Since Johnny Depp’s defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife Amber Heard began, there have been quite a few witnesses brought to the stand to testify. And, it seems as though no witness so far has backed Heard’s claims.
One witness even took to the stand yesterday to set the record straight about the so-called “fecal delivery” Heard left on the couple’s bed.
The security guard, who appeared on a video call, said that Heard took responsibility for the fecal matter in their bed.
Scroll on to find out more…
Now, we all know Johnny Depp has been through a lot these past couple of years…
The Kentucky-born actor, who has been renowned in Hollywood since the 1990s, has been embroiled in a highly publicized domestic abuse scandal with his ex-girlfriend, Amber Heard, for the last 5 years.
At first, this coupling seemed to be at the start of a promising relationship.
After meeting on the set of The Rum Diary in 2011, the actor started dating Texan actress and model, Amber Heard, shortly after calling it quits with his long-term partner, Vanessa Paradis.
They announced their engagement in 2014…
And, not ones to waste any time, they hastily tied the knot just one year later in February 2015.
However, it was here when things started to go a little ship-shaped.
Their honeymoon period was rather short-lived as, just months after their marriage, Depp reportedly suffered a hand injury as a result of “smashing bottles and windows” during a heated argument with his wife.
For the next year, various reports of abuse between the pair continued to surface…
So it came as no shock when Heard filed for divorce in March 2016, just fifteen months after the couple had initially exchanged their “I do”s.
At first, the divorce seemed unsuspicious…
Many news outlets reported that Heard had cited “irreconcilable differences” while filing the divorce petition.
But, only a few months into their separation…
Heard filed a restraining order against Depp, claiming that he had previously assaulted her.
It was a big allegation to make…
So people were confused when Heard retracted her allegations just one day before the hearing was due to be held.
But this didn’t stop the world from turning against Depp.
Heard had alleged that the actor had hit her on several occasions, and even provided video footage of him flinging a glass of wine across the room in a fit of rage.
And, in 2018, the actress penned an article for The Washington Post where she opened up about her experience with domestic abuse and violence.
Though she didn’t explicitly name Depp in her op-ed, she did allude to the time period when, “two years ago, I became a public figure representing domestic abuse, and I felt the full force of our culture’s wrath for women who speak out.”
There was an outpour of support for Heard…
Who was even made the American Civil Liberties Union’s “Ambassador for Women’s Issues.”
And, despite profusely denying all the allegations against him…
Depp found his career taking a hit as a result of the ongoing scandal.
Fewer and fewer directors were hiring Depp for roles…
And his appearance in J.K Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts sequel, The Crimes of Grindelwald, was heavily criticized.
And, in 2018, he was dropped from his iconic role as Captain Jack Sparrow.
In a career-shattering announcement just 4 days after Heard’s damning article, Disney announced that the actor would no longer be a part of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
Though they didn’t directly cite Heard’s abuse allegations…
It was widely assumed that Disney, who has earned over $4.5 billion at the box office from the Pirates franchise, was trying to distance themselves from the actor and the scandal surrounding him.
But then, there was a sudden change in events.
Depp filed a $50-million defamation case against Heard and presented evidence that he was the one on the receiving end of the abuse, not the other way around.
Shockingly, the actor alleged that he was the victim all along.
Depp’s defamation lawsuit read: “The op-ed [Heard’s article] depended on the central premise that Ms. Heard was a domestic abuse victim and that Mr. Depp perpetrated domestic violence against her.”
The lawsuit also stated that all of Heard’s claims were “categorically and demonstrably false”…
And listed down incidents of Heard’s alleged abuse since the start of their marriage, including punching and kicking, as well as staging her attacks.
The allegations are difficult to read.
“She hit, punched, and kicked me. She also repeatedly and frequently threw objects into my body and head, including heavy bottles, soda cans, burning candles, television remote controls, and paint thinner cans, which severely injured me.” His lawsuit read.
And, to tarnish the actress’ reputation and credibility even further…
Audio obtained by the Daily Mail was released that heard her admitting to attacking Depp.
As per the audio clip, she could also be heard taunting him…
“You are such a baby. Grow the f*** up, Johnny. You poke an animal enough, it is eventually, it doesn’t matter how friendly it is, it’s not cool,” Heard can be heard saying.
