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Johnny Depp took the stand in court Tuesday to testify against ex-wife Amber Heard, whom he has accused of ruining his reputation and career with false accusations of domestic violence.
In a slow and stilted tone, Depp began his testimony addressing about how he wants the public to know the truth about what happened between the couple.
“I had to wait for my opportunity to address the charges, which were criminal charges. They just weren’t true.”
Speaking frequently of the impact the case and its details have had on his children, Depp said he’s also suffered from a personal fall-from-grace.
“One day you’re Cinderella, so to speak, and then in 0.6 seconds you’re Quasimodo.”
The fully televised legal battle of the divorced couple has captured the attention of spectators around the globe, with both Heard, 35, and Depp, 58, claiming to be victims of violence. The initial court case began when Depp filed a $50-million defamation lawsuit over a Washington Post op-ed penned by Heard in late 2018 about domestic abuse.
Heard did not mention Depp by name in the article, though in court documents he alleges his reputation and career were still “devastated” as a result.
Read more:
Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard: Depp’s longtime friend gets emotional, says ‘It’s not right’
Day 5 of the trial in Fairfax County Circuit Court in Virginia saw the A-list actor take the stand.
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When questioned about his childhood, Depp described in detail the abuse he and his two sisters and brother suffered at the hands of his mother, Betty Sue Palmer.
“My mother was quite unpredictable. She had the ability to be as cruel as anyone can be,” Depp shared.
“Essentially, she could become quite violent and she was quite violent and quite cruel.”
Depp shared examples of his mother throwing ashtrays or beating her children with a high-heeled shoe.
“In our house we were never exposed to any type of safety or security. The only thing that one could do, really, was to stay out of the line of fire.”
And, although he said there were often fights between his mother and father, he said his father was never abusive.
Depp’s lawyers have already called on several witnesses, including friends, the couple’s therapist, and the doctor and nurse who claim they treated the Pirates of the Caribbean actor for substance abuse issues.
In opening statements delivered by the former spouses’ legal teams last week, Depp’s lawyers claim Heard is “choosing to lie about him for her own personal benefit.”
Heard’s lawyers argued the opposite, claiming freedom of speech allowed the Aquaman actor to pen the Washington Post op-ed.
In November 2020, Depp lost a U.K. libel case against British tabloid The Sun, which called him a “wife-beater.” The court found Heard’s claims in the Washington Post article were “substantially true.” Depp’s request to appeal the decision was denied.
As the new trial continues, jurors will hear from several potential witnesses, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, actor James Franco and Marvel WandaVision star Paul Bettany.
Franco and Musk were brought into the case when Depp accused both of having an affair with Heard. Both Franco and Musk are on Heard’s witness list. Bettany, who had several private and disturbing text messages with Depp read in court in 2020, will testify as part of Depp’s team.
Heard is countersuing for $100 million in damages. The claim will also be decided within this trial.
Court proceedings are expected to last about six weeks with a jury verdict determining if Heard defamed Depp at the trial’s end.
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