Amber Heard took to the stand for the first time on Wednesday, after 3 weeks of testimonies against her, and she has spoken about how Johnny Depp allegedly abused her “again and again” during their relationship.
Heard appeared to be emotional as she told the jury her recollection of events during the relationship.
It comes as the trial enters its fourth week.
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.
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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.
There are many more who have been dragged into the defamation case.
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 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 any way, 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.
The trial is now entering its fourth week in court.
And with Depp’s testimony finished, Heard took to the stand this week.
However, in a shocking turn of events…
Heard’s legal team tried to have the case dismissed.
On May 3rd, Heard’s legal team argued for the case to be dismissed.
According to the Independent, the dismissal is argued on the grounds that Depp’s legal team has not proven malice and that headline for The Washington Post op-ed was not written by Heard.
But, despite the attempts for dismissal, it was denied.
The outlet reports that Judge Penney Azcarate has denied Heard’s attempt to dismiss the case striking 2 motions while keeping one under advisement.
Subsequently, the trial continued this week, with Heard taking to the stand on Wednesday, May 5.
She began by explaining how hard it has been for her to watch the trial for the last 3 weeks and then opened up about the first time Depp allegedly hit her.
She shared that after evaluating Heard herself for twenty-nine hours, she concluded she was a victim of domestic abuse.
On top of the previous allegations of both physical and s*xual violence made by Depp while he was under the influence, Heard also told Hughes that he performed a “cavity search” on her.
She detailed that Depp “performed a cavity search and ostensibly was looking for drugs.”
It was alleged that “these incidents often happened in a drug-fueled rage,” Hughes said.
She also outlined other abuse Heard reported to her…
Stating that when Depp “was drunk or high he threw her [Heard] on the bed, ripped off her nightgown.” Adding: “These weren’t loving moments, these were dominant moments.”
As well as this, Hughes said Depp was “obsessively jealous.”
She alleged that he would “persistently put her down” and make it difficult for her to work on set with him often calling to say “I got eyes down there, I got eyes on set.”
Dr. Hughes said: “He tried to control what she wore. He told her often no woman of mine is going to dress like a wh*re.”
And that Depp apparently said to Heard: “You’re going to go out with those t*ts and a**?” when she was leaving for an audition.
Hughes claimed that Heard suffered a “barrage of accusations of infidelity.”
Explaining one incident where “she [Heard] gets on the plane, [Depp] starts talking about James Franco, making a lot of derogatory comments, hope you had fun with your escapades.
“There was an argument when she got up to leave, he kicked her in the back and she went forward.”
He also allegedly told her to avoid nude scenes when applying for roles and even accused Heard of having affairs with men and women, most notably her co-stars Billy Bob Thornton and James Franco.
She continued, saying their relationship was a “vicious cycle of trying to figure out how can I be with this man who hurts me and yet I love him so much.”
Hughes claimed that it was due to this persistent abuse that Heard developed post-traumatic stress disorder.
Which goes against the testimony of the psychologist hired by Depp’s lawyers…
As stated before, Dr. Curry previously told the court that Heard “grossly exaggerated” her PTSD symptoms, and in her view actually suffered from “histrionic and borderline personality disorders.”
Hughes stated that her “main opinion” was Heard’s “report of intimate partner violence” was “consistent with what we know in the field” of domestic abuse.
She also said that Heard “demonstrated very clear psychological and traumatic effects” based on her reaction in court.
“I diagnosed Ms. Heard with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder… and the cause was the intimate partner violence by Mr Depp,” Hughes said.
Then, Heard took to the stand…
And she spoke about how Depp allegedly abused her “again and again” during their relationship.
But many people have taken to Twitter to share their views on her testimony…
“Amber Heard took the stand. ALREADY basically crying,” one user wrote.
“And so the lies and poor acting begins… Amber Heard takes the stand. #JusticeForJohnnyDepp,” another wrote.
“I was married to an abusive narcissist. Johnny keeping his eyes down & not watching Amber Heard testify is probably really upsetting her. I’m glad he refuses to even acknowledge her lies & defamation right now. She doesn’t have power anymore. #JohnnyDeppVsAmberHeard #DeppVsHeard,” another expressed.
“Johnny Depp’s lawyer just completely mic dropped the courtroom. “Amber Heard IS THE ONLY ABUSER IN THIS CASE,” said somebody else on the platform.
One person even went as far as to say: “Amber Heard is an insult to abuse survivors.”
And this outpour of opinions came as Heard took to the stand to speak on the alleged abuse of Depp, her ex-husband.
Heard began to describe a moment when the pair were sat on a sofa at his home in 2012…
She had said that he had a “jar” of c*caine, and she had asked about one of his tattoos, as per Buzzfeed News. When Depp responded by explaining the tattoo said “wino” Heard alleged that he slapped her after she laughed about it.
Heard then said she laughed again.
“I laughed because I didn’t know what else to do. I thought, This must be a joke. This must be a joke, because I didn’t know what was going on. I just stared at him, kind of laughing at him still, thinking he was going to start laughing too to tell me it was a joke,” she said.
Heard then said that Depp had slapped her a second time after asking: “You think you’re a funny b*tch?”
“I just stared at him because I didn’t know what else to do,” she said.
“I’m all the sudden realizing that the worst thing has just happened to me that could possibly happen to you.
“I realize — I wish so much that he would have said he was joking,” she continued.
Heard then shared her recollection of events after the alleged slaps.
“I didn’t want to leave him.
“I didn’t want this to be the reality. I didn’t want to have the man I was in love with — I know you don’t come back from that, you know. I’m not dumb. I knew you can’t hit a woman. I knew you can’t hit a man,” she said.
The actress then said Depp began to cry, and that it was “weird” because she had never seen an “adult male” cry.
Heard continued through her testimony explaining how Depp continued to abuse her, as per her side of events. Talking of his alleged insecurity in regards to infidelity, she said their arguments would “escalate.”
“It would escalate to the point where he would push me, or shove me down, and then I would get back up. This happened several times, that’s why it’s not more specific I suppose,” she said.
“When I’d get back up I’d look him in the eye, I made a point of getting up and looking him in the eye, it was my way of defending myself at that time.
“And I’d look at him, and he’d ask me if I wanted to go again and shove me back down. Eventually, he’d just hit me, I remember he hit me in the face when I denied having an affair with my ex-wife, my ex-partner at the time, and he said he had proof, I denied it,” she continued.
The actress then said that she was walking out of the bedroom when he “slapped her across the face.”
“I turned to look at him, and I said ‘Johnny you hit me, you just hit me,'” she said.
Throughout her first day testifying against Depp yesterday, Heard continued to talk of the alleged abuse she faced during her time in an intimate relationship with Depp.
The trial continues.