Veering between drama and farce, the courtroom showdown pitting Johnny Depp against ex-wife Amber Heard wrapped up its third week with scandalous new details -- including Amber Heard’s feelings towards billionaire Elon Musk as well as the state of her mental health.
The star of "The Pirates of the Caribbean" is suing his ex-wife for $50 million after she wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post in 2018 describing herself as "a public figure representing domestic abuse." Although Depp's name was not included in the article, his lawyers claim that it cost him lucrative movie roles.
Heard countersued for $100 million, alleging that he and his former lawyer plotted to "destroy and defame" her.
'Tell the world, Johnny'
Johnny Depp's testimony, which concluded on Monday after 4 day on stand, included audio clips, which were recorded during his relationship with Ms Heard and played in court.
In one recording, the 36-year-old Heard, who had a starring role in the movie "Aquaman," accuses Depp of “beating” and throwing a "swing" at her.
Depp has denied ever being physically abusive towards Heard and has claimed at the trial in a Fairfax County Circuit Court that she was the one who was frequently violent.
After the cross examination, Johnny Depp’s lawyer played an audio of him and his ex-wife talking after she publicly accused him of domestic violence and obtained a restraining order in 2016.
Much of the testimony at the trial has revolved around an incident that occurred there in which the tip of the middle finger of Depp's right hand was severed.
Depp told the jury it happened when Heard threw a vodka bottle at him, smashing the finger against the edge of a bar in the house. Heard's lawyers suggested that Depp cut it with a knife in the kitchen.
In one audiotape where Depp accused Heard of smashing his finger, she replied saying: "You can say it was a fair fight," Heard scoffs on the recording. "Tell the world, Johnny, tell them, 'Johnny Depp, I, Johnny Depp, a man, I’m a victim, too, of domestic violence.'…and see how many people believe or side with you."
Depp's lawyer, Jessica Meyers, asked him what he said in response.
"Yes, I am," replied Depp, soberly, before stepping off the stand.
Personality disorders
A psychologist hired by lawyers for "Pirates of the Caribbean" star Johnny Depp testified on Tuesday at his defamation case against his former wife Amber Heard that she suffers from twin personality disorders.
Shannon Curry, a clinical and forensic psychologist, said she had examined Heard's mental health records and personally evaluated her for 12 hours over two days in December 2021.
Curry said it was her opinion that the 36-year-old actress, who had a starring role in the movie "Aquaman," has borderline personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder.
"She obtained scores that were consistent with those diagnoses," Curry said.
Lawyers for Heard sought to discredit Curry's testimony during cross-examination, noting she had been hired by Depp's attorneys to testify on his behalf.
Disney dropped Depp over abuse allegations
Johnny Depp was dropped from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise because of the domestic abuse allegations made by Amber Heard, his former Hollywood agent said on Wednesday, backing up the actor's claim against his ex-wife.
"My opinion is that it was related to the accusations that Amber has made," Christian Carino, who works for Creative Arts Agency, said in a videotaped deposition in the defamation suit filed by Depp against Heard.
Carino, Depp and Heard's former agent, said it was never explicitly stated by Disney that Depp was being dropped from the "Pirates" franchise because of the domestic abuse accusations but it was "understood."
Depp, testifying earlier on his own behalf, blamed the accusations by Heard for the loss of his lucrative role in "Pirates" as Captain Jack Sparrow.
Heard 'filling space' with Elon Musk
Carino, the former agent of Johnny Depp, was also asked about Heard's relationship with billionaire Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk that followed her 2017 divorce from Depp.
Lawyers for Depp read out August 2017 text messages between Carino and Heard, who starred in the movie "Aquaman."
"Dealing with breakup. I hate when things go public. See, I'm so sad," Heard said in a message about the end of her relationship with Musk.
"You weren't in love with him and you told me 1,000 times you were just filling space," Carino replied. "Why would you be sad if you weren't in love with him to begin with?"
Heard responded: "I know but I wanted time to grieve and recover in my own time."
Asked by a lawyer for Depp if Heard was referring to Musk or Depp, Carino said "I don't know."