Actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s divorce was one of the ugliest high-profile divorces in recent memory. There was celebrity bad behavior involving Depp’s hard partying-lifestyle, but most damaging were Heard’s allegations of physical and emotional abuse, which led to a restraining order against Depp in 2016 and subsequent divorce in 2017.
More than just making accusations, Heard also appeared on the cover of People magazine with a face that was bruised. The Aquaman co-star subsequently also published a recent op-ed piece in the Washington Post detailing the backlash she experienced as a woman making accusations of abuse (in this case, Depp was not named, but the context was clear).
Depp seeks damages
Depp and his legal team now seek $50 million in damages for false allegations. According to a statement, there is information from two law enforcement officers involving separate events, many third-party witnesses, and 87 newly acquired surveillance camera videos that reputedly prove that Heard was lying about events taking place in a penthouse where he reportedly struck her with a cell phone and destroyed the residence.
Other claims by Depp include:
- She threw a vodka bottle at him, severely injuring a finger when he asked for a postnuptial agreement.
- The op-ed piece resulted in him losing his signature role as Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
- Depp and his team also claim that Heard (and not him) has a history of abusing others, including once in 2009 at the Seattle airport.
Accusations and more accusations
The financial impact of this angry divorce has been substantial with some claiming that Depp’s $400 million estate is in disarray. The courts will likely be involved before the truth comes out, but any allegation of abuse must be taken seriously.
While defamation is a separate area of law, an Experienced Board-Certified Family Law expert attorney who works in Collin County, Dallas County, Denton County or elsewhere throughout Texas can oversee divorce, custody and dividing assets even under the most contentious of divorces. If there are multiple disputes involving the marriage, they can also work with the other attorneys to ensure that the different teams are all on the same page as they seek a positive resolution of their respective cases.