The Untold Truth Of Johnny Depp And Amber Heard's Defamation Trial

The following article includes allegations of domestic abuse.

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp's volatile relationship has resulted in a media frenzy once again. This time, the actors' troubled past is being revisited in the courtroom. The ongoing trial is the result of Depp's $50 million defamation lawsuit against ex-wife Heard. Depp alleged that Heard damaged his career and reputation with an op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in 2018. In the article, the "Aquaman" actor claimed she was a victim of domestic abuse, but she did not name Depp as her abuser. Still, Depp argued that the public concluded he was the unnamed abuser the piece alluded to and lost out on career opportunities as a result. Heard is countersuing Depp for $100 million. She argued that her ex-husband's lawsuit is just another attempt to harass her.

The lengthy trial, which is expected to last six weeks, dominated headlines within its first days of being broadcast. Depp took the stand first, and he and his legal team revealed shocking details about his and Heard's unhealthy relationship. Video recordings of this case can be found everywhere online, but some of the most shocking details of the trial are going unnoticed. Let's take a look at what may have been missed in the trial of Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard.

In an unexpected turn of events, makeup brand Milani Cosmetics temporarily played an imperative role in Johnny Depp's defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard. It all began when Heard's lawyer, Elaine Bredehoft, detailed her client's life as an alleged abuse victim. Bredehoft claimed Heard used a Milani Cosmetics makeup palette to cover the bruises Depp left her with. "This is what Amber carried in her purse for the entire relationship with Johnny Depp," Bredehoft said, the product in hand (via Law & Crime Network). "She's an actor. Do you honestly think she would have left her apartment ever without makeup? Do you think she would ever have wanted other people to see her bruises and cuts?"

The accuracy of this claim was questioned on social media after Milani Cosmetics came forward to debunk the assumption that Heard used the exact same palette Bredehoft presented in court. The makeup brand took to TikTok to share a video that revealed the palette was not released until 2017, a year after Heard and Depp finalized their divorce. Of course, Heard's team defended themselves against those who suggested the actor had no bruises to cover. "Heard's lawyer was using an example of the kind of makeup that she used," a source told People. The jury may soon find out about the makeup palette debacle, because a fan revealed that she spoke to Depp's lawyers about the incident and was told to email them the information.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

Johnny Depp's former house manager, Ben King, took the stand during the trial to reveal shocking information that displayed the severity of the violence between the former couple. He claimed that a fight at Depp's vacation home in Australia led to immense damage to their home, as well as to a severe injury. The alleged altercation even reportedly left Depp with a severed finger, although King did not explicitly state who or what caused the injury. He did, however, claim he saw no injuries on Amber Heard following the apparently violent argument.

The former employee was also asked to detail the moments that led up to finding the actor's severed finger wrapped in a paper towel. King explained that he observed the damage done to the home as he walked into the bar area. He went on to claim that a TV was cracked, furniture was destroyed, and blood could be found throughout the house. "Various art materials were on the floor. A lot of paint on the floor. Blood drips throughout that area as well," King said (via Law & Crime Network).

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard finalized their divorce in 2017 after being married for just over a year. Heard first initiated the divorce in 2016, during which time she also requested a temporary restraining order against Depp, per CNN. Despite Heard alleging that domestic abuse led her to seek the restraining order, the couple later released a statement that suggested physical harm wasn't a factor in their separation. "Neither party has made false accusations for financial gain. There was never any intent of physical or emotional harm. Amber wishes the best for Johnny in the future," the message read in part (via Vogue UK).

This statement may have just been an attempt to quiet speculation in the media, because both Heard and Depp told very different stories in court. During the trial, Heard's legal team argued that Depp did get violent during their relationship. "They're all very legitimate photographs and listen carefully to the evidence from the experts and you will find every single piece is authenticated and is true," Heard's attorney, Elaine Bredehoft, said of photos of the actor's bruises brought in as evidence of Depp's alleged abuse (via Law & Crime Network). "And they show bruises and they show cut lips, they show hair pulled out of her hair ... they show two black eyes when he headbutted her." Meanwhile, Depp argued that Heard's accusations are false and that he instead was a victim of domestic violence.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

Johnny Depp's defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard is not the first time the couple's relationship was analyzed in the courtroom. Depp went to court against The Sun in 2020. He filed a libel suit against the outlet, which he claimed falsely accused him of being a "wife beater." This case did not work out in Depp's favor, however, because Justice Andrew Nicol ruled that The Sun's accusatory article was truthful. "Taking all the evidence together, I accept that [Heard] was the victim of sustained and multiple assaults by Mr. Depp in Australia," Nicol said at the trial's conclusion (via the BBC).

