Actor Johnny Depp and ex-wife Amber Heard are now speaking out about the trial through their respective legal teams.
The couple is facing each other at the Fairfax County Circuit Court. The “Pirates of the Caribbean” actor is suing his ex-wife for $50 million over a December 2018 op-ed Heard wrote for the Washington Post where she claims that she is a domestic violence survivor. Although she did not mention Depp by name, he claims that he has lost movie roles due to the “clear implication” that he was the “Aquaman” actress’ abuser. Heard is countersuing for $100 million dollars.
On Friday, May 6, both teams issued a statement in regards to Heard’s testimony, which started on Wednesday, May 4. The court will be taking a break next week due to the judge’s prior commitment, but Heard will take the stand again on Monday, May 16, to be cross-examined by Depp’s legal team.
Johnny Depp’s Spokesperson Says Amber Heard Gave ‘The Performance Of Her Life’
A spokesperson for Depp told PEOPLE, “As Mr. Depp’s counsel correctly predicted in their opening statements last month, Ms. Heard did indeed deliver ‘the performance of her life’ in her direct examination.”
“While Ms. Heard’s stories have continued to grow new and convenient details, Mr. Depp’s recollections have remained exactly the same throughout the six painful years since her first allegations were made,” Depp’s spokesperson continued. “His truth — the truth — is the same no matter the environment in which it has been presented.”
“The upcoming cross-examination from Mr. Depp’s team will be most telling, and will certainly highlight the many fallacies Ms. Heard has now attempted to pass off as fact throughout her convoluted testimony,” the spokesperson concluded.
However, Heard’s spokesperson had a statement of their own that they gave to the publication.
Amber Heard’s Spokesperson Says Johnny Depp’s Defamation Claim Is ‘Falling Apart’
“As evidenced by the statement just released, Mr. Depp’s defamation claim is falling apart so rapidly that his counsel is turning from prosecutor to persecutor,” said Heard’s spokesperson, in response to the statement that Depp’s spokesperson gave.
“They boast that Mr. Depp’s story has not changed,” the spokesperson continued. “If so, since he lost the Domestic Violence Restraining Order and he resoundingly lost the libel case in the UK, perhaps he should consider a new strategy rather than the recycled approach of attacking the victim, and refusing to take responsibility for his own conduct.”
“If Mr. Depp was truly innocent, why has he repeatedly apologized to Ms. Heard and promised to put the ‘monster away for good,’” they continued. Many audio clips throughout the trial have heard both Depp and Heard refer to Johnny Depp’s inner “monster.”
Amber Heard Is Reportedly Disappointed In Johnny Depp
Heard’s spokesperson added that one of Heard’s “disappointments” is that she feels that Depp has an “inability to distinguish fact from fiction — a malady which appears to have spread to his legal team.”
“That same team is so panicked they are fighting tooth and nail to prevent compelling evidence and photos from being introduced,” Heard’s spokesperson continued. “Small wonder Mr. Depp does not have the fortitude or courage to even look at Ms. Heard at all throughout the proceedings — as he could not in the UK trial — and, instead he doodles and snickers.”
Many users watching the trial have noted that Depp has refused to look at his ex-wife throughout the proceedings. Heard, who had remained composed and collected while watching Depp give his testimony, seemed to break down on the stand and sob while recounting graphic allegations of both physical, sexual, and psychological abuse.
Heard’s spokesperson concluded, “Mr. Depp’s behavior in this trial has been as pitiful as it was in their marriage. They feel they must double-down on their demonstrably losing two-part strategy: distract the jury and demonize the victim.”
However, it seems that the court of public opinion may be turning against Heard. Her role in the “Aquaman” sequel was reportedly reduced to less than ten minutes of screen time as a petition to remove her from the film entirely grew to over three million signatures.
