The defamation trial between Amber Heard is ongoing and what follows are all the key reveals and updates. Depp and Heard met on the set of their film The Rum Diary in 2011 and began dating later that year. The couple were subsequently engaged in 2014 and married in a private ceremony in 2015. In May 2016, Heard filed for divorce from Depp, citing domestic violence securing a restraining order against her husband. Heard later accepted a $7 million settlement from Depp in August 2016, withdrawing the restraining order. Both Depp and Heard then released a t statement, saying: "Our relationship was intensely ionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love. Neither party has made false accusations for financial gain."
In December 2018, Heard wrote an Op-Ed for movie star Johnny Depp by name as her ab. Depp then filed a defamation suit against Heard over the op-ed, which is the focus of the current trial that both are embroiled in, taking place in Fairfax, Virginia court. Depp also sued the publishers of The Sun, a British tabloid, for libel, for an article that referred to him as "a wife beater." Depp lost the suit and was denied the right to appeal in London court. Shortly after the ruling, Depp was asked to resign from his role as Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts franchise for WB - with actor Mads Mikkelsen later replacing him.
In January 2021, Heard countersued Depp for defamation, which has now been absorbed as part of the current trial. Throughout the trial, much has been revealed about the tumultuous relationship between Depp and Heard, including an incident that involved Depp's finger being severed, the loss of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, a picture of feces in a bed, accusations of extra-marital affairs, and a portrait of what one expert referred to as "mutual abuse." What follows is a breakdown of the key revelations and updates from the ongoing trial.
What The Johnny Depp & Amber Heard Trial Is About
What the trial ultimately boils down to is Depp's reaction to Heard's op-ed for The Washington Post, which claimed that she was a victim of domestic abuse. Although Heard didn't explicitly name Depp in the piece, the case against her is based on the fact that it is obvious to whom she is referring to in it. Depp previously fought and lost a libel lawsuit against The Sun tabloid for the paper referring to him as a "wife beater" in an article published after Heard's op-ed. The ruling was a significant blow to Depp's defense, and the actor's next step was to take Heard to court over defamation as a result of her op-ed (which is what caused The Sun article to begin with), which he claims has ruined his reputation in Hollywood, costing him work in the industry. He is suing his ex-wife for $50 million, while she is countersuing for $100 million in the widely publicized case.
Depp's Severed Finger - What Really Happened?
During Depp's testimony, the case of his finger being severed was covered substantially, which happened in Australia while the actor was filming Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. According to Depp, Heard threw a bottle of vodka at the actor during a heated argument, which shattered on his hand, severing the top portion of his right middle finger. A doctor at the scene located the severed portion of the finger, and Depp was rushed to the hospital for treatment. He would later require reconstructive surgery to repair the damage. Heard claims that Depp caused the injury by smashing a plastic phone against the wall. Witnesses described extensive damage inside the home, including shattered glass and mirrors everywhere, a destroyed TV, and a blood-stained couch.
Cut Out Of Pirates Of The Caribbean 6 And Why Depp Would Not Return Now
While on the stand, Depp relayed that he felt betrayed by Disney, who he says ousted him from Pirates of the Caribbean 6 to "end the franchise on a very good note," adding that he initially planned to continue with the franchise "until it was time to stop."
Defecation In The Bed - The Controversy Explained
One of the strangest things to surface from the Depp vs. Heard trial is feces being found (and documented) in the couples' bed at their L.A. penthouse. The incident happened a day after Depp and Heard had argued, with Depp leaving the home to get away from his spouse. The actor planned to go back to their home to get some of his belongings but was advised not to by one of his security guards due to the "fecal delivery" situation. The security guard sent Depp a picture of what appeared to be human feces on the actor's side of the bed, which was taken by his housekeeper of 30 years. When Depp spoke to Heard about the situation, the actress blamed their dogs, two teacup Yorkies. There was no ittance of guilt from Heard, let alone any way to prove or disprove who made the mess, but Depp said that his initial response to the incident was to laugh, saying, "It was so outside, it was so bizarre and so grotesque that I could only laugh."
What Elon Musk, James Franco, Paul Bettany, and Marilyn Manson Have To Do With The Case
Many celebrity names have popped up throughout the course of Depp and Heard's trial, all of which have some direct and indirect involvement with the case. For starters, new Twitter owner Elon Musk and actor James Franco were brought into the frame when Depp accused Heard of having extramarital affairs with both men. Musk and Heard were known to be dating for a short time after Depp and Heard initially split but have long since parted ways. Paul Bettany, who plays Vision in the MCU, is a close friend of Depp's, and the two shared text exchanges over the bitter break-up with Heard, with some of them being particularly graphic in nature. Rock star Marilyn Manson's name was also brought up as someone whose company Depp frequented and did drugs with on occasion, with Depp jokingly saying he once gave the famed rocker a pill to "shut him up."
Who Will Take The Stand Next And What The Verdict Could Mean For Both Stars
Musk and Franco are expected to take the stand in Heard's defense, while Bettany is expected to appear for Depp's defense. Heard will also be taking the stand at some point, giving her side of the events that have led to the trial. Thus far, the trial has seen testimony from doctors, nurses, police officers, and psychologists, highlighting the turbulent relationship between Depp and Heard with varying degrees of information. An LAPD police officer called to the Heard/Depp residence in L.A. after a reported altercation found no evidence of domestic abuse, and a psychologist for Depp's team diagnosed Heard with a borderline personality disorder. There's still much to be revealed by witnesses and experts, but both sides continue to paint a portrait of a troubled relationship between two high-profile stars strained by drug and alcohol abuse. The trial will likely (further) stigmatize both actors to some degree at this point, but it's unclear just how severe that will be once the jury reaches its verdict on the case.
What Projects Johnny Depp And Amber Heard Are (And Aren't) Currently Involved In
Johnny Depp's last feature film project was 2020's Minimata. Since that time, the actor has done only voice work, particularly for the Serbian-made animated series Puffins Impossible. Depp vacated the Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom, which is due in 2023. The actress is currently filming the horror film In The Fire and is also lined up for the romantic thriller Run Away With Me.
