Amber Heard’s private investigator reveals ‘truth’ about Johnny Depp

A private investigator has claimed in his self-published book that he was hired by Amber Heard’s lawyers to uncover incriminating evidence against Johnny Depp.

A private investigator has claimed in his new self-published book that he was hired by Amber Heard’s lawyers to uncover incriminating evidence against Johnny Depp during the high-profile 2022 defamation trial in the United States.

In Paul Barresi’s book, titled ‘Johnny Depp’s Accidental Fixer’, he states he was instructed to “delve into the life and history of Johnny Depp and uncover evidence of his alleged physical abuse towards women”.

Barresi claims he interviewed 100 people about the 61-year old actor and received mostly positive portrayals of Depp, with many describing him as a “gentleman’s gentleman” who did not have “a mean bone in his body”.

Depp’s friends told the private investigator the actor had “respect and adoration for women”.

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp were married in 2015. Picture: Jason Kempin/Getty Images

The defamation case between Depp and Heard, who married in February 2015 and divorced in May 2016, came about after Heard wrote an op ed piece in the Washington Post, describing herself as a domestic abuse survivor.

While she did not name Depp in the piece, he brought a defamation suit against her. Heard counter-sued her ex-husband for $100m.

The jury found that Heard defamed Depp, and awarded him $5m in punitive damages and $10m in compensatory damages.

Heard was awarded $2m in compensatory damages in her counterclaim.

After his win in court, Depp posted a statement on Instagram, “Speaking the truth was something that I owed to my children and to all those who have remained steadfast in their support of me. I feel at peace knowing I have finally accomplished that.”

Heard also posted a statement on her social media. “The disappointment I feel today is beyond words. I’m heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence and sway of my ex-husband.”

Depp was awarded millions after the US defamation trial. Picture: Kevin Dietsch/Getty/AFP

Heard was awarded $2m in compensatory damages. Picture: Evelyn Hockstein/AFP

In a previous lawsuit in 2020, Depp lost against a UK newspaper which had branded him a “wife-beater”.

The judge in that case found the UK newspaper had proved what was in the article to be “substantially true” and found 12 of the 14 alleged incidents of domestic violence had occurred.

Barresi claims in his book that he was hired in 2019 and does not specify whether he worked with the legal team for the UK or US trial.

“Through this journey, I aimed to honour our shared humanity, shedding light on the man behind the myths and offering a narrative grounded in genuine understanding and compassion,” he wrote in his self-published book.

In 2015, then-couple Depp and Heard were embroiled in a biosecurity controversy when the actress brought her dogs, Pistol and Boo, to Australia on a private jet. At the time, Depp was filming the fifth movie in the Pirates of the Caribbean series.

The pair later apologised in a video that many deemed awkward.

Originally published as Amber Heard’s private investigator reveals ‘truth’ about Johnny Depp