The case was grueling…
Depp then went to court for his libel case against The Sun newspaper – whom he is suing over a 2018 article in which he was described as a “wife-beater.”
The pair were in court as part of the 3-week long trial.
While in court, both parties played pretty dirty, revealing compromising photographs of each other which have blown everything out of the water, yet again. And of course with the evidence came more allegations.
Of course, this massive loss was terrible for the actor’s name…
But he isn’t giving up his fight.
Depp and his legal team were determined to prove that the pictures Heard shared in the case were forged…
To make it look like he was repeatedly abusing her, when in fact, according to Depp it was the other way around.
As per Page Six, lawyers working on the case claim that Heard altered photos making her appear to have 2 black eyes…
Alleging she was attacked by him in 2015.
Depp’s lawyer, Benjamin Chew claimed: “Ms. Heard’s counsel has repeatedly used these phony photographs at deposition.”
He also shared that he believes the LA Police Department “disavowed the photographs” that were previously given to the court and “did not depict what they saw.”
Chew revealed that the LAPD “found no injury upon Ms. Heard and no disruption to the penthouses” upon inspection…
“Ms. Heard and her friends then fabricated photos that she used to obtain an ex parte TRO [temporary restraining order] and a $7 million divorce settlement which Ms. Heard falsely testified in London she gave to the ACLU and, more scandalously, to the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles; sick children with cancer,” he added.
Chew concluded that someone “doctored those photographs.”
“So, Ms. Heard or someone on her behalf doctored those photographs three years later. When that came up in her testimony in London, Ms. Heard falsely denied it. In short, Your Honour, without forensic imaging Mr Neumeister cannot properly assess or verify Ms. Heard’s data,” Chew added.
Since Chew exposed Heard’s alleged false claims, the court has granted Depp and his lawyers access to her phone records…
They will also be analyzed by Brian Neumeister, who is a tech expert.
And, we’ve seen some huge celebrity names in the defamation case between the two actors.
But, it’s not the first time that some of the names have been a part of the escalating battle.
Two of the celebrities involved, have in fact been accused of being tangled up in an affair with Heard in the past…
While she was with Depp.
The celebrities called to testify, who were accused of affairs with the Aquaman actress, are James Franco and Elon Musk.
Both celebrity figures will be testifying for Amber Heard.
But, they’re not the only huge Hollywood names in the lawsuit.
There are many more who have been dragged into the defamation case, too.
Paul Bettany will be a witness for Depp.
And, according to Cinemablend, Heard’s legal team will use Bettany’s texts with Depp against them, displaying violent language targeted at Heard.
Heard’s exhibit list includes names we’re all familiar with…
There will be text messages and email conversations between Heard, Jason Momoa, and James Wan, as per the news outlet.
There are also emails logged from author JK Rowling and guitarist Jack White.
Who else is involved?
Ellen Barkin, an American actress, will be on Heard’s witness list, and she has spoken up about Heard’s allegations in the past.
“Amber Heard was never enough of a victim,” she wrote.
“And we never will be… Unless we’re dead,” she continued.
Depp is suing Heard for defamation, claiming that his reputation has been tarnished because of the things she has said during their battle.
And Heard is countersuing him, which is why so many big names have been dragged into the case, as well.
Now, since the case began, a lot of people have taken to the stand…
And on April 19th, it was Depp’s turn.
Depp took to the stand where he discussed standing up for his children and denied striking Heard in any way.
And people rallied in support of the actor.
Depp took to the stand at Fairfax County courthouse where he described Heard’s claims as “heinous and disturbing,” LADbible reports.
He said that her allegations were “criminal acts against me that were not based in any species of truth.”
Depp went on to deny striking Heard and any woman in his life.
“Never did I myself reach the point of striking Miss Heard in anyway, nor have I ever struck any woman in my life,” he told the court. “Since I knew there was no truth to it whatsoever, I felt it my responsibility to stand up, not only for myself in that instance, but stand up for my children.”
Depp then further detailed the effect that the allegations had on his children.
“I thought it was diabolical that my children would have to go to school and have their friends or people in the school approach them with the infamous People Magazine cover with Miss Heard with a dark bruise on her face,” he said.
