Jonny Deppa and Amber Heard
Actor Johnny Depp took the stand in a Fairfax County, Virginia court on Tuesday in his defamation case against his ex-wife, Amber Heard.
In his roughly three-hour testimony, which will continue Wednesday, the Oscar-nominated star spoke in detail about Heard’s allegations of domestic abuse, his history with substance abuse and their relationship.
“My goal is the truth,” Depp said early in his remarks. Depp, known for his work in the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchise, is suing Heard for $50 million in a Fairfax County, Virginia court, over a 2018 Washington Post op-ed, in which she wrote about her experience with domestic abuse. Depp was not referred to by name in Heard’s piece.
In the years prior to its publishing, Heard had alleged Depp bruised her face after throwing a phone at her in their Los Angeles home. Depp denied the allegation, and was not charged with any crime.
Depp acknowledged in his testimony that he and Heard had arguments during their relationship, but said, “Never did I myself reach the point of striking Ms. Heard in any way, nor have I ever struck any woman in my life.”
He also described his parents’ tumultuous relationship, and the verbal and physical abuse he and his siblings experienced by their mother. He also alleged that his first experience with taking controlled substances occurred when he was roughly 11 years old, and would take his mother’s prescription pills “to escape the chaotic nature of what we were living through.”
Depp claims Heard’s op-ed led to financial losses for him, including being dropped from future ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ films, after he led the franchise for 15 years.
–CNN