Johnny Depp has long been considered to be one of the most diverse actors of all time, thanks to the various characters he’s brought to life throughout the years. Unfortunately, things haven’t always been easy for Johnny, especially in recent years. His private life has recently become one of the most talked-about stories in Hollywood and has gripped the world. It seems that Johnny Depp has been battling more than just himself, as his recent court cases and legal woes go to show.
Amber Heard and Johnny Depp met on the set of The Rum Diary but didn’t start dating for years
For years, Johnny Depp has been one of the most talked-about actors in Hollywood. Why wouldn’t he be? He’s appeared in a host of movies and was considered to be one of the most beloved stars of our time as a result. However, Amber Heard was relatively unheard of when she appeared in the comedy drama ‘The Rum Diary.’
Although the movie was a total flop, it gave Amber the chance to grow close to her co-star, Johnny. They initially met in 2009 on the set of the movie, and the 23-year age gap didn’t prove to be much of an issue. Still, it wasn’t until 2012 – and the actors leaving their former partners – that Johnny and Amber officially started dating.
No one knew much about their engagement or marriage
It might come as little surprise that not many people knew about Johnny Depp or Amber Heard’s engagement or their later marriage. Sure, some celebrities like to flaunt their new relationship and can’t wait to pose for the press or share the news with their fans. However, Johnny has never been known for his outspoken private life.
The actor usually reserves his outlandish behavior for his characters and would rather keep his personal life to himself. It wasn’t until People magazine spotted Amber with an engagement ring in 2014 and the couple officially announced they were married the following year that people learned they had formally tied the knot. Little did Johnny or Amber know what lay in wait for them around the corner.
Amber Heard filed for a restraining order a year after the wedding
The pair were only married for a year and appeared to be enjoying their honeymoon phase when they had some major announcements for the rest of the world. Although they kept to themselves, Amber Heard and Johnny Depp did appear at a handful of red carpet events throughout the next 12 months and seemed to be utterly in love. Unfortunately, that was far from the case.
Just one year after their wedding, Amber filed for a temporary restraining order, claiming that Johnny had been abusive throughout their relationship due to his use of illegal substances and drinking. She stated irreconcilable differences were to blame, but this was the start of something major for the pair. Johnny did nothing at the time but deny the claims.
The actress was awarded a $7 million settlement in the divorce
It didn’t take long for Amber Heard and Johnny Depp to file for a divorce, and the pair quickly learned they would no longer be able to keep their relationship away from the media. Everyone wanted to know what really went on behind closed doors, especially after Amber’s recent claims. Amber took to the courtroom and testified under oath.
However, a settlement was reached out of court that meant the actress would walk away with $7 million. The pair released a joint statement, claiming their relationship “was intensely passionate and at times volatile.” They even stated that “Neither party has made false accusations for financial gain.” This was in response to many members of the public accusing Amber of trying to swindle Johnny out of money.
The pair had to split all of their assets from the marriage
Some divorces drag on for years, especially when it comes to celebrities who have plenty of net worth and assets that need to be split. Amazingly, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard managed to organize their things between themselves in a fairly short space of time, with everything finalized by 2017.
In the end, Amber ended up keeping the couple’s two dogs, who had previously landed them in trouble when Amber and Johnny attempted to sneak them into Australia. However, Johnny was the one who got to keep all of the properties, his collection of classic motorbikes and cars, and the private island in the Bahamas. The Hollywood Reporter also claimed there was a non-disparagement clause that meant neither of them could talk badly about their time together or break up.
Amber Heard claimed that Johnny Depp abused her throughout the marriage
Even though there was a clause in place that meant neither Amber nor Johnny could talk about their relationship or breakup, it seemed that one of them had something they wanted to get off their chest. Amber wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post, where she spoke in detail about women who have been in domestic violence relationships.
Here, Amber stated she had “become a public figure representing domestic abuse” and how she had felt the “full force” of the “wrath for women who speak out.” So how did she get away with the article? Amber never mentioned Johnny Depp by name. However, it didn’t take long for people to put two and two together and figure out who Amber was referring to.
Johnny Depp fired back by suing his ex for $50 million
It didn’t take long for Johnny Depp to retaliate to the article. Just a few months after it was published, Johnny took Amber to court and tried to sue her for $50 million for defamation. The suit claimed that Amber was “a perpetrator” and “not a victim of domestic abuse.” It even went as far as saying the actress was planning an “elaborate hoax to generate positive publicity.”
It might come as little surprise that Amber fought back, stating plenty of alleged examples of times she fell victim to the actor. In fact, Variety reports that the actress referred to Johnny as “the Monster.” She even showed scars she claimed were from various attacks.
The jury voted in Johnny’s favour
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s long awaited trial began on April 7th 2022. The $100 million lawsuit was the latest court hearing in the bitter public legal battle for the two actors. The trial lasted until the end of May and it was televised for the whole nation to watch.
Public figures were called to testify as witnesses including Kate Moss and various Disney representatives. Lawyers on both sides seemed confidant at first in the long road ahead although have implied that this will be a gruelling journey for Amber and Johnny as they both battle for their reputations. In the end the Jury voted in favor of Johnny Depp and said that Amber Heard acted with intent to defame him.
