Johnny Depp took the stand Tuesday in his defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard, saying her domestic abuse allegations against him were “heinous” and “not based in any species of truth.”
Wearing his hair slicked back, the “Pirates of the Caribbean” actor told the court “I want to clear my name.”
Asked how he felt about so many details of his personal life being discussed in the trial, Depp said: “It’s quite unfortunate and it’s embarrassing.” He added that he’s concerned for his children but wants the truth to come out. “I am obsessed with the truth,” he said.
Depp was called to the stand when court resumed after lunch and said this is his first opportunity to speak out about this case. He told the court, “Nothing of the kind had ever happened,” regarding Heard’s abuse claims. In defending himself he added, “Never did I reach the point of striking Ms. Heard in any way or any woman in my life.”
Depp says ex-wife Amber Heard defamed him by claiming in a Washington Post op-ed to be a victim of domestic abuse. Depp is not named in the article but claims it damaged his career, and is seeking $50 million in damages; Heard has counter-sued for $100 million.
Depp and Heard married in 2015 but split in May 2016, when Heard sought a domestic violence restraining order and accused him of abusing her. Depp denied the claims, and the two settled their divorce out of court in August 2016.
Heard was also expected to take the stand during what could be a six-week trial in Fairfax, Virginia.