Actor Johnny Depp has taken the stand in his defamation case towards his ex-wife Amber Heard.
"My objective is the reality," Depp mentioned early in his remarks.
Depp, recognized for his work within the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise, is suing Heard for US$50 million in a Fairfax County, Virginia court docket over a 2018 Washington Publish op-ed by which she wrote about her expertise with home abuse.
The piece printed roughly two years after Heard alleged Depp bruised her face after throwing a telephone at her of their Los Angeles dwelling. Depp denied the allegation and was not charged with any crime.
Depp acknowledged in his testimony that he and Heard had arguments throughout their relationship however mentioned, "By no means did I personally attain the purpose of putting Ms. Heard in any approach nor have I ever struck any lady in my life."
He additionally described his mother and father' tumultuous relationship and the verbal and bodily abuse he and his siblings skilled by their mom.
Depp was not referred to by title in Heard's piece. Nonetheless, Depp claims it led to monetary losses for him, together with being dropped from future "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies after he led the franchise for 15 years.
"At some point you are Cinderella so to talk after which in zero level six seconds you are Quasimodo," Depp mentioned of how his profession turned after he was accused of abuse. "I did not deserve that and nor did my youngsters, nor did the individuals who had believed in me all these years."
'She was too good to be true'
The trial started final week. Depp mentioned his testimony was the "first alternative I've had to talk about this case in full."
Depp and Amber met on the set of "The Rum Diary" in 2009, married in 2015 and went on to be embroiled in a contentious cut up for months, with expenses of unhealthy behaviour levied by either side.
In his testimony, Depp spoke in regards to the starting of his relationship with Heard, saying "from what I recall, what I bear in mind, she was too good to be true."
"She was attentive, she was loving, she was good, she was type, she was humorous, she was understanding. We had many issues in frequent," he mentioned.
Depp mentioned Heard was "fantastic" for a while between a yr and a yr and a half. "Then issues simply began to vary - or issues began to disclose themselves, is a greater option to put it."
The couple settled their divorce in August 2016, releasing a joint assertion which learn partly, "Our relationship was intensely passionate and at occasions risky, however all the time certain by love."
Heard had been unsuccessful in her makes an attempt to get the swimsuit dismissed. She filed a $100 million defamation countersuit towards Depp in 2020, which is ongoing.
Late final yr, Depp misplaced a case within the UK towards Information Group Newspapers and Dan Wootton, govt editor of The Solar, over an article that claimed Depp was violent towards Heard whereas they had been collectively. The UK's Excessive Court docket dominated within the writer's favor.
Attorneys for the newspaper group argued in court docket filings that Depp "beat his spouse Amber Heard, inflicting her to endure important damage, and from time to time resulting in her fearing for her life," citing proof, together with pictures, audio recordings and Depp's personal textual content messages.
In the course of the trial, Depp mentioned the tabloid's claims that he was violent towards Heard had been "utterly unfaithful."
Decide Andrew Nicol mentioned in his judgment that the paper's claims had been proven to be "considerably true."
Heard posted a word prematurely of the present defamation trial on her verified social media accounts, writing "I by no means named [Depp], relatively I wrote in regards to the worth ladies pay for talking towards males in energy. I proceed to pay that worth, however hopefully when this case concludes, I can transfer on and so can Johnny."
"I've all the time maintained a love for Johnny and it brings me nice ache to should stay out the main points of our previous life collectively in entrance of the world," she wrote. "Right now, I acknowledge the continuing help I have been lucky to obtain all through these years, and in these coming weeks I might be leaning on it greater than ever."