Johnny Depp Clarifies Amber Heard's 'Need For Violence' On Second Day Of Testimony In $50m Defamation Lawsuit Against Ex-wife
Johnny Depp said that the couple had frequent arguments including, "demeaning name-calling" and "bullying" by Amber Heard
Johnny Depp testified in a defamation case against his ex-wife, Amber Heard. On Wednesday, he clarified that she was the one who turned violent in their relationship and that her false accusations cost him "nothing less than everything."
On a second day on the witness stand in a Virginia Courtroom, Depp said that the couple had frequent arguments including, "demeaning name-calling" and "bullying" by Heard.
"It seemed like pure hatred for me," Depp said. "If I stayed to argue, eventually, I was sure it was going to escalate into violence, and oftentimes it did."
The Pirates of the Caribbean star’s $50m defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard finally began with arguments and testimonies from both parties on April 11.
On the second day, Depp mentioned that it was Heard who would "strike out" with a slap or shove. During one argument, Heard threw a vodka bottle at Depp`s hand, cutting off the top of his right middle finger and exposing bone, he said.
The actor said he felt like he was suffering some kind of breakdown and began writing on the wall with blood from the injury. He said he wrote reminders of "lies" Heard had told him. "She has a need for violence. It erupts out of nowhere," said Depp.
On Wednesday, Depp detailed an incident in which he said Heard repeatedly punched him. The actor said he put his arms around her to calm her, and their foreheads touched.
According to Depp, Heard accused him of "head butting" her and breaking her nose, returning minutes later with a tissue she said was stained with blood. Depp said he later retrieved the tissue and found the red stain came from nail polish.
The actor said he would remove himself from heated arguments, sometimes locking himself in a bedroom or bathroom, and never struck Heard. "My main goal was to retreat," he said.
Meanwhile, Depp also elaborated that Heard’s allegations cost him "nothing less than everything." A new ‘Pirates’ movie was put on hold, and Depp was dropped from the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ film franchise, a "Harry Potter" spinoff.
"When the allegations were made, were rapidly circling the globe, telling people I was a drunken, cocaine-fueled menace who beat women - suddenly in my 50s - it`s over," he said. "I lost then," he added. "No matter the outcome of this trial, I will carry this for the rest of my days."
A state court judge in Fairfax County, Virginia, is overseeing the trial, which is in its second week and is expected to last six weeks.
Two years ago, Depp lost a libel case against The Sun, a British tabloid that labelled him a ‘wife beater.’ A London High Court judge ruled he had repeatedly assaulted Heard.
Depp`s lawyers have said they filed the U.S. case in Fairfax County, outside the nation`s capital, because the Washington Post is printed at a facility there. The Washington Post is not a defendant in the case.
Depp and Heard, known for their roles in "Aquaman" and "Justice League," were married for roughly two years. Their divorce was finalized in 2017.
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