The trial turned into a spectacle, with Depp testifying about everything, taking drugs as a child to near mental collapse in which he wrote on the walls using his severed finger to recount the lies of his ex-wife.
DEPP IS DOING THIS.
Heard’s lawyers warned that the trial would feature a soap opera that would expose the “real Johnny Depp.” Depp denied ever abusing Heard. Despite the attention given to his text messages and drug use, he claimed he is obsessed with the truth and doesn’t want to disappoint anyone who looked up to him.
Depp testified Tuesday that “My goal was the truth because it hurt me that all these individuals I had met over time… that these people might think that I am a fraud.”
The actor claimed that his movie career was affected by Heard’s 2018 Washington Post op-ed piece. In it, she called herself a “public figure representing domestic violence.”
Heard did not mention Depp, but Depp’s lawyers claimed it was a reference to the accusations Heard made against him when she applied for a 2016 restraining or order.
Depp claimed that the accusations and the article made Depp a Hollywood outcast, and cost him his lucrative role in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie franchise.
Heard’s lawyers argued that Heard was correct in his opinion piece and did not defame him. They claim that Depp’s bad reputation is due to his own behavior.
WHAT ARE THE HEARD’S ALLEGATIONS?
Heard claims that Depp assaulted her physically and sexually on numerous occasions prior to and during their brief marriage. Often, he was in situations where he drank so much that he later blacked.
Depp stated that Heard’s claims of substance abuse were “grossly embellished” by Depp and that he was never out-of-control during that period. Heard filed for divorce one year after the couple met.
Heard’s lawyers have highlighted the text messages Depp sent friends detailing his copious use of alcohol and drugs at a time when he claimed he wasn’t a problem drinker.
Depp also filed a similar English lawsuit against the newspaper. There, a judge found that Depp had assaulted Heard on more than a dozen occasions. She also put her in danger for her safety multiple times.
Heard is expected later to testify in the trial.
HOW DID DEPP AND HEAR MEET?
Heard and Depp met during the filming of “The Rum Diary”, a Depp-produced movie that was shot in 2011. It is based on a Hunter S. Thompson novel, which Depp discovered while looking through Thompson’s papers.
Depp stated that Heard was the ideal embodiment of Chenault’s femme fatale character, Chenault. Depp remembered, “That’s Hunter’s Chenault.” “Yep, she could certainly kill me.”
Depp played the first part of their relationship in classic Hollywood romance. Depp would call Heard Slim, while she calls him Steve. These nicknames were used by Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart in 1944’s “To Have and Have Not”.
Depp, 58, stated that he was aware of the age gap between Heard, 36, (and Bogart, 35) and that it is similar to the 25-year gap in Bogart and Bacall.
He said, “I admit the fact that I was the old and craggy fogey”
HOW DID THEIR MARRIAGE END?
Depp stated that things started to change in his relationship when he felt Heard was “suddenly wrong about everything”.
Depp claimed that Heard made no digs at him and degraded him. Depp stated that the insults escalated to full-fledged circular arguments, from which there was “no exit or in.” Depp stated that it was a “rapid-fire, kind of an endless parade of insults.”
Depp stated that Heard started attacking Depp shortly afterward. Depp said that Heard once threw two vodka bottles at him. The second one exploded, and he was left with a severed finger. Depp claimed that he used the blood from Heard’s accident to write on his walls, and tell lies about how he caught him. Depp claimed he lied in order to save Heard, and told doctors that he had hurt himself. Heard’s lawyers claim that he cut his finger.
WHAT HAPPENED ON THE BOSTON FIGHT?
One of the main points in dispute is the incident on Depp’s private flight from Boston, California to Los Angeles in 2014. This was while Depp was filming “Black Mass”, a gangster movie.
Heard claims that Depp attacked her on the flight, while he was drunk.
Depp stated that he had taken two oxycodone tablets, an opiate to the which he admitted to being addicted. He also claimed that he locked himself in the bathroom of the plane and fell asleep to escape her harping.
The court heard that he had only drunk one glass of champagne while on board the flight. However, he told the court that he had only drunk one glass of champagne before the flight and that he had drank half a bottle whiskey, “a thousand Red Bull vodkas”, and two bottles Champagne.
Heard’s lawyers also pointed out text messages Depp sent Heard following the flight saying that “once again I find myself at a place of shame, and regret.” … I must get better.”
WHAT ELSE DID DEPPTEXT TEXT?
Heard’s lawyers have concentrated on text messages Depp sent Bettany, in which he expressed his desire to kill and defile Heard.
Depp said he wanted her to be burned and then wrote: “Let’s drown them before we burn her!” To make sure she’s dead, I will burn her corpse.
Depp apologized to the jury and stated that he was sorry for using vulgar language. He also said that “in pain of the hurt I was feeling, [I] went to dark places.”
MOMENTS OF LEVITY
Despite the profane messages and dark accusations, Depp’s testimony sometimes had humorous moments.
Depp was asked if he would drink whiskey sometimes in the morning. He replied, “I mean. Isn’t happiness hour any time?”
Depp was asked if he ever gave pills to Marilyn Manson. He said that he did.
Depp also said that he hasn’t seen “Pirates of the Caribbean – The Curse of the Black Pearl”, the 2003 smash hit in which he played the unhinged Captain Jack Sparrow. Depp laughed and replied, “I didn’t see it but…well, the film did pretty good, apparently.”
The bizarre matter of penis vandalism is another. After Heard said that Heard had severed his finger, Depp’s lawyer repeatedly asked Depp if he was responsible. Depp said that he didn’t think of drawing a penis on the painting as his first thought.
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING INSIDE VIRGINIA
Fairfax County Circuit Court, Fairfax, Virginia is hosting the trial.
Heard’s lawyers wanted to have the case heard in California where the actors live. A judge ruled Depp could bring the case in Virginia, as the Washington Post’s online edition computer servers are located there.
Depp’s lawyers claim that they brought the case to Virginia because Virginia has more favorable laws.
