Johnny Depp has lost “nothing less than everything” after abuse allegations
Johnny Depp says he lost “nothing short of everything” after alleging he molested Amber Heard and that his former partner committed “treason” by making the allegations.
The actor said he felt “sick” when the allegations first surfaced and that regardless of the outcome of the case, he would live with them for the rest of his life
Mr Depp is suing Ms Heard for defamation over a 2018 article she wrote in the Washington Post, which his lawyers wrongly imply he physically and sexually abused her.
The article does not mention him by name.
On Wednesday, Mr Depp said he had read the article and “disagreed” with parts of it but it was “clearly about me”.
Mr Depp is suing Ms Heard for defamation over a 2018 article she wrote in The Washington Post (Evelyn Hockstein/AP).
“When I read the words she had written about what was obviously related to our relationship, two years ago it was obviously referring to me, it all fell into place, so it was clearly about me,” he said.
“She speaks about the plight of women, not just in Hollywood but in general… and there were a lot of things I didn’t disagree with about that part of the article.”
He continued, “I understand everyone’s passion to right the wrongs that have been committed over countless years against every being who has suffered from domestic violence, be they women, men, children.
“Some of that I applaud … it was very well done in terms of violence against women or violence against anyone.”
video of the day
It comes after the actor made a lengthy statement detailing a catalog of events in which Ms Heard had allegedly been violent towards him, including a specific incident in which his finger was severed from a broken vodka bottle.
Mr Depp told the court he was “probably the closest ever to a nervous breakdown” during the incident, which took place in Australia in March 2015.
He recounted the incident in detail, describing how his finger looked “like Vesuvius” and that in a state of shock he had written on the walls with his own blood.
Mr Depp said his former partner Amber Heard committed “treason” and made the abuse allegations against him (Evelyn Hockstein/AP).
He also recalled other incidents in which he had to physically hold Ms. Heard after she “beat” him.
When asked about the effect the 2018 article had on him, he replied: “I felt sick, I felt sick in the sense that there was no truth in anything and that I was throwing myself at myself so hard and so fast and how the world gained momentum.
“You run between lava drops, you run between raindrops that kill you, that destroy you.
“I was very confused, I was very hurt, because like I said before, when you’re in a relationship and you give that person your intimate truths… then they start taking all that information and expanding it into something that’s complete shocking because it just didn’t happen.
“So I found it incredibly cruel and betrayal.
“I don’t know if she wanted me to just be wiped out or drop dead or just stay here and allow her to ruin my life for a while and go out of her way to shame me and hurt my kids and to hurt people I’ve known for many, many years.
He added, “‘It was unfair’ is the smallest understatement…it was controlling my every waking second.”
During his testimony, Mr Depp recalled incidents in which he had to physically restrain Ms Heard after she “slapped” him (Evelyn Hockstein/AP).
When asked what he lost, he said: “Nothing less than everything.
“When the allegations were made, when the allegations quickly went around the world telling people I was a drunk, cocaine-fueled menace who hits women… it’s over.
“Regardless of the outcome of this trial, the second the allegations were made against me… and turned into fodder for the media… I lost.
“I lost because it’s not something someone puts on your back for a short time.
“I’ll live with that for the rest of my life.”
Early in the cross-examination, Ms Heard’s attorney, Benjamin Rottenborn, reminded Mr Depp that the lawsuit was not brought about anything the actress herself had done before writing the article, and suggested that his career was already in decline be understood.
“I think it’s very easy to write an article and touch someone with your finger without saying their name,” Mr Depp replied.
The trial in Fairfax County District Court, which is expected to last a total of seven weeks, continues.
https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/johnny-depp-lost-nothing-short-of-everything-following-abuse-allegations-41572292.html Johnny Depp has lost “nothing less than everything” after abuse allegations