Johnny Depp was never violent to me, says ex Winona Ryder

Former wife Amber Heard says Johnny Depp was abusive and a ‘monster’. Former girlfriend Winona Ryder will give vastly different evidence.

Johnny Depp outside court, left, and ex girlfriend Winona Ryder in 2019. Pictures: Getty/AFP

Winona Ryder will tell the High Court in London this week that Johnny Depp is an “extremely caring guy” who was “never abusive” while they were Hollywood’s most powerful couple.

The actress will give evidence on behalf of the star of Pirates of the Caribbean in a libel claim over allegations by Amber Heard, Depp’s former wife, that he repeatedly attacked her.

Depp, 57, is suing Dan Wootton, the executive editor of The Sun, and the publisher of the newspaper over an article in 2018 that described him as a “wife beater”. Lawyers for The Sun had tried to block Ryder and Vanessa Paradis, another of Depp’s former partners, from giving evidence.

They argued that neither woman “seem to have any evidence to give as to the relationship” between Depp and Heard, 34, so “it is difficult to understand their relevance”. The lawyers also complained that Ryder’s witness statement “appears to mirror her declaration apparently filed in the US libel proceedings” against Heard, which were obtained by The Beast, a US website.

Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder at the premiere of the film Mermaids in December 1990. Picture: Barry King/WireImage)

In the statement Ryder, 44, who starred with Depp in Edward Scissorhands, said that they met in 1999. “We were together as a couple for four years,” she wrote.

‘I cannot wrap my head around these accusations’

“I counted him as my best friend, and as close to me as family. I obviously was not there during his marriage to Amber, but, from my experience, which was so wildly different, I was absolutely shocked, confused and upset when I heard the accusations against him. 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.

“He was never, never violent towards me. He was never, never abusive at all towards me. I felt so very, very safe with him.” Ryder is due to give evidence via a video link on Wednesday.

‘Wino forever’ tattoo

During their three-year engagement Depp had a tattoo saying “Winona Forever”. When they split, he changed it to “Wino Forever”. Heard, who is due to start giving evidence on Friday, claims that Depp violently attacked her after she laughed at the tattoo when he was drunk.

Depp has described Heard’s allegations of abuse as a “hoax” and claimed that she falsified evidence. He was questioned in court about his witness statement after he admitted not reading the legal document. Depp was asked why he had not included details of what he described as an “accidental” headbutt during an incident at their Los Angeles penthouse in December, 2015.

Depp said that he had given information to his lawyers to prepare the statement. He added: “Had I read the entire statement after the lawyers had drafted it, I would have found that missing piece. I am sure that I read some of it. I do not know that I read it all. I am sorry, I trusted my attorneys.”

Jolyon Maugham, QC, said yesterday (Sunday) that Depp had broken a “legal omerta” by acknowledging in court that his lawyers had written his statement.

The Sun relies on 14 alleged incidents of domestic violence, all of which Depp denies. Heard and her girlfriend, Bianca Butti, went to a party held in her honour by supporters on Saturday. The party was hosted by Kathy Lette, the author, at her north London home.

The Times