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Amber Heard testifies she was assaulted by actor Johnny Depp

Depp Heard Lawsuit
Posted at 11:50 AM, May 04, 2022
and last updated 2022-05-04 21:13:55-04

FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — Amber Heard says she knew she should leave Johnny Depp the first time he hit her, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Heard took the stand in her own defense on Wednesday as part of a libel lawsuit Depp filed against her. Heard says Depp slapped her multiple times after she laughed at one of Depp's tattoos. She says she walked away but a few days later Depp came back with an apology, a few cases of her favorite wine, and a promise he’d never do it again.

Heard says multiple acts of abuse from Depp later followed, including sexual violence. Depp has denied ever hitting Heard and says he was the abuse victim.

The "Pirates of the Caribbean" star is suing Heard in Fairfax, Virginia, over an op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post describing herself as "a public figure representing domestic abuse."

The article didn't name Depp, but he says he was defamed because it clearly referred to accusations she raised during their divorce. Depp said he filed the lawsuit because it was his best chance to reclaim his reputation.

While he was on the witness stand, jurors heard audio clips of the actor shouting vulgarities at Heard and warning that if he didn't walk away, it would be "a bloodbath like it was on the island."

Depp added that his ex-wife has falsely portrayed him as a domestic abuser. They first met on the movie set for "The Rum Diary" in 2011. They married in 2015, only to divorce a year later.

Depp has denied ever abusing Heard, saying she abused drugs and often attacked him violently.