In a rare interview with The Sunday Times, actor Johnny Depp opened up about his public legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard, calling himself a “crash test dummy” for the #MeToo movement.
Depp reflected on the defamation case that stemmed from Heard’s 2016 domestic violence allegations and the highly publicized trials that followed. “Everyone was saying, ‘It’ll go away!’ But I can’t trust that,” Depp said, referring to the global media fallout. “If I don’t try to represent the truth, it will be like I’ve actually committed the acts I am accused of.”
The actor filed a libel lawsuit in 2018 against The Sun after being called a “wife beater,” which he lost in 2020. In 2019, he filed a separate defamation lawsuit against Heard over her 2018 Washington Post op-ed. A Virginia jury sided with Depp in 2022, awarding him damages, while Heard won one count in her countersuit.
Depp explained his decision to go to trial, saying he was prepared to “fight until the bitter end,” even if it meant sacrificing his career. He also criticized former colleagues for abandoning him, adding, “There are people… who did me dirty.”
Following the legal battles, Depp faced professional setbacks, including being dropped from major franchises like Fantastic Beasts and Pirates of the Caribbean. Despite the fallout, Depp emphasized his commitment to speaking his truth — regardless of the consequences.