Phone recordings appeared to show Amber Heard admitting to being physical
Things took another turn in January 2020 when the Daily Mail released phone recordings that seemed to show Amber admitting to being physical with Johnny Depp. In the tapes, Amber is heard saying, “I’m sorry that I did that,” and how “it was not punching you.” At one point, the actress even stated, “I did not punch you, I was hitting you,” saying she didn’t know “the motion” of her hand.
Things took another unexpected turn when Johnny was heard saying he was “scared” that things would take a dark turn if they continued to stay together as they looked like a “crime scene right now.” In response, Amber replied that “I can’t promise you I won’t get physical again.”
Johnny Depp claims an incident in the bed was the final straw in his marriage
It turns out there were plenty of reasons that Amber Heard and Johnny Depp ultimately went their separate ways. However, one of the alleged biggest reasons that Johnny decided the marriage was through was an incident that took place the morning after Amber’s 30th birthday in April 2016. Apparently, someone had used the bathroom in the couple’s bed.
The actress allegedly tried to blame it on the couple’s dogs and claimed that Johnny had thrown a bottle at her during the party. Johnny denied the allegations and said he initially laughed at the “absurd” situation. However, it didn’t take long for Johnny to allegedly realize that the marriage was over, as he texted Amber, “all my love and regrets … I wish you nothing but good.”
The actor believes Amber’s claims have turned the world against him
It appeared as though things started amicably between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp when it came to their separation. The pair agreed who would keep what and settled the payment away from the courts. Johnny even admitted that he didn’t think there was a need to “poison” anything as “the bad part was over, which was the relationship.”
Unfortunately, that all came crashing down in 2016 when the actor became “quite bitter” about the fact he was being labeled a “wife beater” by tabloids across the world. The actor believed that he had gone from “Cinderella to Quasimodo in 0.6 seconds.” He wasn’t wrong. It looked as though the world – and Hollywood – was starting to turn against Johnny Depp.
Johnny Depp admitted their relationship came in a time where he was beating his addictions
In the UK, the media isn’t allowed inside the courtroom, but they are allowed to report on what they hear from outside and the snippets they are told through lawyers. It wasn’t long before Johnny Depp was on the stand being cross-examined by Amber Heard’s lawyers.
Johnny was adamant that he was never physically violent toward his ex-wife, but there was trouble on both sides and that she was the one who was physical. On the flip side, Johnny said his finger was severely injured in an incident that saw Amber throw a bottle at her ex. However, the actor did admit that the relationship came when they were both battling addictions to illegal substances and that he relapsed throughout his marriage.
A three-week trial against British newspapers began in July 2020
It wasn’t just Amber Heard who was on the receiving end of Johnny Depp, as the actor also took News Group Newspapers to court over an article published in The Sun in 2018. Here, the paper called him a “wife beater” even though nothing had been proven from either side. Johnny also took the publisher, Dan Wootton, to court for libel.
Here, Amber was accused of several things, such as getting physical with her ex and allegedly having affairs with Elon Musk and James Franco. Johnny’s partner, Vanessa Paradis, and his ex-fiancé Winona Ryder both spoke up in his defense. However, Amber was still adamant that the actor had been violent throughout their relationship and had threatened to end her life on various occasions.
The courts ultimately ruled against Johnny Depp in the case
The trial between Johnny Depp and News Group Newspapers was supposed to last three weeks, and it did – to a certain extent. The evidence was given throughout the three weeks before the court broke for deliberation. However, this decision wasn’t so quick. Three months later, the judge announced that The Sun was in the right and they weren’t going to press charges.
The judge commented on 14 separate occasions that he believed the tabloid was right in calling Johnny a “wife beater” and thought it was the only outcome. The Sun’s spokesperson even claimed that it had been working for 20 years to try and stick up for people who have been in domestic violence relationships and want to continue to do so.
Johnny Depp’s lawyers claim the court ignored all of their evidence
Just because the judge had announced his verdict didn’t mean that was the end of the story. In fact, that was far from the case. It didn’t take long for Johnny Depp’s lawyers to issue their own statement as they were far from pleased with the trial’s outcome. They claimed the “decision is as perverse as it is bewildering.”
However, they also believed that “The judgment is so flawed.” The lawyers stated the judge overlooked all the evidence they brought with them to the courtroom and didn’t listen to the witnesses but instead relied on Amber’s testimony. It came as little surprise to many that Johnny was going to appeal the case. Sadly, that would be easier said than done.
The judge refused to allow Johnny Depp to appeal the decision
Another huge surprise in the case between Amber Heard and The Sun and Johnny Depp came when the judge refused to let the actor appeal the decision. Courts work differently around the world, as do the different types of trials that take place. It seemed that Johnny’s legal team hoped they would be able to appeal the decision and get the verdict overturned immediately.
Sadly, they weren’t set to receive the news they wished, as it was ruled they weren’t allowed to appeal. The judge announced that he did not “consider that the proposed grounds of appeal have a reasonable prospect of success.” The judge also ordered that Johnny had to pay £6300,000 (approximately $841,733) to News Group Newspapers to cover their legal fees.
