How Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s breakup became so contentious so quickly, and where things stand as Depp’s long-awaited defamation trial against Heard gets underway.
In just a few days, the circumstances behind Amber Heard’s 2016 divorce from Johnny Depp went from confusing to shocking. When Heard claimed in court filings that she was assaulted by her husband throughout their 15-month marriage, what began as a routine divorce file became surprising news.
In the years following, the two have gone through a high-profile libel trial, filed a slew of lawsuits against each other, and are now facing a second trial: this time, a defamation claim brought by Depp against his ex-wife.
Johnny Depp Reveals Where $7m Divorce Settlement Went After Amber Heard’s ‘Tirade:
Amber Heard‘s $7 million divorce settlement was never intended to be sent to a charity, according to Johnny Depp.
Johnny Depp finally explains how he paid Amber Heard’s $7 million divorce settlement to “causes she identified,” only to be confronted with a “tirade” afterward.
According to Fox, the Pirates of the Caribbean star decided to pay Amber Heard’s divorce settlement directly to the charities she named in public.
“Ms. Heard was very, very angry that I had paid those first payments,” says the author.
Depp further revealed that thereafter, “she went into a kind of diatribe about how I should be charged twice the $7 million, I should be charged $14 million.”
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The News Of The Divorce Filing Spreads Quickly:
Heard files for divorce from Depp on May 23, 2016, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason. In the divorce suit, Heard, then 30, requests Depp, then 52, for spousal support.
Depp visits the Los Angeles premiere of his picture, Alice Through the Looking Glass, just hours after Heard’s filing (but before the rest of the world learns about it). “I never would’ve known he was going through a divorce or anything like that,” a source told PEOPLE at the event.
In a statement filed May 25 by his attorney, Laura Wasser, Depp, one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors, requested the judge to refuse Heard’s spousal support request. Betty Sue Palmer, Depp’s mother, died on May 20.
May 26: Insiders close to the couple speak out, revealing facts about their tumultuous relationship. After months of turmoil, a source close to Heard tells PEOPLE that the actress “did what she had to do to take care of herself.” Meanwhile, Depp’s representative has responded to the separation.
“Given the briefness of their marriage and the recent and painful loss of his mother, Johnny will not reply to any salacious false stories, gossip, misinformation, and lies about his personal life,” his spokesman said in a statement to PEOPLE. “Hopefully, this brief marriage will end soon.”
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Depp & Heard’s Divorce Is Finalised:
The former couple formalized their divorce in January 2017 after striking an out-of-court settlement of $7 million, which Heard donated to the ACLU.
“It’s a wonderful day. Amber only wanted a divorce, and she finally gets one. ‘Our long national nightmare is over,’ said Gerald Ford.” Pierce O’Donnell, Heard’s lawyer, told PEOPLE at the time.
Depp’s plea for a $100,000 fine against Heard for allegedly prolonging the proceedings was denied by the judge. According to court documents, Depp was ordered to pay $500,000 towards Heard’s legal bills.
