Filing a defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife, the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' star insists that the domestic abuse allegations she made against him was part of her scheme to 'advance her career.'
- March 2, 2019
AceShowbiz - Johnny Depp has filed a defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, claiming her domestic abuse accusations against him were part of an "elaborate hoax."
According to court documents obtained by The Blast, the movie star is taking issue with Heard over a piece she wrote for The Washington Post in December (18).
"Ms. Heard purported to write from the perspective of 'a public figure representing domestic abuse' and claimed that she 'felt the full force of our culture's wrath for women who speak out' when she 'spoke up against sexual violence,' " the lawsuit reads.
Depp's attorney acknowledges she never mentioned his client by name, but insists the article "depends on the central premise that Ms. Heard was a domestic abuse victim and that Mr. Depp perpetrated domestic violence against her."
Depp's legal team insists the allegations she made against him following their separation in 2016 was "an elaborate hoax to generate positive publicity" and "advance her career," while insisting the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star was attacked by his former wife. "Ms. Heard is not a victim of domestic abuse; she is a perpetrator," the lawsuit continues.
Meanwhile, Depp claims her abuse allegations were "conclusively refuted by two separate responding police officers, a litany of neutral third-party witnesses, and 87 newly obtained surveillance camera videos."
Heard claimed Depp attacked her and offered up photos of her bruised face as evidence, but the actor insists neither a neighbour nor two police officers saw any signs of an injury.
In the lawsuit, Depp claims an employee of the building where the former couple lived reviewed recording surveillance footage three days after the alleged incident and "testified under oath that she saw (Amber's sibling) Whitney Heard pretend to punch her sister in the face." The actor then alleges his ex-wife, her best friend and her sister "all laughed."
Depp also details an incident at the beginning of their marriage, when his wife allegedly threw a glass vodka bottle at him, which shattered in his hand. He claims his finger had to be surgically reattached, while accusing Heard of giving "false accounts of this incident, casting Mr. Depp as the perpetrator of his own injury."
Depp is suing for defamation and asking for damages in excess of $50 million (£38 million).
Heard filed for divorce from Depp in May 2016 and the couple officially ended its marriage the following January. The stars were married for 15 months.
