Johnny Depp has told a court his ex-wife Amber Heard showed “pure hatred” for him and arguments could “escalate” into her becoming violent – with a slap, a shove or a “glass of wine in my face”.
Warning: This article contains a graphic image of Depp‘s sliced finger.
Speaking on the sixth day of the libel trial, the actor said Heard would call him a “bad father, a terrible father, an awful father” and tell him he had no idea how to parent.
The actor said his former partner, who he is suing for defamation in a US court, had a “need for conflict” and “couldn’t be wrong”.
During his testimony, Depp also gave his account of how he came to sever his finger during the couple’s now infamous Australia trip in 2015, saying Heard “hurled” a bottle at him and describing the injury as “grotesque”. The actress, who has not yet taken the stand, denies causing the wound.
Depp told the jury he would often lock himself in the bathroom to remove himself from escalating situations. He admitted there is “plenty wrong with me” but said there’s “plenty wrong with a lot of people” and that in situations with Heard his “main goal was to retreat”.
Depp is suing Heard for libel for $50m (£38.2m), while Heard has issued a counterclaim for $100m (£76.4m).
The trial, which has seen various claims of drink and drugs binges, has been brought over a 2018 article Heard wrote in The Washington Post, which Depp’s lawyers say falsely implies he physically and sexually abused her.
Key points from Depp’s testimony – Day 6 of the trial
• Depp said he would often lock himself in the bathroom to get away from escalating situations
• The actor said Heard had a “need for conflict” and “couldn’t be wrong”
• He repeated his assertion that he never struck Heard amid questions over an argument about one of his tattoos
• Depp said there is “plenty wrong with me” but that in situations with Heard his “main goal” was to retreat
• He also told the court he has never had a physical addiction to alcohol.
• Jurors shown graphic picture of Depp’s sliced finger
• Catch up on what has been said so far in our live reporting of the trial as it happens
‘It could begin with throwing a TV remote at my head’
Giving evidence for the second day in a row, Mr Depp said that over time his marriage to Heard had begun to feel like he was “in a relationship” with his mother.
He said at times during their relationship it seemed like she had “pure hatred” for him and that often it did “escalate into violence”.
Asked what he meant by this, Depp said that Heard in her “frustration”, “rage” and “anger”, would “strike out”.
He said this could begin with a slap, or a shove, “it could begin with throwing a TV remote at my head” or a “glass of wine in my face”.
Depp said Heard engaged in “teenage high-school tactics” and that her “bullying” became too much.
Depp says he ‘never’ struck a woman in his life
At one point during the day’s hearing in Fairfax, Virginia, Depp was asked about the first incident of alleged domestic violence that Heard says happened in early 2013.
The actress claims the alleged incident was sparked by her laughing at Depp’s “Wino Forever” tattoo – famously changed from “Winona Forever” after his split from actress Winona Ryder in the 1990s.
Depp told the court this “didn’t happen”, repeating earlier assertions that he never struck Heard and saying he had “never struck a woman in my life”.
Actor asked about events on board flight from Boston to LA
Heard has also claimed Depp became violent during a private flight from Boston to LA in May 2014, an incident that has come up several times during the trial.
Depp told the jury he had taken two opiates, roxycodones, before the flight.
He said he sat on the plane drawing and Heard was verbally heckling him, that she would “poke and prod” physically, psychologically and emotionally.
The actor said he grabbed a pillow and hid in the bathroom of the plane. He said he laid down and went to sleep and that is where he remained for the rest of the flight.
The severed finger: ‘I was looking at my bone’
Depp also spoke about the couple’s infamous Australia trip in 2015 which took place shortly after they got married.
Heard has previously claimed Depp was abusive during this trip and has described it as a “three-day hostage situation”.
Depp accused her of throwing a bottle at him which shattered. He said he “felt no pain whatsoever” at first but looked down and realised the tip of his finger had been severed.
“I was looking directly at my bone… sticking out… blood was pouring out.”
Jurors were issued with a warning as they were shown a picture of Depp’s injured finger, which was entered into evidence.