Amber Heard was grilled this week by her ex-husband Johnny Depp’s legal team over a 2009 incident of alleged domestic abuse with Heard’s then-girlfriend, artist Tasya van Ree.
Depp is suing Heard for more than $50 million over alleged defamation stemming from an op-ed Heard wrote in 2016 at The Washington Post about domestic violence. Heard has since countersued for $100 million.
“So Mr. Depp is not the only domestic partner you’ve assaulted, is he, Ms. Heard?” Depp attorney Camille Vasquez pressed the “Aquaman” actress in a Virginia court at the end of a series of questions.
“You committed domestic violence again Ms. van Ree during your relationship, didn’t you?” the attorney started in on Heard.
Heard responded, “No, I did not.”
“You assaulted her at a Seattle airport in 2009, didn’t you?” Vasquez continued.
“No, I did not,” Heard said.
“And people saw that,” Vasquez stated.
“That’s not true,” the 36-year-old replied.
“And it was covered in the press, isn’t that true?” Depp’s attorney said.
Heard said the story was “planted in the press by Johnny’s team, two days after I got the TRO [temporary restraining order]. Not coincidentally.”
Vasquez then read a headline from 2020 media report about the incident, “Amber Heard allegedly grabbed, struck her ex-girlfriend at the airport.”
“So, Mr. Depp is not the only domestic partner you’ve assaulted, is he, Ms. Heard?” the attorney wrapped up her questioning.
“I’ve never assaulted Mr. Depp or anyone else that I’ve been romantically linked to, ever,” Heard insisted.
“No further questions, your honor,” Vasquez closed.
Back in 2016, and years following, numerous news articles were published about the 2009 incident with Heard and her then-girlfriend van Ree.
Authorities have confirmed that Heard was arrested by Port of Seattle Police after allegedly striking van Ree at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Washington state, USA Today reported in 2016. The pair “got into a fracas at the airport after Heard allegedly grabbed and struck van Ree’s arm,” the report said.
Airport spokesman Perry Cooper said Heard was arrested for misdemeanor assault in the fourth degree/domestic violence over the incident. The following day, prosecutors declined to press charges against the actress.
Further, the arrest information on the case was deleted in 2011 following a request, Cooper noted.
Van Ree later said the incident was blown out of proportion and seemed to suggest the witnessing authorities were acting on misogyny.
“I [recall] hints of misogynistic attitudes toward us which later appeared to be homophobic when they found out we were domestic partners and not just ‘friends,'” she said in a statement, according to USA Today. “It’s disheartening that Amber’s integrity and story are being questioned yet again. Amber is a brilliant, honest and beautiful woman and I have the utmost respect for her. We shared 5 wonderful years together and remain close to this day.”
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