“There were arguments and things like that, but it never got to the point where I would hit Ms. Heard in any way,” the actor said Tuesday before the court in Fairfax, near the US capital Washington. “I’ve never hit a woman in my life.”
“Total Shock”
Heard’s allegations of domestic violence against him are “nefarious and disturbing,” the Pirates of the Caribbean star said. They were based on “no kind of truth” and were a “total shock” for him.
When asked by one of his lawyers why he was suing Heard for defamation, the 58-year-old said: “I saw it as my responsibility not only to stand up for myself but also for my children.”
From Cinderella to Quasimodo in 0.6 seconds
His children had to read a “horrible thing” about him that was not true. “It’s weird when you’re like Cinderella one day and Quasimodo 0.6 seconds later,” added the actor, who wore a black suit, earrings and hair in a ponytail in the courtroom.
Depp has sued Heard, to whom he was married between 2015 and 2017, for $50 million in damages. The reason is an article by Heard for the newspaper “Washington Post” from the end of 2018, in which the 35-year-old described herself as a victim of domestic violence. The actress did not name her ex-husband. However, Depp argues that he is implicitly accused of domestic violence, especially since Heard had publicly accused him of a physical assault in 2016.
Heard is asking for $100 million
The actress, known from films such as “Aquaman” and “The Danish Girl”, has responded with a counterclaim against Depp. She is demanding $100 million in damages. At the trial that started last week in Fairfax, Virginia, numerous witnesses will testify, including actor James Franco and Tesla founder Elon Musk.
The couple, who divorced after a turbulent marriage, had already faced each other at a trial in London in 2020. At the time, Depp sued the British tabloid The Sun, which had described him as a “wife bully”. Heard testified as a witness at the trial. Depp was defeated in the process.
The million dollar dispute in pictures:
View picture gallery
Source: Nachrichten
