In the midst of insults and accusations, Johnny Depp’s attorneys maintain that Amber Heard fabricated her domestic violence charges against her ex-husband in order to further her acting career.
The spat between the Fantastic Beasts and Aquaman star erupted in 2016 when Heard filed for divorce, accusing Depp of assaulting her throughout their marriage. While J.K. Rowling, the author of Harry Potter, supported Depp’s casting in the Fantastic Beasts picture and its sequel around the time of the divorce, other creatives and fans online were less enthusiastic.
Even after a costly settlement replete with stipulations designed to safeguard both people’ integrity following the split, Heard had more to say.
Her 2018 Washington Post op-ed, although without naming Depp, positioned her as a new face in the anti-domestic violence campaign and further tarnished Depp in the public view. Depp was virtually forbidden from taking on new high-profile parts in Hollywood, and the larger-than-life performer had to settle with a few overseas and independent productions like Minamata.
Warner Bros. even urged him to leave his position as Gellert Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, and he was eventually replaced by Mads Mikkelsen. In reaction to the WaPo piece, Depp sued Heard for defamation in 2019, and the trial is now officially underway.
