp says abuse allegations in court turned him from ‘Cinderella to Quasimodo’
Depp opened his testimony Tuesday afternoon in Fairfax County, Virginia, calling his ex-wife’s claims “appalling,” “disturbing” and “not based on any kind of truth.”
The Hollywood veteran invoked Disney characters to explain how the allegations have affected his career, saying: “[It’s] very strange when one day you’re Cinderella, so to speak, and then in 0.6 seconds you’re Quasimodo.”
Megan Sheets reports on the actor’s testimony.
Oliver O’Connell20 April 2022 13:30
I did not see it. But I think the movie did pretty well.
Describing how the film had changed his life due to its success and how it had formulated the character of Jack Sparrow among his most famous film portrayals, he said: “I didn’t see it. But I think the movie did pretty well, apparently, and they wanted to move on, do more, and I was fine to do that.”
Peony Hirwani has the story to the independent.
Oliver O’Connell20 April 2022 13:10
Depp says Heard ‘grossly embellished’ his substance abuse as he reveals the first time they met
Johnny Depp says his ex-wife Amber Heard’s characterization of his substance abuse has been “extremely embellished” and is “simply untrue”.
The Hollywood star told the court in the former couple’s $50 million libel trial that he had never taken drugs for “the party effect” and only to deal with “trauma.”
And he said he had been “an easy target” for the actress after their relationship and marriage imploded.
Graeme Massie reports for the independent.
Oliver O’Connell20 April 2022 12:44
Depp speaks of child abuse when his mother was ‘suicidal’
Johnny Depp told a Virginia court about his childhood abuse as his mother was “suicidal” and his father told him “you’re the man now” when he left the family.
Gustaf Kilander reports on the actor’s childhood memories.
Oliver O’Connell20 April 2022 12:00
Depp’s friend testifies that Heard yelled at him on private plane
Johnny Depp’s sound engineer, Keenan Wyatt, testified during the actor’s libel trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard that she became “abruptly loud” when he told her that Mr. Depp cared about her.
According to Mr. Wyatt, Mrs. Heard yelled “how dare you talk to me?” after he tried to talk to her during a private flight.
Oliver O’Connell20 April 2022 10:30
Piers Morgan calls Amber Heard and Depp ‘ultimate narcissists’ amid ongoing legal battle
Oliver O’Connell20 April 2022 09:00
What We’ve Learned About Johnny Depp From Amber Heard’s Defamation Trial
the independentGustaf Kilander reports on what we knew before the trial and what we learned from the sometimes candid actor’s first day of testimony.
Oliver O’Connell20 April 2022 07:00