“My aim is the reality.”
Johnny Depp took the stand in his defamation trial towards Amber Heard and denied abusing his ex-wife “or any girl.” Though the actor testified in an identical trial within the U.Okay. in 2020, which he misplaced, that is the primary time the general public has seen him instantly deal with the disturbing allegations as proceedings are livestreamed on Courtroom TV. Depp spoke slowly, appeared somber, and stated he has been ready six years to reply to Heard’s “diabolical” claims.
“About six years in the past, Ms. Heard made some fairly heinous and disturbing — introduced these disturbing felony acts — towards me that weren’t based mostly in any species of reality. It was an entire shock that it could — it simply did not have to go in that course. Nothing of the sort had ever occurred … There have been arguments and issues of that nature, however by no means did I, myself, attain the purpose of putting Ms. Heard in any approach nor have I ever struck any girl in my life,” Depp started when requested why he is in court docket right now.
Depp is suing Heard for $50 million for describing herself as a “public determine representing home abuse” in a 2018 op-ed for the Washington Put up. The Aquaman star is countersuing him for $100 million. The actress filed for divorce in Could 2016 and obtained a home violence restraining order towards the actor.
On Tuesday, Depp recalled Heard’s “accusations” permeating by means of the leisure business.
“[Abuse allegations] then made its approach by means of media, social media, turned fairly a worldwide for example ‘truth,’ if you’ll, and since I knew that there was no reality to it by any means, I felt it my accountability to face up, not just for myself in that occasion, however arise for my youngsters,” he declared.
Depp stated his two youngsters, Lily-Rose and Jack, had been ages 16 and 14 on the time respectively when Heard introduced allegations towards their father.
“I believed it was diabolical that my youngsters must go to highschool and have their pals or individuals within the college method them with the notorious Individuals journal cowl with Ms. Heard with a darkish bruise on her face, after which it simply saved multiplying,” Depp continued. “It simply saved getting greater and greater so it was my accountability, I felt, not solely to try to clear my title for the sake of many causes, however I wished to clear my youngsters of this horrid factor that they had been having to examine their father which was unfaithful.”
Depp added, “My aim is the reality.”
“I needed to look forward to my alternative to deal with the costs, which had been felony costs, and so they simply weren’t true. So I felt the accountability of clearing the report the one approach that I might get to the purpose the place I might converse,” he defined, calling the final six years “making an attempt instances.”
Depp stated he went from “Cinderella” to “Quasimodo” in a single day.
“I did not deserve that, nor did my youngsters,” he continued. “I did not need any of these individuals to consider that I had executed them unsuitable, or lied to them, or that I used to be a fraud. I pleasure myself on honesty, I pleasure myself on reality — reality is the one factor I am excited by,” he added. “Right this moment is my first alternative to talk about this case in full for the primary time.”
After his opening assertion, Depp began speaking about childhood abuse he and his siblings suffered by the hands of their mom. His sister, Christi Dembrowski, beforehand testified in regards to the bodily and emotional abuse they suffered, and the way Depp vowed by no means to repeat the violence.
“She had the power to be as merciless as anyone could possibly be,” Depp stated of his mom, who handed away in 2016. They reconciled earlier than her dying. The actor stated his mom would fling an ashtray at him, “beat” him “with a excessive heel shoe, a phone, no matter’s helpful.”
Depp questioned how his father was in a position to take the abuse, questioning, “Why would not he depart her? However he did not.”
Depp is the third witness referred to as on Tuesday and remains to be at present testifying. Yahoo Leisure will proceed to replace this put up.
Earlier, the protection referred to as Keenan Wyatt, a sound technician who labored with Depp from the ’90s to 2016. Additionally they turned shut pals.
“I’ve by no means seen him be violent in the direction of anyone,” Wyatt instructed the court docket. He went on household journeys with the actor and his former accomplice, Vanessa Paradis, with whom he shares his two youngsters. In his commentary, Depp was nothing however “a really loving father.”
Wyatt additionally hung out with Depp and Heard throughout their tumultuous relationship, and testified that he by no means heard Depp yell at or abuse the actress — together with on that notorious Could 2014 flight from Boston to Los Angeles.
Heard maintains that one of many 14 situations of abuse sustained throughout her relationship with Depp occurred on a non-public aircraft. She alleges that Depp flew right into a drunken rage on the flight over suspicions she was sleeping with James Franco. The actress claims she was kicked and slapped by Depp, who yelled obscenities about how she was “getting f***** on set” by Franco filming The Adderall Diaries.
Wyatt testified Heard “was giving Johnny the chilly shoulder, being quiet and appeared pouty.” He said that at one level on the flight, the actress really yelled at him.
“Unexpectedly she snapped and began yelling at me,” Wyatt stated, “so I went again to my seat and minded my very own enterprise… she was abruptly loud.”
Wyatt stated he noticed Depp and Heard “very clearly” and that he witnessed no bodily altercation. He admitted Depp consumed alcohol on the aircraft, however that the actor wasn’t overly intoxicated as he “appeared like Johnny, appeared regular.” He testified he by no means noticed any marks or bruises on Heard.
“I’ve by no means seen Johnny abuse anybody, ever,” he added.
Throughout cross-examination, Wyatt admitted he really had heard of Depp being violent in the direction of somebody in 2017. Crew member Greg Brooks, who was engaged on Depp’s movie Metropolis of Lies, sued the actor for assault claiming Depp “angrily and forcefully punched [Brooks] twice within the decrease left facet of his rib cage.”
Sean Bett, a member of Depp’s safety workforce, additionally concluded his testimony on Tuesday morning. He instructed the court docket he by no means witnessed something that made him involved for Heard’s security however was involved for Depp’s well-being as he as soon as took pictures of the actor’s injured face after an alleged combat.
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