In December 2018, Depp filed a defamation suit against Heard, 35, after writing a column for The Washington Post.
"Pirates of the Caribbean" star Johnny Depp physically and sexually abused his then-wife Amber Heard while under the influence of drugs and alcohol, during which she became a "monster," his lawyers told a court Tuesday.
Lawyers for Depps protested against Heard on the opening day of his blockbuster defamation case, saying the allegations were untrue and have had a "disastrous" effect on his Hollywood career.
Depp, 58, filed a defamation suit against Heard, 35, in December 2018 after writing a column for The Washington Post in which he described himself as a "public figure representing domestic abuse."
The actress never named Depp, whom she met on the set of the 2009 movie "The Rum Diary," but she sued him alleging she was a domestic abuser and received $50 million in damages. is demanding.
Heard, who was married to Depp from 2015 to 2017, retorted, demanding $100 million and claiming she suffered "massive physical violence and abuse" at her hands.
One of Heard's attorneys, Elaine Breedhoft, detailed the alleged abuse in her opening statement in Fairfax County Circuit Court.
He told the jury that he would be shown graphic photographs. "They show scratches, they show clipped lips, they show hair pulled in," Breedhoft said. "When he turns his head, he shows two black eyes."
"He has a huge amount of anger," she said. "During these rage Mr. Depp was involved in Amber's verbal, emotional, physical and sexual abuse."
"She loved the side of Johnny we see in the movies—the charismatic, charming, generous one," Breedhoft said. "This is the man she fell in love with.
"The monster will come out when he is drinking and when he is taking drugs."
Ben Rottenborn, another Heard's attorney, told the jury that "behind red carpets, behind fame, behind money, behind pirate costumes, you're going to see who that guy really is."
- "Tell him he was a coward" -
One of Depps' attorneys, Benjamin Chew, dismissed the abuse allegations and said the actor never hit Heard -- or any other woman.
"In five decades no one has accused Johnny Depp of being violent with a woman," Chew said.
Camille Vasquez, another Depp's attorney, alleged that it was Heard who could have turned violent, "throwing things at him, hitting him."
"She'd tell him he was a coward, tell him he wasn't man enough because he wouldn't stay and fight with her," Vasquez said.
Depps' sister and personal manager Kristie Dembrowski was the first to testify.
- ruined a career -
Chew said allegations of domestic abuse have hurt Depp's career.
"For nearly 30 years, Mr. Depp built a reputation as one of the most talented actors in Hollywood," Chew said. "Today his name is associated with a lie, a false statement made by his ex-wife.
"Hollywood studios don't want to deal with the public backlash from hiring someone accused of abuse," he said. "False accusations can destroy careers."
After losing a separate, high-profile defamation case in London in November 2020, Depp filed a defamation complaint against Heard in the United States, which he brought against The Sun for calling him a "wife-beater".
In 2016, Heard sought a restraining order against Depp. Their divorce was finalized in 2017, with Heard settling for $7 million.
A panel of seven jurors and four alternate members is hearing the case between Depp and Heard, who had a lead role in "Aquaman."
Both Depp and Heard are expected to testify alongside actors James Franco and Paul Bettany and billionaire Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk, Heard's ex-boyfriend.
The trial, headed by Judge Penny Azkart, is expected to last several weeks.