Amber Heard’s lawyers call Johnny Depp ‘obsessed ex-husband out for revenge’

Opening statements in Johnny Depp’s defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife Amber Heard began Tuesday in Virginia after he accused the Aquaman star of writing an article about him in 2018

Video is loading

Video not available

The video will start playing automatically soon8thCancel

Play Now

Johnny Depp’s Attorney Gives Opening Statement In Amber Heard Defamation Trial

Amber Heard’s lawyers called Johnny Depp an “obsessed ex-husband who’s out for revenge as hell” as her bitter US defamation lawsuit began.

The Pirates of the Caribbean star has filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against his ex-wife after he claimed an article she wrote in 2018 implied he was an abuser.

The 35-year-old actress didn’t name her former lover in the Washington Post article, but Johnny’s legal team claim the comment hampered his career and prevented him from landing Hollywood roles.

Opening statements from her legal teams began Tuesday in a courtroom in Fairfax County, Virginia, in which Johnny is seeking $50 million in damages.

Meanwhile, Amber has filed a counterclaim for defamation against the Sweeney Todd star, suing him for $100 million.

The couple began dating in 2017 after Johnny split from longtime partner Vanessa Paradis, with whom he shared two children: daughter Lily-Rose and son Jack.

They married in 2015, but just a year later, Amber filed for divorce.

Speaking to the jury, Johnny’s attorney Benjamin Chew spoke about the actor’s childhood, citing his longtime relationships with Winona Ryder, Kate Moss and ex-partner Vanessa.

He claimed Amber was a “deeply troubled person” who manipulated the actor and was often “angry” and taunted her husband, who they said would “retire” to rooms around their home to get away from her.

His legal team acknowledged his use of drugs and alcohol, but said that doesn’t make him an “abuser” and accused Amber of being a “compulsive liar.”

Camille Vasquez of Johnny’s legal team claimed Amber used the allegations against her Hollywood A-list husband to “advance her own career” and portray herself as an “innocent survivor of abuse”.

“Common sense and evidence will tell you this is all a lie… [Amber] tells a lie and covers up that lie with more lies in an ever-changing, evolving, increasingly dramatic way,” Vasquez fired.

Amber’s attorney, Ben Rottenborn, then addressed the jury when he said Johnny had been on a mission to “humiliate” Amber for years.

“The evidence will show that for years Mr. Depp only wanted to humiliate Amber, stalk her and ruin her career – that’s what the evidence will show,” he told the court.

As he spoke, Johnny could be seen smiling and laughing as he spoke to his own legal team.

Rottenborn argued Amber never mentioned her ex-husband in the Washington Post article, but insisted the allegations she made were true.

“Amber suffered sexual violence at the hands of Depp,” he told the court as he took aim at the actor’s lawyers, accusing them of accusing Amber of “making it up.”

He then took aim at the Pirates of the Caribbean star and said he was an “obsessed ex-husband out for revenge” while Amber, who was sitting in the back of the courtroom, looked on.

“I have to say it’s quite ironic that a piece that briefly discussed how Amber moved on from Johnny Dep, that briefly discussed her post-Johnny Depp life experiences is exactly the device he’s using to try to put her off it to keep trying to keep her from living her life,” Rottenborn added.

Amber will take the stand later this month to address Johnny’s alleged sexual assault, while the actor will also testify at the trial.