As previously mentioned, the incident at Depp's home in Australia was revisited again during the actor's 2022 lawsuit against Heard. However, Depp alleged he was the victim in this situation. The actor claimed Heard attacked him and severed his finger with a glass bottle. He explained an argument erupted after lawyers met with Heard to arrange a post-nuptial agreement. "All I could do was try to calm her down and say I was not out to screw her over or put her in a position that was uncomfortable," Depp alleged (via the AP Archive). "It did not work, it escalated and turned into madness, chaos, violence." This incident played a major role in the 2020 suit, which Depp lost. We'll have to wait and see if this is any indication of how the 2022 defamation lawsuit will end.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

Like many celebrity court cases, Johnny Depp's defamation lawsuit has brought a lot of attention. Fans were able to sit in on the trial if they arrived at the Fairfax, Virginia courtroom early enough to join the small audience. As you may have guessed, this resulted in a bit of chaos. Judge Penney Azcarate seemingly predicted fans would get riled up during the heated trial, because she listed very specific rules for spectators to abide by. "Audible comments of any kind during the court proceedings or provocative or uncivil behavior within the courtroom or courthouse will not be tolerated," Azcarate wrote in a document. "Anyone violating this Order will be expelled immediately from the courtroom and will not be able to return during the pendency of the trial."

Unfortunately for Azcarate, this is exactly what some audience members did. According to the Los Angeles Times, fans lost it after Depp couldn't recall the movies he's starred in. "I don't watch them," Depp replied when asked to list off his previous acting roles. "I feel better not watching them. I couldn't, um, I — what was the question?" The judge then threatened to remove audience members who erupted in laughter after Depp's comment. The "Alice in Wonderland" actor's fans also caused chaos by sharing a few words with Amber Heard as she left the courthouse. A small crowd can be seen on video hurling insults at the actor as she seemingly ignored the comments.

Numerous witnesses took the stand in Johnny Depp's defense, but the memorable Alejandro Romero stood out from the rest. He was previously employed as Depp and Amber Heard's doorman. If you've been watching the trial live, you were likely shocked to see Romero give his testimony via a pre-recorded video from his car. The former doorman also took the time to smoke a vaping device in between statements. "I know you guys sent me the papers to review, and I'll be honest, I didn't want to review them because it's been so long," he said in the recording (via the Daily Mail).

Romero seemingly wasn't afraid to share his grievances with the judge and jury, because he also stated: "I'm tired ... I don't want to deal with this court case ... everybody's got problems and I don't want to deal with this no more." Even judge Penney Azcarate appeared to be thrown off by the bizarre testimony. She had a word with Heard's lawyer, Elaine Bredehoft, about the strange video. "That was a first, I'm sorry," Azcarate told the attorney (via the Daily Mail).

As previously mentioned, Johnny Depp claimed that his career suffered after Amber Heard came forward with abuse allegations in her op-ed for The Washington Post. The actor also argued that the allegations were falsified to tarnish his reputation. While the courts have yet to make an official legal decision on whether Heard's claims were true or false, Depp was reportedly asked to resign from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie franchise after news of the alleged domestic abuse surfaced.

He also took to Instagram to reveal he was let go from the "Fantastic Beasts" franchise after he lost his libel suit against The Sun. In the post, he penned a letter to fans that read, in part: "Finally I wish to say this. The surreal judgement of the court in the UK will not change my fight to tell the truth and I confirm that I plan to appeal." The actor continued on with a closing statement. "My resolve remains strong and I intend to prove that the allegations against me are false. My life and career will not be defined by this moment in time." It seems that even then, the "City of Lies" actor was adamant about rebuilding his reputation, so it is perhaps no surprise that he has maintained the same argument during his 2022 trial.

Psychologist Dr. Shannon Curry took to the stand to speak on Amber Heard's mental state and personality as the result of a psychological evaluation. During Curry's cross-examination, Heard's attorney, Elaine Bredehoft, questioned the doctor's credibility, given that she had previously met with Johnny Depp in a casual setting. "You did have dinner with Mr. Depp, did you not?" Bredehoft asked Curry (via Law & Crime Network). The attorney also asked if she drank with Depp. Curry then replied: "I did ... Drinks were served. This was over two years ago. I may have had a drink with dinner, yes."

