Johnny Depp shared what he claims was the final text message he received from Amber Heard ahead of their divorce battle.
In May 2016, Heard filed for divorce from the Pirates of the Caribbean star, as well as taking out a restraining order and accusing her husband of domestic abuse.
Depp denied the allegations, and launched a defamation case against Heard after she described herself as the victim of domestic abuse in the Washington Post in December 2018.
In recently obtained court papers filed in Fairfax County, Virginia, the actor made a declaration claiming Heard’s bruises, which she said were from Depp, were staged.
According to the MailOnline, Depp’s declaration read:
When I did not accede to her demand for money, Ms. Heard publicly accused me of domestic violence, seeking and receiving a temporary restraining order against me when appearing in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday, May 27, 2016 with a first-ever-seen prominent bruise and cut on her face that she claimed resulted from being hit in the face by a cell phone thrown by me and further facial battering from “some appendage” of mine on the evening of May 21, 2016.
Again, this domestic violence allegation was untrue, and Ms. Heard’s purported injury was staged.
The 55-year-old also shared the text message which his then-wife reportedly sent ahead of the divorce battle, which said she and Depp could ‘do this or undue [sic] this as we see fit. You and I have the control. And love each other’.
The message continued:
I thought you filed [for divorce]. You said you were going to and said goodbye. I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you. I have nothing but love for you.
According to the BBC, Depp went on to say that he was the victim of Heard’s abuse, rather than the other way around.
He said:
I never abused Ms Heard or any other woman. She was the perpetrator, and I was the victim.
The actor spoke of an incident which had happened a decade ago, involving Heard and her then-wife, which saw Heard get arrested.
Depp wrote:
Ms. Heard was arrested in Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in 2009 after police officers observed her committing domestic violence against her then-wife Tasya Van Ree.
Ms. Heard’s wife asked police to arrest Ms. Heard. The King County prosecutor declined to charge Ms. Heard only because neither she nor her victim were residents of King County, Washington, but not before Ms. Heard spent a night in jail and appeared before a judge in court.
The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory actor claimed he had also spoken to others who were involved with Heard and had experienced abuse from her, saying:
Several women who have been in a relationship with Ms. Heard have come forward to share their personal experiences of brutal violence and other abuse at the hands of Ms. Heard.
My advisors have and continue to interview these victims, who remain deeply fearful of Ms. Heard, and to collect evidence from these victims.
Depp also claimed his ex-wife was under the influence of drugs and alcohol when she committed acts of violence against him.
He stated in his declaration:
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 third party witnesses, which in some instances caused me serious bodily injury.
Multiple of these commissions of violence against me she has even admitted to under oath.
The new declaration was prompted from Depp after Heard asked a judge in Virginia to dismiss the lawsuit.
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Emily Brown first began delivering important news stories aged just 13, when she launched her career with a paper round. She graduated with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University, and went on to become a freelance writer and blogger. Emily contributed to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news as well as longer form features.