All arguments aside, it’s become clear that Johnny Depp and Amber Heard had an extremely toxic relationship.
Many of the sordid details have been revealed over the course of a very public trial. Depp said he brought the $50 million defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife to clear his name after being accused of abuse and losing his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the lucrative “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise.
Heard, 36, claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse in an op-ed published by The Washington Post in 2018. Depp wasn’t mentioned by name, but his lawyers claim it is obvious he was the aggressor in the article. They argue the fallout cost him his career as well as his reputation.
Though, in order to understand where Depp and Heard landed, we first need to revisit where they started. This is a comprehensive timeline of the ill-fated romance that ended with so much drama:
2009: Heard and Depp meet on a movie set
The former couple were first introduced on the set of the film “The Rum Diary” in 2009. This comedy drama is based on Hunter S. Thompson’s book of the same name. In it, Depp stars as a journalist named Paul Kemp who takes a job in Puerto Rico. Heard portrays Kemp’s love interest, Chenault.
2012: Depp leaves his partner
Depp had been in a long-term relationship with Vanessa Paradis when he first met Heard. The two share two children, Lily-Rose and John Christopher, and even though they never married, they were quite serious. The couple had begun dating in 1998.
Paradis and Depp didn’t reveal the reason for their breakup beyond saying how difficult it was. During the defamation trial, however, the 57-year-old actor admitted he was attracted to Heard on the set of “The Rum Diary” and that the costars even kissed at one point while he was still involved with his former partner.
“During the scene in the shower, where we kissed. I felt something I shouldn’t have, because at that time she had her partner and I had Vanessa. It all started with that kiss in the shower,” Depp said on the stand, according to StyleCaster.
“We shared a glass of wine and kisses,” Depp continued, recounting a rendezvous in his dressing room. “Amber wanted to stay, but I realized it was best to leave it at that.”
2014: The saga begins with Depp and Heard becoming engaged
In 2014, People announced that Depp and Heard were getting married. “Of course they couldn’t be happier to be engaged and excited to share the rest of their lives together,” a source told the publication, noting that only “close friends” were told the news at first.
“Amber has really taken well to the kids and really enjoys spending time with them. And she’s even taken Lily shopping on her own for some bonding time.”
Depp and Heard’s engagement came after Heard’s split from Hawaiian artist and photographer Tasya van Ree. Heard is bisexual and had previously been in a relationship with van Ree from 2008 until their split three years later.
2015: Depp and Heard are wed
In February 2015, the couple legally married at Depp’s house in Los Angeles before jetting off to his private Bahamas island for a second beachfront ceremony. She wore a traditional white gown and veil while the actor donned a tuxedo.
“She is a free-thinker and an independent woman who makes her own decisions,” a source told People of Heard. “Her presence has changed his life.”
2016: Heard files for divorce, citing abuse
Their marriage did not last long. Just 15 months after tying the knot, Heard filed for divorce and obtained a temporary restraining order against Depp. Heard claimed that Depp had abused her while under the influence of drugs and alcohol, CNN reported.
Depp denied Heard’s claims. The issue led to a $7 million, out-of-court settlement in August 2016, of which the actress said she would donate to charity.
The actors released a joint statement at the time. It said: “Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love. Neither party has made false accusations for financial gain. There was never any intent of physical or emotional harm.”
2018: Heard writes scathing op-ed for The Washington Post
The “Aquaman” actress published an op-ed for The Washington Post in December of 2018 that focused on how women are treated in domestic abuse cases. She did not mention Depp by name.
In the article, Heard claimed to have lost out on a movie role because she spoke out.
“Friends and advisers told me I would never again work as an actress — that I would be blacklisted. A movie I was attached to recast my role,” Heard wrote.“I had just shot a two-year campaign as the face of a global fashion brand, and the company dropped me.”
The article was published amid the height of the #MeToo movement, which the actress also referenced in the piece. She called it a “transformative political moment.”
She also described “powerful men” as a ship, like the Titanic. “When it strikes an iceberg, there are a lot of people on board desperate to patch up holes — not because they believe in or even care about the ship, but because their own fates depend on the enterprise,” she continued.
2019: Depp sues Heard for defamation
After the article was published, Depp sued Heard for $50 million, claiming her allegations had led to him losing millions in acting work. The most notable of these was being axed from Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, according to Depp.
Heard has since tried to have the lawsuit dismissed several times and failed. She filed a $100 million countersuit against her ex-husband in 2020.
2020: Depp loses lawsuit against a tabloid that allegedly lied about him
The actor also served tabloid publisher The Sun with a lawsuit after the publication released an article in 2018 claiming he was violent against Heard.
Depp denied he ever abused her, while Heard said during her testimony that Depp threatened to kill her “many times.”
The U.K. court ruled in favor of The Sun.
2022: Depp’s defamation trial against Heard begins
The trial for Depp’s defamation case against Heard began in Virginia on April 12, 2022.
Many shocking revelations have come to light, from the disturbing to the absurd. Social media exploded with memes following the claims that Heard defecated in Depp’s bed after a fight as a “practical joke.”
There are audio recordings, photos, and videos that back up claims of abuse from both parties.
During his testimony, Depp admitted to being the victim of childhood abuse at the hands of his mother and to struggling with substance abuse as well. Through it all, he maintains that he never physically assaulted Heard.
“Never did I myself reach the point of striking Ms. Heard in any way nor have I ever struck any woman in my life,” Depp said on the stand.
Meanwhile, the actor claimed that Heard severed his finger by throwing a glass vodka bottle at him. Heard said that Depp cut his own finger off while intoxicated.
Heard also taunted Depp in an audio recording and admitted to physically assaulting him.
“You can tell people it was a fair fight … see what the jury and judge think. Tell the world, Johnny, tell them — ‘Johnny Depp, I, Johnny Depp, a man, I’m a victim, too, of domestic violence … and it’s a fair fight,’” Heard said in the audio recording, as The Daily Wire previously reported. “And see how many people believe or side with you.”
The rest of the audio revealed further details of the altercation.
“I didn’t punch you, by the way,” Heard says. “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,” she 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,” she added. “You are such a baby! Grow the f*** up, Johnny.”
She also claimed that she and a security guard were forced to clean up after the actor when he “lost control of his bowels” while intoxicated.
As of this writing, the trial is still ongoing. Following a scheduled break next week, the trial will continue and is expected to turn over to the jury’s deliberation on May 27, 2022.
The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.