Johnny Depp of “the pirate of the Caribbean” vs Amber Heard of ” Never Back Down” has turned out to be the most vicious and acrimonious story in Hollywood life over the past decade unfolded before our eyes like winds we could bet would blow over. Only, it hasn’t. Not any time soon, it should be said.
The vile and frankly disgraceful legal spat between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard would barely have been a wager to stake at the beginning of their date. Nevertheless, the media referred to the relationship between the two power couples at the nascent stage as a “dream match.”
Johnny Depp, a hotcake and the world’s highest-paid actor, called their match “too good to be true,” so they did it twice when they decided to marry in 2015. First, at Depp’s private residence in Los Angeles, United States then proceeded with the second on the veteran actor’s private island in the Bahamas.
Sadly, the two events couldn’t be enough to fortify their envied union, however lavish and well-intended they were. Hardly fifteen months into the marriage, Amber Heard initiated divorce filing against her fellow Hollywood star, citing instances where he was violent towards her.
Although police could not conclude a crime was committed, Heard’s divorce from Depp was successful. By January 2017, the couple were officially separated, causing her lawyer to remark that Heard’s long national nightmare was over.
Depp reached an out-of-court settlement of $7 million, an amount the recipient discloses she donated to charity. Following the settlement, the couple issued a joint statement describing their relationship as “intensely passionate” and marriage as one “bound by love.”
“Neither party has made false accusations for financial gain,” the statement further read.
Unfortunately, the passionate love they so glowingly spoke of scarcely registered any traces post marriage. Cracks widened when in an op-ed for the Washington Post, Heard revealed that she had been a victim of domestic abuse.
Although she did not mention Depp by name in the editorial, several fingers made him out as her abuser, citing references from insiders on occasions where the Pirate of the Caribbean superstar was violent towards his wife.
Things came to an apogee when The Sun published an article essentially questioning his hotly landed role in J.K Rowling’s Fantastic Beats, starring as Grindelwald, given that the veteran actor had been tagged; as a “wife-beater.”
“How can JK Rowling be ‘genuinely happy’ casting wife-beater Johnny Depp in the new Fantastic Beast film?” the headline questioned.
Deeming the article libelous to his image, the three-time Oscar award winner sued the British tabloid.
In a devastating blow to Depp, Judge Nicol, after hearing the case, ruled that the paper’s lawyers had proved that the article was substantially true, therefore dismissing the suit. Attempts to appeal the case proved futile as another court upheld the initial ruling that The Sun had acted within the law.
Subsequently, Depp was asked to step down from his role as Grindelwald in ‘Fantastic Beast’ with his slot going to Mads Mikkelsen, a Danish actor.
Today, Mr. Depp is suing Amber Heard for $50million for damaging his acclaimed reputation. Heard, in turn, is countersuing Johnny for $100m for dragging her name into disrepute. In Virginia court in Fairfax County, the two Hollywood household names have already taken the stand. Testimonies have been jaw-dropping.
Deep alleges that he was subjected to physical violence during their time together, while Amber maintains she is indeed the bearer of any such abuse which occurred in the past.
So much for a dream “too good to be true.”
GCBM Contributor: Mitchell Amoamah, Email: asaremitchie@gmail.com
