Johnny Depp & Amber Heard Trial – Part 2

PART 2

Then there’s the poop incident.  I repeat the poop incident.  💩 The day after the birthday debacle, Amber went to Coachella with her friends, but before doing so, left a little surprise on Johnny’s side of the bed.  Amber testified that she did not leave her actual shit on the bed she sleeps in and said that it was the dog.  Johnny said that having human fecal matter on his bed was “so bizarre and so grotesque that I could only laugh.”  When asked about Amber blaming it on his dog, Boo, Johnny’s response was that his dogs are Teacup Yorkies.  Enough said. 

Another incident of note was when Amber alleged that Johnny threw a cell phone at her face.  Amber testified that she was screaming for Johnny to stop hitting her.  Johnny says that he was standing twenty feet away from her by the fridge.  Johnny had two of his guards with him at the time who also say he was by the fridge.  Amber’s friend, IO, was present at the time of the incident and also testified.  He said that Johnny was hitting Amber and that he called 911.  However, Amber didn’t cooperate with police and she testified that she didn’t want Johnny to get arrested.  There are photos from after the phone was allegedly thrown at her face and there is a bruise by her eye.  

Let’s talk about the Australia incident.  It has been noted that Amber’s story about what happened in Australia has changed five times.  She has testified about this more than once and none of the stories completely align.  In March 2015, Johnny was in Australia filming Pirates 5 and Amber met him there when she wrapped up shooting a movie she was in.  She says that when she arrived at the house, she was making dinner and was excited to see Johnny since it had been about a month.  She says that Johnny brought out a bag of MDMA (essentially a powder form of ecstasy, tends to be purer, but not always).  She testified that she was surprised that he had drugs because he had been clean and sober.  She was also surprised that Johnny wanted to do it together.  Side note: it’s honestly not surprising to me that he would want to do it together, especially if they were having issues.  It can definitely bring people together. 

Johnny says that Amber was upset with him when she arrived in Australia because he suggested a post-nup agreement since they hadn’t signed a prenup.  He said that Amber thought he was tricking her and was saying that he didn’t trust her.  He testified that he tried to calm her down, but it turned to madness, violence and chaos.  

Ben King, one of Johnny’s employees, testified that Amber was crying uncontrollably and there was damage to the stairs, the ping pong tables, and there was broken glass everywhere.  Johnny Depp said that during the fight, he locked himself in nine different rooms to get away from Amber.  He said when he left one of the rooms, he went downstairs to the bar and grabbed a bottle of vodka.  He said that he poured himself 2-3 shots and it was the first time he had tasted alcohol in quite some time.  He told the court that Amber came down and was screaming at him about him drinking.  

Amber testified that Johnny was holding the bottle of vodka out, so she grabbed it and slammed it on the floor and that set him off.  Johnny states that Amber threw one bottle of alcohol at him, then picked up a larger bottle and threw that one as well.  The second one made contact and cut the tip of his finger off.  Amber says that she doesn’t remember throwing bottles, but she does remember that Johnny had thrown her around and ripped her nightgown off of her.  She testified that he then threw her on the countertop and was on top of her.  She alleged that he sexually assaulted her with a bottle. 

Johnny said that he began writing on the walls with his blood and that he doesn’t know what a nervous breakdown feels like, but this was the closest he had ever been.  He said that he was in a bit of a shock after it happened, but he lied to the doctor and said that he had smashed his hand in the door because he didn’t want Amber to get in trouble.  Johnny also contracted MRSA from this injury.  

Amber testified that she was dragged across the broken glass on the floor and that her forearms were cut, the bottoms of her feet were sliced up and she had a bruise across her jaw from the many times he “clocked” her in the face.  The photos from after the incident show very straight cuts which seems like the story doesn’t match up with the photos, but I’ve never been dragged through broken glass, so what do I know?

There was another abuse allegation that was brought up during testimony and that was from the airplane incident in 2014.  Johnny and Amber were leaving Boston to go back to LA for Lily Rose’s birthday.  Johnny says that he and Amber had fought the night before and he knew that she was looking for a fight so he took two opiate pills.  Amber says that Johnny was mad because of the film she was in with James Franco.  She says that he was screaming at her about the sex scene and that he was saying obscene things to her.  Keenan Wyatt, another employee of Johnny’s, testified that Johnny had been drinking, but that he wasn’t drunk and seemed normal.  Amber said that he reeked of weed and alcohol.  When questioned, Wyatt stated that he didn’t recall hearing any of the things that Amber claimed Johnny said and that he didn’t see either of them throwing or hitting/kicking each other. 

Amber alleged that she was walking away from Johnny and she felt a boot in her back and no one did or said anything.  She said that you could hear a pin drop on that plane.  She also took video of Johnny from the flight and he is heard moaning.  She says that he was drunk and locked himself in the bathroom and was howling like an animal.  Johnny testified that he knew Amber was angry so he had asked one of his employees to communicate with Amber for him. 

