It’s been a week since Amber Heard filed for divorce from Johnny Depp, and the media firestorm is only continuing to grow. Despite citing ‘irreconcilable differences’ in her divorce papers, it seems like the reasons behind the couple’s sudden divorce are much darker and more complicated than anyone initially expected. Here’s what we know about the split so far:
After Heard was photographed with a black eye and granted a temporary restraining order against Depp, the world began to wonder what really went on during the couple’s 15-month marriage.
According to court filings, Heard, 30, accused Depp of domestic abuse and cited an incident last Saturday night, during which Depp reportedly pulled her hair, hit her with a cell phone and screamed at her.
“During the entirety of our relationship, Johnny has been verbally and physically abusive to me,” Heard alleged.
According to court documents acquired by People Magazine, the actress recalled a night when the abuse was so severe that Heard suffered a black eye and the police were called to the couple’s house.
Heard claimed that she was with friends in the couple’s LA apartment on May 21, when Depp arrived and heard the conversation move to his mother’s recent passing. According to the documents, Heard said her husband became “extremely angry” and “began obsessing about something that was untrue.”
The actress then claims that she began calling a friend when Depp allegedly took hold of the phone and began yelling at Heard. “Johnny then grabbed the cellphone, wound up his arm like a baseball pitcher and threw the cellphone at me striking my cheek and eye with great force,” Heard said. She went on to say that Depp “charged” at her and pulled her hair while she called for help. “Johnny continued screaming at me, pulling my hair, striking me and violently grabbing my face,” Heard said.
The actress said the events only stopped once a neighbor entered the apartment and Depp left their home, “smashing everything he could” with a wine bottle. The neighbor and friend of Heard’s also recalled the incident in court filings, claiming the actor screamed at her and “slapped my hands away” during the night in question.
According to TMZ, however, when police arrived on the scene, they found no evidence of physical injuries on Heard. The website released photos of the police notes and of Heard seemingly enjoying herself with friends the following day. Comedian Doug Stanhope, a friend of Depp’s, wrote a column for The Wrap, accusing Heard of “blackmailing” her soon-to-be ex-husband. “We have watched Amber Heard f— with him at his weakest — or watched him at his weakest from being f—ed with — for the entire time we’ve known him,” Stanhope wrote. He also added that Depp was with him the night of the alleged attack, during which Depp was supposedly aware of the accusations Heard was planning on making against him.
Despite silence from Depp directly, the actor’s lawyer filed a response claiming Heard was accusing her husband of abuse in order to benefit financially.
“Amber is attempting to secure a premature financial resolution by alleging abuse,” Depp’s lawyer said, according to court documents.
While Depp has not yet been ordered to pay Heard any money, he has temporarily been ordered to stay 100 yards away from her and to refrain from using the couple’s shared apartment.
After the allegations were made, many of Depp’s family members and friends publicly came to his defense, including his former wife and mother of his children, Vanessa Paridis.
In a letter shared with TMZ, Paridis showed unwavering support for the father of her children.
“Johnny Depp… is a sensitive, loving and loved person, and I believe in all my heart that these recent allegations being made are outrageous,” she wrote. “In all the years I have known Johnny, he has never been physically abusive with me…”
Lily-Rose Depp, the actor’s daughter, also showed she was standing by her father in two Instagram posts.
With these rumors of abuse, many have begun pointing to some of Depp’s past relationships. In a 2010 interview, Winona Ryder said, in reference to Depp, “I remember my first boyfriend used to smash everything—at 18 everything is dramatic.” And all the way back in 1994, Depp was involved in a conflict with his then-girlfriend, Kate Moss; it was a fight loud enough to prompt the hotel guest next door to report the incident.
Support for Heard has paled in comparison to the famous faces in Depp’s corner. As someone who has experienced domestic abuse, I feel inclined to take the allegations that have been made against Depp very seriously. It is difficult to understand why someone would be motivated to fake bruises, stage the scene of an assault, call the police under false pretenses, and fabricate detailed accounts of abuse, especially knowing that they would have to face the public backlash of accusing a beloved celebrity. Understanding what someone in her position may have faced, it is incredibly discouraging to see Heard’s abuse allegations being invalidated. Of course, while no blame should be passed until any party has been proven guilty, the media still has an obligation to take cases of domestic violence seriously in order to give validity to all survivors of domestic abuse.
In this particular incident, Heard’s allegations have yet to be confirmed or denied in court, and Depp could very well be innocent. While the truth is still unknown about what occurred during the couple’s marriage, we can only hope that both parties can soon find peace and move forward.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, you can call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) toll-free 24/7.