Describing himself as a “very private person,” the actor said that for him “to come up here and sit before you all and spill the truth is quite exposing, and it’s unfortunate that it’s not only exposing for myself, it’s exposing for my family, it’s exposing for Miss Heard, it never had to go in this direction.”
He also added that his goal is “the truth” and that he isn’t embarrassed because “I know I’m doing the right thing.”
Depp has since returned to the stand where he has revealed more about his time spent with his ex-wife, Amber Heard.
There have been admissions about his severed finger, audio recordings of fights, and text messages revealing horrific desires.
After several days on the stand, Depp concluded giving testimony in the lawsuit on Tuesday, April 26.
But before the testimony came to an end, Depp made one final claim as he said he is a victim of domestic abuse.
According to LADbible, at the end of Depp’s testimony his lawyer, Camille Vasquez, finished by asking one final poignant question…
“What did you say in response when Ms. Heard said ‘tell the world, Johnny, tell them I Johnny Depp, a man, am a victim too of domestic violence?'” Vasquez asked.
The question relates to an audio recording between Depp and Heard that was previously heard in the court.
In the clip, Heard said: “Tell the world, Johnny, tell the word’, I Johnny Depp am a victim of domestic violence.”
Depp answered Vasquez’s question stating that he is a victim of domestic abuse.
“I said yes, I am,” he said.
Tara Roberts – Depp’s estate manager – also took to the stand, virtually, to testify for the actor.
She shared that at first, the pair seemed to be “a very happy couple,” but that quickly began to change.
Roberts recalled, “an incident between Johnny and Amber” that took place in 2015.
She said that after dinner one night, Depp seemed “agitated,” after which she saw Heard telling Depp: “Please come back, I’m sorry, come back.”
“He stood here, reluctant to go, didn’t want to go. He left the office and got into his vehicle, started it up and Amber stood in front of the vehicle so it didn’t drive away,” she continued.
“She was asking him, ‘Don’t leave, I’m sorry, come back to the house.’ After a couple minutes, she got in the vehicle and they left to go back up to the house.”
Roberts said that after witnessing this, she and a co-worker decided to go and check on them, and heard “Amber yelling and Johnny answering back.”
“We stood there [outside the building] for a couple minutes and then you started to hear, it became audible, Amber was telling him he was a washed up actor, he was gonna die a fat, lonely old man. Then you heard Johnny say, ‘You hit me with a can,'” she said.
“He came down the steps, Amber was behind him, she had a bottle in her hand,” and claims she “started to grab at him … viciously trying to pull him back and get him back in the house.”
Roberts admitted to being “worried about what was going to happen” and thought “it was best that I remove him from the situation.”
It was at this point that Roberts lead Depp away from the situation and they both sat at a nearby cafe, while Heard went back inside.
According to Roberts, throughout the duration of the fight, Depp “stood there with his arms by his side and he didn’t do anything.” She also noticed that he “had a mark across the bridge of his nose.”
She also claimed that Heard appeared to have no injuries.
Starling Jenkins III, Depp’s chauffeur, and security guard was called to the stand as the last witness for the week yesterday.
According to Toofab, he had witnessed the couple argue 2 times: “It would be initiated by her, she would try to engage with him, he would tell me to turn the music up,” he testified.
Jenkins also discussed the night of April 21, 2016… the end of the couple’s relationship.
He told lawyers that Heard had informed him of the couple’s altercation, which has been a prominent topic during the trial, and said that she had chucked his wallet, credit card, and iPhone into the streets.
Jenkins then explained that using the ‘Find my iPhone’ app, he tracked down Depp’s phone, which had been found by an “unhoused” man and taken to Skid Row.
“I approached him about the phone, he was honest, returned it, I gave him a reward for it,” he explained.
Jenkins then detailed a conversation he had with Heard who he had accompanied to Coachella for her birthday.
He said that they “had a conversation pertaining to the surprise she left on bosses bed prior to leaving the apartment … the defecation,” as per the news outlet.
The actress had told him that it was “a horrible practical joke gone wrong.”
The joke that Heard had told Jenkins about was blamed on their dogs, as per Depp’s testimony. But, Depp had said that he knew his dogs could not leave fecal matter that amassed to the size left on his side of the bed.
Well, it looks as though the whole matter has been cleared up by his security guard.
The trial will continue on Monday next week…