Johnny Depp was painted because the sufferer in his relationship with Amber Heard by a number of witnesses referred to as to the stand Monday — alleging the actor was punched, “canceled” and misplaced out on a $22.5 million film deal due to his vindictive and abusive ex-wife.
The Fairfax, Virginia, jury in Depp’s $50 million defamation lawsuit in opposition to Heard heard concerning the ex-couple’s unstable union, together with how the actress allegedly as soon as chucked a can of Crimson Bull on the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star and referred to as him a “f–ing deadbeat dad.”
“You identify it, she’s spewed it,” Travis McGivern, Depp’s longtime bodyguard, testified about Heard.
The jurors have been additionally advised about how an op-ed by Heard, 36, wherein she referred to as herself a “public determine representing home abuse” had “devastated” Depp’s profession.
The actor’s expertise supervisor Jack Whigham testified that the 2018 essay sank a large $22.5 million cope with Disney for Depp to reprise his function as Captain Jack Sparrow within the “Pirates” franchise.
“After the op-ed, it was unattainable to get him a studio movie,” stated Whigham, who has represented Depp since 2016.
The actor, 58, was not named within the Washington Put up essay — which is on the heart of the continued trial — however he claims it clearly referenced him and ruined his profession, broken his popularity and value him tens of tens of millions of {dollars}.
Heard’s legal professionals went to lengths to attempt to present the actress’ claims have been hardly the one factor about Depp that may make movie-goers squeamish, pointing to the time he insinuated he wished to kill then-President Donald Trump and his obvious historical past of exhibiting up drunk to occasions.
Depp’s group, in the meantime, tried to color Heard because the unhinged one of their relationship, questioning McGivern about alleged violent incidents he witnessed over his 9 years working for Depp.
The safety guard recalled on the stand how Heard as soon as slugged Depp on the left aspect of his face throughout a struggle in 2015 at their Los Angeles penthouse.
“The preliminary look on his face type of mirrored mine, type of a glance of shock,” McGivern stated of Depp’s response.
Depp “had a pleasant little shiner” from the punch, the bodyguard stated, noting the actor’s face was swollen and purple within the aftermath, and that he didn’t retaliate.
McGivern claimed he witnessed Heard’s barrage of verbal abuse directed at Depp, together with how she referred to as the daddy of two a “f—ing deadbeat dad,” and a “f—ing cunt.”
The bodyguard stated he was as soon as even the topic of Heard’s alleged wrath, testifying that she “demeaned” and mocked him for his chosen career.
“She referred to as me a ‘sure man,’ ” he stated. “Threw some shade on me and my chosen profession.
Heard claims that Depp abused her bodily and sexually over their relationship, however he has denied the allegations, accusing her of being the violent one.
Heard’s former nurse Erin Falatai advised the jury about textual content messages with images of Heard’s purple and bruised face that she obtained from the actress.
However requested what she made from the images, Falatai replied, “I’m not an skilled … I imply there’s shade on her face in numerous areas, I don’t know what’s what.”
The “Aquaman” star filed for divorce from Depp in 2016 and obtained a short lived restraining order in opposition to him, alleging he abused her whereas he was drunk and excessive.
Depp’s agent, Whigham, stated the actor was nonetheless capable of work after the claims of abuse first got here out in 2016, and was paid $8 million for “Metropolis Of Lies,” $10 million for “Homicide on the Orient Specific” and $13.5 million for “Unbelievable Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.” The flicks have been shot in 2017, underneath contracts reached earlier than the allegations have been made in opposition to Depp.
However after the op-ed, Whigham testified, it was a battle to get Depp work, and by 2019 it was clear he wouldn’t be portraying Jack Sparrow on the large display screen once more.
A Hollywood lawyer referred to as by Depp’s group as an skilled witness additionally advised the jury how Heard’s essay “canceled” the A-lister.
“You wouldn’t need negativity hiring an actor who quote-unquote had been canceled,” Richard Marks stated, including “family-friendly” Disney wouldn’t need their identify related to a star accused of abuse.
“Disney is especially delicate,” stated the longtime lawyer.
Depp’s group additionally referred to as one other skilled witness, Douglas Bania, who focuses on mental property damages and valuations. He testified about his evaluation of the actor’s public notion within the wake of the op-ed.
Bania stated Heard enormously “broken” her ex-husband’s standing.
“The general public notion of Mr. Depp has been broken,” he advised the jury, including, “They like him much less.”
Heard has but to testify however may take the stand by Wednesday. Over the weekend, The Put up reported, she scrapped her PR group and employed a brand new agency in a last-minute scramble to raised place herself within the press because the highly-watched case continues.
The primary witness to be referred to as when Heard’s legal professionals start presenting their case will probably be medical and forensic psychologist Dr. Daybreak Hughes, The Put up confirmed Monday.
A psychologist employed by Depp’s group, Dr. Shannon Curry, who analyzed Heard over a 12-hour session testified final week that the actress has borderline persona dysfunction and histrionic persona dysfunction.
With Put up wires