There was only one witness to abuse that testified at the trial and that was Amber’s sister, Whitney.  She testified that Amber had told her that Johnny was cheating on her.  Amber testified that Johnny’s tablet was out and she found texts between him and another woman that he had a sexual relationship with.  Whitney testified that Johnny was calling Amber a fucking whore and a fucking cunt.  She also said that Amber was calling Johnny old and fat.  Whitney also said that Johnny hit her in the back.  Johnny says that Amber punched him and Whitney says that Johnny grabbed Amber by her hair and hit her in the face.  Amber says that she hit Johnny to protect her sister.  

While being questioned about this situation, Amber brought up Kate Moss and what is known as the stair incident.  This was a big deal because once she mentioned her name, Kate Moss was able to be called as a witness in the trial.  When watching the trial, you can see Benjamin Chew, Johnny’s attorney, is seen pumping his fist and Amber’s attorneys look absolutely pissed.  Kate Moss testified that she and Johnny had dated from 1994-1998.  She said that when they were in Jamaica, they were leaving their room and she slid down the stairs and hurt her back.  She was asked if Johnny had pushed her and she said that he had not.  She said that he never pushed, kicked or threw her down the stairs.

Another big point of the trial were the recordings that Johnny and Amber took of each other.  Many recordings came into play during the trial, but the one that made the biggest impact was one of Amber talking about Johnny being a victim of domestic violence.  

This clip doesn’t say that Johnny wasn’t abusive, but what it does is validate the claims that Johnny has made against Amber.  

Another point that Camille Vasquez brought up with Amber more than once was the fact that she took photos of Johnny while he was sleeping a lot.  Camille suggested that she was doing this in order to embarrass Johnny.  Amber argued that Johnny wasn’t asleep and that he was passed out and nodding off – which is different than sleeping.  

Another big point of contention in the trial was the coloring kit that Amber’s attorney, Elaine, said that Amber carried around during the entirety of Johnny and Amber’s relationship.  It was stated that Amber carried the Milani correcting kit with her so that she would be able to cover up bruises she would receive from Johnny.  After this came out in the trial, Milani made a TikTok showing that this particular palette didn’t come out until 2017 which was after the two divorced.  It was a big controversy and a fan/supporter of Johnny Depp went to the courthouse to tell Johnny’s attorneys this information.  When Elaine brought it up initially, she said that it was the exact kit that Amber used, but later in testimony, the palette no longer had the brand printed on the front and Amber stated that it wasn’t exactly the kit she used, but it was one like it. 

When Amber and Johnny divorced, Amber stated that she was going to donate all $7 million owed to her.  Camille Vasquez asked Amber about her donation at the trial.  She brought up the Danish TV show that Amber appeared on where she stated that she donated $3.5 million to the ACLU and $3.5 million to the Children’s Hospital of LA.  On the show Amber said, “I wanted nothing.”  Camille asked Amber if she donated the money and Amber said that she pledged it.  Camille continued on saying that she wasn’t asking if she pledged it, she was asking if she donated it.  Amber stated that she uses pledge and donate synonymously.  This became a big point of interest in the trial as well – whether the words were synonymous or not.  In the end, the ACLU attributed $1.3 million toward a plan to donate $3.5 million and the Children’s Hospital of LA testified that as of June 2018, they had received $250,000 in connection to the $3.5 million pledged. 

Both parties had a mental health expert testify about Amber.  The expert for Johnny’s side, Shannon Curry, discussed Amber’s testimony and she provided a psychological evaluation.  She found that Amber has borderline personality disorder as well as histrionic personality disorder.  Curry testified that Amber was reactive and overly dramatic.  She said that she went between being “princess and victim.”  The expert for Amber’s side said that Amber is being truthful and diagnosed her with PTSD. 

After closing arguments, the jury deliberated for three days.  When the verdict was reached, Johnny Depp wasn’t in the courtroom, he was in the UK performing, but Amber Heard was present.  In the end, Amber Heard was found guilty of defaming Johnny Depp.  The jury originally awarded Johnny Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages to be paid by Amber Heard.  For Amber’s counterclaim, she was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages.  Amber appealed, but in December of 2022, both decided to settle and Amber agreed to pay Johnny $1 million.  The money was donated to several charities.  

Where Are Johnny Depp and Amber Heard Now?

As of June 1, 2023, Amber Heard is said to be living in Spain with her 2-year-old daughter, Oonagh Paige.  She took some time away from the public eye after the conclusion of the trial but made her first public appearance at the Taormina Film Festival.  She was promoting her new film, In the Fire, where she plays a psychologist in the late 1800s.   She will be in the upcoming sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom as Mera in theaters this December.  Amber said, “What I have been through, what I’ve lived through, doesn’t make my career at all.  And it’s certainly not gonna stop my career.” 

Johnny Depp made an appearance in May of 2023 at the Cannes Film Festival where his new French film, Jeanne Du Barry opened the festival.  He said in a press conference that he doesn’t have much further need for Hollywood.  He also said when asked about a comeback, “I keep wondering about the word comeback because I didn’t go anywhere.  As a matter of fact, I live about 45 minutes away.  So yeah, maybe people stopped calling out of whatever their fear was at the time.  But no, I didn’t go nowhere.  I’ve been sitting around.”   He has also been touring with his band, the Hollywood Vampires, in the UK and Europe.  He is also living in Somerset in the UK currently.