Sex, drugs and Hollywood: Inside Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s London court case
It’s the trial that has everything – sex, drugs and Hollywood. Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s court case has given an uncut insight into the celebrity world. Here’s how it has played out.
Celebrity Life
Don't miss out on the headlines from Celebrity Life. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It’s the court case that has everything – sex, drugs and Hollywood.
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s trial has given a rare insight into the celebrity world – not the glossy public relations-fuelled one, but the harsh reality of it – that hasn’t been seen in decades.
It’s a throwback to the drug-fuelled drama often associated with rock stars and supermodels in the 90s – an era when Depp was at the height of his relevance.
The unseen, uncut look into Depp and Heard’s short-lived, volatile and drama-plagued marriage – and ultimately, their break-up – has played out in court, and in front of the cameras on the steps of London’s High Court.
Wearing two-piece designer suits and rock star sunglasses, Pirates of the Caribbean star Depp has given the paparazzi a field day, often pausing on the steps of the High Court to pose and wave.
With her blonde hair in loose curls and a spotty red scarf, Aquaman actor Heard has made an entrance each day in a blazer with padded shoulders and big smile, despite the emotional material being discussed inside the courtroom.
Depp, 57, is suing The Sun newspaper for libel after a 2018 article published in the British tabloid accused him of being a “wife beater” during his relationship with Heard, 34.
He is facing explosive allegations of “prolonged and extreme” behaviour towards Heard in a trial that has spanned allegations of faeces in a bed, a severed finger and bizarre blood-smearing incident in a rented Gold Coast mansion, and dangling Heard’s tiny dog Pistol out of a car window (while “howling).
The bombshell celebrity trial has featured allegations of physical assault – by both Depp and Heard, against each other – and spanned evidence defending his character from his ex-fiance, Winona Ryder, and former partner Vanessa Paradis, with whom Depp has two children.
In a statement, Ryder said Depp was not violent towards her during their relationship in the 90s.
“The idea that he is an incredibly violent person is the farthest thing from the Johnny I knew and loved. I cannot wrap my head around these accusations,” Ryder said.
“He was never, never violent towards me. He was never, never abusive at all towards me. He has never been violent or abusive towards anybody I have seen.”
It was a sentiment echoed by Paradis, who was in a relationship with Depp for 14 years.
“I have seen that these outrageous statements have been really distressing, and also caused damage to his career because unfortunately people have gone on believing these false facts,” Paradis said.
So where to now for Depp and Heard once this messy trial – that has exposed their private drama to the world – actually finishes?
The trial will have a huge impact on both Depp and Heard’s appeal in Hollywood, with Depp in particular facing “serious challenges” ahead in terms of his personal brand, a Hollywood agent revealed.
“(Depp) has been on a steady decline before this. He is not like Brad Pitt or Leonardo DiCaprio, where they have come in hot the past few years,” the Los Angeles agent – who works with A-listers and spoke to News Corp on the condition of anonymity – said.
MORE NEWS
Shock scenes inside Depp, Heard’s trashed Gold Coast mansion
‘Show pony’: Depp’s private texts shown in court
Johnny Depp’s aide: Amber ‘stole my rape story’
Bodyguard lied about Gold Coast ‘severed finger’ incident
He said Depp, known for his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, was “the ‘captain’ of a sinking ship”.
“The ship has been sinking for some time prior to this – how he pulls himself out of this hole is going to be a real test,” he said.
“I think he’s facing some serious challenges.”
He added that Depp would need to overhaul his image akin to the comeback staged by his ex-fiance Ryder, who similarly faced a public relations disaster. After being caught shoplifting from a Beverly Hills department store in 2001, Ryder has managed to claw her way back into favour.
The question is, can Johnny pull off a Winona? The trial is continuing.
Originally published as Sex, drugs and Hollywood: Inside Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s London court case