Security guard Travis McGivern testified Monday that he had to remove Johnny Depp from a situation due to the actor’s ex-wife Amber Heard physically assaulting him. Heard allegedly punched Depp in the face during the incident, threw a can of Red Bull at the actor, and tried to spit on him.
Depp is suing the “Aquaman” actress for more than $50 million over alleged defamation stemming from an op-ed Heard penned at The Washington Post claiming to be a victim of domestic violence. Heard has countersued for more than $100 million.
“At some point, I witnessed Ms. Heard throw a Red Bull can … that struck Mr. Depp in the back,” testified McGivern, who has worked for Depp for several years. “At that point, I moved closer to Mr. Depp. … I didn’t want my client to get hit with anything else.”
“The verbal onslaught continued, from both of them,” he added. “Ms. Heard threw something else, either a purse or a bag … [and] I was able to knock it away so it didn’t hit [Depp]. … At one point, she spit at him. Yeah, and just a lot of verbal vitriol from both of ’em.”
McGivern said Heard told Depp during the argument, “you’re f***ing washed up,” “you’re a f***ing c***,” and made remarks about the actor being a “deadbeat dad.” The security guard said Depp participated equally in the verbal exchanges, giving “as good as he got.”
McGivern said that after Heard and her sister left the area, Depp “threw down probably every rack of clothing” from Heard’s closet.
When the sisters returned to where Depp was, McGivern said he stepped between Heard and Depp, moments before Heard allegedly punched Depp.
“I heard and saw a closed fist contact Mr. Depp in the left side of his face,” he testified. “That was Amber Heard’s fist.”
“At that point, I wasn’t going to let Mr. Depp get hit anymore, so I moved him down the last flight of stairs to the lower level and told him we’re leaving … just for his sake,” McGivern said. “I let him get hit by a Red Bull can, I let him get punched … it was my time to do my job and get him out of there.”
McGivern also testified during Depp’s libel case in London in July 2020.
Pubic opinion seems to be turning against Heard since Depp and other witnesses have been testifying this month in the defamation case. Heard last week notably fired her public relations team, the New York Post confirmed.
An expert told Law&Crime that the timing of the firing is “unusual.”
“It’s certainly unusual to change teams right before the defense goes. Maybe things will improve for them, maybe they won’t,” the expert said. “It’s just inherent that you get negative headlines when you’re getting being attacked by the plaintiff on national tv for weeks at a time. You have to weather the storm and try to turn the page.”
Notably, there’s been a host of Depp fans packing the courtroom, or waiting outside with supportive signs, seeing if they can snag a photo or glimpse of the actor. The glaring Depp-support was highlighted by The New York Times as so-called courtroom “Stan” culture.
“A frenzied scene materializes four days a week at the Fairfax County Courthouse in Virginia as fans seek seats at the defamation trial between Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard,” the Times reported. “The line to enter the courthouse begins before sunrise. Throughout the day, people appear carrying signs, wearing fan merch and costumes, even walking a pair of alpacas. Nearly all of them are there for Mr. Depp.”
Heard, on the other hand, is being protested by “Aquaman” fans. A change.org petition asking to exclude the actress from “Aquaman 2” has garnered more than 2 million signatures, The Daily Wire reported Friday.
Heard is expected to testify later this week.
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