Johnny Depp has accused his ex-wife Amber Heard of having “painted-on bruises,” as he denied being physically abusive in newly filed court documents.
The actors married in 2015 before an acrimonious divorce two years later, with both sides accusing the other of violence.
After Heard wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post in December 2018, describing herself as a victim of domestic abuse, Depp launched a $50m defamation lawsuit against her. Heard asked a judge in Virginia to dismiss the lawsuit, drawing a new response from Depp.
Depp, 55, wrote in a declaration:
“I have denied Ms. Heard’s allegations vehemently since she first made them in May 2016 when she walked into court to obtain a temporary restraining order with painted-on bruises that witnesses and surveillance footage show she did not possess each day of the preceding week … I will continue to deny them for the rest of my life.”
Depp added: “I never abused Ms Heard or any other woman.” He then went on to allege Heard was the aggressor in the relationship.
He said: “She was the perpetrator, and I was the victim. While mixing prescription amphetamines and non-prescription drugs with alcohol, Ms Heard committed innumerable acts of domestic violence against me, often in the presence of a third-party witness, which in some instances caused me serious bodily harm.”
He says Amber’s “lies are internally inconsistent, shifting, and directly contradicted by overwhelming sworn testimonial, photographic, audio, video, and other evidence.”
“Throughout our relationship, Ms. Heard also committed domestic violence against me. She hit, punched, and kicked me. She also repeatedly and frequently threw objects into my body and head, including heavy bottles, soda cans, burning candles, television remote controls, and paint thinner cans, which severely injured me.”
Their current legal battle began in March this year when Depp accused her of punching him and severing his finger.
Denying the claims, her attorney Eric M. George said: “This frivolous action is just the latest of Johnny Depp’s repeated efforts to silence Amber Heard. She will not be silenced.”