While this information could lead the judge and jury to question Curry's intentions as a witness, Heard was the main focus of the psychologist's statements. Curry claimed that a psychological evaluation revealed the "London Fields" star showed traits of borderline personality disorder as well as histrionic personality disorder. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, borderline personality disorder can cause those diagnosed to experience sudden and extreme changes in mood, as well as issues controlling anger. Those with histrionic personality disorder often behave dramatically and require approval from others to feel secure, as explained by Cleveland Clinic's website. The jury will be left to decide if the possibility of these two disorders could have anything to do with Heard's alleged behavior.

Tara Roberts was among those who took the stand to describe a violent incident between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp. Roberts managed Depp's private island in the Bahamas for over a decade, so she was able to provide plenty of detail about his relationship with Heard. The employee claimed she observed an argument in which Heard got violent. She alleged it all started when Depp escaped to the staff office after a disagreement with Heard. Heard reportedly begged Depp to return home, but he instead got into his car with the intention of driving away. Roberts then claimed that Heard stood in front of the actor's car to prevent him from leaving. The couple supposedly returned home together, where the argument continued.

Roberts claimed she listened in on their yelling spat (via Law & Crime Network). "Amber was telling him that he was a washed-up actor," alleged Roberts. "He was going to die a fat, lonely old man. Then you heard, 'You hit me with a can,' you heard Johnny say, 'You hit me with a can.'" The island manager went on to explain that she observed a mark on the bridge of Depp's nose, but didn't see any injuries on Heard the following day. Heard's witnesses have yet to testify as of this writing, so we'll have to wait and see if they have a different recollection of her behavior.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

Tara Roberts, who was previously mentioned, was also cross-examined by Amber Heard's lawyers regarding Johnny Depp's behavior. Her responses suggested Depp was dealing with some internal struggles during his time on the island in the Bahamas. Heard's lawyer, Elaine Bredehoft, went through a list of questions that hinted at Depp's alleged drug and alcohol use. "Do you recall Mr. Depp passing out in the sand face-first?" Bredehoft asked Roberts (via Court TV). "I recall that he was passed out on the beach," the island manager responded. You may recall that Depp did admit to using drugs and alcohol during the trial, however, he claimed he only used these substances occasionally when experiencing personal troubles.

Bredehoft also questioned Roberts about the "Fantastic Beasts" star's children, Lily-Rose and Jack Depp. The attorney suggested they were upset with Depp's behavior on the island, which led them to leave the yacht the family was on together. Unfortunately for Heard's legal team, Roberts revealed she didn't know whether the actor's son was angry with his father after finding him passed out in the sand (via Court TV).

Johnny Depp's exes came to his defense at the start of his legal battles regarding Amber Heard's abuse accusations. Vanessa Paradis, with whom the actor shares two children, submitted a document in support of Depp at the start of his defamation lawsuit in 2019. "I am aware of the allegations which Amber Heard has publicly accused Johnny of for more than 4 years now," Paradis said in part, according to The Blast. "This is nothing like the true Johnny I have known, and from my personal experience of many years, I can say he was never violent or abusive to me."

In an interview with Time, Winona Ryder also revealed that she did not experience abuse during her romantic relationship with Depp. "I'm not calling anyone a liar. I'm just saying, it's difficult and upsetting for me to wrap my head around it," the "Stranger Things" star said of the accusations against Depp. "Look, it was a long time ago, but we were together for four years, and it was a big relationship for me. Imagine if someone you dated when you were — I was 17 when I met him — was accused of that. It's just shocking. I have never seen him be violent toward a person before." She also explained Depp was supportive and protective of her during her pregnancy. Although Depp's past lovers speak fondly of him, it is possible Heard saw a completely different side of the actor.

By now, you've probably heard about the feces found in Johnny Depp's bed that was reportedly left by Amber Heard. Depp took to the stand to detail the alleged discovery. "Then he showed me a photograph on his telephone of ... it was a photograph of our bed, and on my side of the bed, was human fecal matter," Depp said, explaining that his security guard shared the information with him (via Newsweek). However, one of Depp's witnesses claimed that the bizarre incident was part of a planned joke. Security guard Starling Jenkins III claimed that he spoke with Heard about the situation following an argument between the couple. During the trial, Jenkins was asked about what Heard had to say about allegedly defecating in Depp's bed. He replied that she called the incident "A horrible practical joke gone wrong" (via Entertainment Tonight).

The internet didn't delay in making a joke out of the supposed defecation after things came to light in the courtroom. Trolls coined the phrase "Amber Turd," which quickly began trending on numerous social media platforms. Some social media users even went to the extent of reposting clips of Depp laughing about the incident on TikTok.