A nonprofit group aimed at supporting women and children abuse victims released a statement on Friday in support of actor Johnny Depp, who is suing his ex-wife Amber Heard over an op-ed she wrote about domestic violence.
Mission NGO founder and president Valeria Altobelli, a former Miss Italy, said in a statement that the support group, as “women” and “free thinkers,” have “compassion” for Depp.
“In deep respect of the victims of domestic abuses [sic] that we have to affirm for intellectual honesty are, generally, WOMEN, we feel to express, as women, as mothers, as free thinkers, our compassion for Johnny Depp in this bad page of his personal history,” the statement said, suggesting Depp is an exception to the general rule that women are almost always the victims of domestic abuse.
“As women, we have compassion and we feel empathy not for THE star, THE talent, THE actor but for a man, a father, a worker, A HUMAN,” the former beauty queen also wrote in an open letter. “Mental Health is something we have to care about to live in a positive environment where women and men can love and respect each other without any kind of abuse and violence. We are human and we have to find the HUMANITY we are born to live for.”
The Italy-based organization is reportedly active in 150 countries.
Depp is suing Heard for more than $50 million over the alleged defamation he said tanked his career. Heard has countersued for $100 million.
Last month, a jury heard audio of the “Aquaman” actress admitting to “hitting” Depp.
“I didn’t punch you, by the way,” Heard said in the provided audio. “I’m sorry that I didn’t hit you across the face in a proper slap. But, I was hitting you. It was not punching you.”
“You’ve been in a lot of fights, you’ve been around a long time,” she continued. “You didn’t get punched. You got hit. I’m sorry I hit you like this, but I did not punch you. I did not f***ing deck you. I f***ing was hitting you. I don’t know what the motion of my actual hand was.”
“But you’re fine,” the actress told Depp. “I did not hurt you, I did not punch you, I was hitting you.”
“I’m not sitting here b****ing about, am I? You are. That’s the difference between me and you. You’re a f***ing baby,” Heard said. “You are such a baby! Grow the f*** up, Johnny.”
“I did start a physical fight,” she admitted before Depp explained why he had to get “the f*** out of there.”
“Yes, you did. You did the right thing, the big thing. You were admirable,” Heard added.