Johnny Depp is no stranger to the law. He has been a party to not only to multiple divorce proceedings, but also, numerous assault accusations.
In 2016, Amber Heard [Depp’s then-wife] filed for divorce, alleging that Depp beat her on several different occasions. She publicly shared images of bruising allegedly caused by Depp punching her in the face, as well as strangling her. Depp did not face legal consequences for those allegations, and the two settled the matter during their divorce proceedings. But this was not the last the judicial system would see of Amber Heard and Johnny Depp.
In late 2018, Heard wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post discussing her journey as a victim of domestic abuse. In her op-ed, she discussed how her experience as the poster-woman for domestic violence affected her work in the entertainment industry, while contrasting the protection violent men in entertainment have had for years.
This op-ed opened the doors once again to the judicial system for Depp. In March 2019, Depp filed a $50 million-dollar defamation suit against Heard in regards to the widely read article.
It appears this legal battle will be anything but easy. Depp has refused to turn over his arrest records, in addition to any discussions he has had with his employees (beginning in 2013 to present date) in regards to drug use, treatment, or alcohol abuse by Depp or Heard during the stated time period.
Depp is arguing his right to privacy to justify his refusal. It remains to be seen if a privacy justification will be upheld by the court in ruling on Heard’s recent motion to compel these documents, but one thing is for certain – both parties have an uphill battle ahead.
Sources:
https://www.harpersbazaar.com.au/celebrity/johnny-depp-dating-history-12262
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/07/johnny-depp-lawsuit-gregg-brooks-punching
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