Johnny Depp's defamation lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard made big news for much of 2020, and it doesn't look like it'll be getting less messy anytime soon. Deadline reports Heard has now submitted subpoenas to the Los Angeles Police Department as well as the Walt Disney Motion Picture Group, asking for any incriminating evidence they may have on her ex-husband. She's even attempting to get a virtual deposition from Disney next month about anything they might find.
On top of the deposition, the Aquaman actress is seeking documents regarding Depp's behavior during the production of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. This includes incidents where he was or was suspected to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, any times he was late or did something to cause delay, any evidence that he was violent or abusive on set, or even any time he had disagreements with the film's crew. They're also after all documents and communications between Depp and Disney since 2018.
Depp had originally sued Heard in 2019 for $50 million after she had written an op-ed for The Washington Post on her alleged experiences being a victim of abuse in December of 2018. He stated that her claims were false, naming her as the real perpetrator of abuse, and claimed that the piece had not only lost him the next Pirates of the Caribbean film but also damaged his reputation as a whole. Heard countersued for $100 million.
In November of 2020, Depp lost another defamation suit against Britain's The Sun, for calling him a "wife beater." After the loss, it was announced he would not be continuing his role as Grindelwald in the Harry Potter spinoff Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them film series. He also received immense support from the public, with many people believing that he was the true victim of abuse. This was fuelled by audio clips released where Heard seems to admit to starting physical fights and abusing him. A petition to remove her from the newest Aquaman films gained over 1.5 million signatures in November of last year.
Depp has filed a motion in an attempt to stop Heard from digging up more details, with his lawyers saying, "Ms. Heard continues to burden this Court with frivolous, unnecessary motions that violate the Rules of the Virginia Supreme Court. Mr. Depp respectfully requests that the Court deny Ms. Heard’s latest motion and sanction her. Enough is enough.” It's certainly a very serious and messy case, and the Rum Diary co-stars turned exes are set to go to court in May of this year.
Source: Deadline