FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — Johnny Depp surrounded himself with an entourage of enablers to shield him from the consequences of his drug and alcohol use, his ex-wife Amber Heard testified Thursday.
Heard was back on the witness stand to defend herself against her ex-husband's libel allegations.
Depp is suing Heard for libel over an op-ed she wrote in The Washington Post describing herself as "a public figure representing domestic abuse." His lawyers say he was defamed by the 2018 article even though it never mentioned his name.
READ MORE: Court hears Johnny Depp recording warning of 'bloodbath' with former wife Heard
Heard told jurors about photos she took of Depp starting in 2013 in which he was passed out. She said she took the photos because Depp couldn't remember what he'd done when he was drunk, and denied what had occurred while he was blacked out.
"He wouldn't remember, or he would deny it. There was no one to back me up," she said.
Heard has testified that she was physically and sexually assaulted on multiple occasions by Depp, typically when he was drunk or high on drugs. Depp has denied ever hitting her, but Heard's lawyers have said his denials lack credibility in part because he can't remember what he's done when he blacks out.
Depp has said Heard greatly exaggerates his drinking, and that he tolerates his liquor well. Friends, family and employees of Depp have taken the stand and backed up his contention.
But Heard said that's part of the problem: She said Depp has a team around him that cleans him up when he gets sick, and enables him to go about his business without acknowledging the consequences of his drinking.
Heard is expected to be on the stand all day Thursday in Fairfax County Circuit Court.
Sustain our coverage of culture, arts and literature.
Congress is moving toward revoking a billion dollars in already approved funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the entity…
The wholesome pop star's hits included “Pretty Little Baby” and “Who’s Sorry Now?” The latter would serve as an ironic…
Ten years ago, marriage equality became the law of the land when the Supreme Court ruled in the landmark Obergefell…
Comedy has long been a way to bring a different, lighter lens to heavy topics. That holds true for Palestinian…
Gibson, a celebrated poet and performance artist who through their verse explored gender identity, politics and their 4-year battle with…
No other dramas came close to the dystopian workplace series “Severance,” which achieved a convergence of acclaim and audience buzz…
Superman, one of the summer’s most eagerly anticipated blockbusters, delivered with a big opening weekend. Jeffrey Brown sat down with…
Presidential advisor and former News Hour contributor David Gergen died at 83 after being diagnosed with Lewy body dementia. Throughout…
As a new “Superman” reboot opens in theaters, here's a roundup of big summer spectacles, comedies and lesser-known streaming gems.
At an Omaha, Nebraska, festival this summer, new work explores the intersection of art, disability and technology, asking questions like…
The huge amount on Thursday blew past what auctioneer Sotheby’s had said was the previous record for a handbag. The…
From college stardom at Iowa to shattering attendance records and becoming a top financial driver for the WNBA, Caitlin Clark’s…
Journalists Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager and Isaac Arnsdorf are out with a new book unpacking the twists and turns of…