Warner Bros. asked Johnny Depp to step back from Fantastic Beasts 3
Just a few days after it was announced that Johnny Depp had lost the court case, there was more devastating news for the actor. Warner Bros., the production company in charge of the fantasy ‘Fantastic Beasts’ franchise, asked Johnny to step back from his role in the franchise.
Johnny took to social media, where he stated he had “been asked to resign” and that “I have respected and agreed to that request.” However, he still had plenty to say about the judge’s decision. Johnny added that he would continue to “fight to tell the truth” regardless of what happened in court. He also wanted fans to know, “My life and career will not be defined” by the ruling or anything happening with Amber Heard.
His right to appeal was rejected once again in 2021
Just because the original judge had refused to allow Johnny Depp to appeal the decision didn’t mean that all hope was lost. The actor’s lawyers took their application to the second-highest court in the UK, the Court of Appeals in London, to request a retrial and appeal. Sadly, it was more bad news for Johnny and the team.
The court allegedly told his lawyers that the first trial was “full and fair” and that the right decision had been made. However, Johnny’s lawyers claimed they had fresh evidence. To start, Amber told the world she would donate the $7 million from the divorce to charity. Now, they believed the actress had kept the money, in their opinion backing up the claims that Amber was in it for the money.
Further rumors claimed Elon Musk was involved with Amber Heard and Cara Delevinge
Amber Heard might not have been the biggest name in Hollywood when she first met and fell for Johnny Depp, but she had already been involved in some high-profile relationships. The most notable came when she was spotted on the arm of none other than billionaire businessman Elon Musk.
It wasn’t until Amber and Johnny were in court that many heard about the relationship – and alleged affair that took place while the actress was married to Johnny. Lawyers claimed that Amber had been involved in a “three-way affair” with Elon and model Cara Delevigne. However, Elon told Page Six that it was nothing but rumors and he hadn’t been with Amber at all during her marriage. However, the stories were enough to plant the seed of doubt for many.
Elon Musk advised Johnny Depp and Amber Heard to drop their cases and walk away
It seemed that Elon Musk had plenty to say about Amber Heard and Johnny Depp, especially as he had once been romantically linked to the actress. He told Page Six that he believed the couple should “bury the hatchet and move on.” Of course, that would be easier said than done. Everything had gone smoothly between the couple the first few months after their divorce.
However, everything changed when Amber published her almost tell-all article in The Washington Post. Now, it seemed that neither Amber nor Johnny would stop until they shared what they believed to be the truth in it all. Whatever the case, it appeared that Elon was going to be dragged into it all somehow, thanks to his previous relationship.
Winona Ryder defended Johnny in court despite her thoughts on his relationship with Amber Heard
For a time, Winona Ryder and Johnny Depp were one of the most talked-about couples in Hollywood. After all, they were just about everywhere we looked and seemed to be more loved up than most of us could ever imagine. The pair were even engaged for a time before they decided to call things quits and go their separate ways.
It seems Winona and Johnny remained close after their split. That was until the actor started dating Amber Heard. Winona allegedly didn’t like the fact that Johnny left his partner, Vanessa Paradis, to be with the actress and said it changed her views on her ex. That didn’t stop Winona from standing up to defend Johnny in court, stating the allegations were “impossible to believe.”
Johnny Depp has always had a strained relationship with drinking
It appears that difficult relationships and Johnny Depp might just go hand in hand. However, not all of them have been with people from his past. It turns out one relationship that Johnny has struggled to cut throughout the years is his one with drinking. This was even something that was brought up in court when battling Amber Heard.
In 2013, the actor told Rolling Stone that he had been sober for 18 months, and it all came after he realized he could no longer keep up with his friends, such as Hunter S. Thompson and Marlon Brando. In 2008, Johnny also told the Boston Globe that he “poisoned himself” with drinking as he struggled to cope with the level of fame he reached in such a short time.
There is a link to Nicolas Cage, but no one knows the real story
When it comes to celebrities, it’s often little surprise that their lives have intertwined with each other at some point throughout their careers, especially when they are in the same field, such as acting. Perhaps that’s why no one was surprised when they learned there could be a connection between Johnny Depp and Nicolas Cage?
However, no one is really sure what that could be. The Biography network states that Johnny’s first wife, Lori Allison, introduces the pair, and Nic ended up helping Johnny get started in Hollywood. However, a 1988 interview saw Johnny state a “friend” introduced the pair and that Nic suggested he should give acting a try. Whatever the case, it seems there is a long-standing connection there somehow.
He was a part of the Imprisoned for Art campaign in 2016
For many years, Johnny Depp has tried to keep his personal life away from the media. However, that can be tough when you’re one of the biggest and most recognized stars in the world. Thankfully, not everything has taken place behind closed doors, as Johnny was one of the many stars to take place in the ‘Imprisoned for Art’ campaign that happened in 2016.
Here, activists campaigned for artists who they believe have been imprisoned unfairly. Johnny posed for Oleg Sentsov’s mugshot as the Ukrainian filmmaker is currently serving a twenty-year sentence in Russia. Sadly, it’s unlikely that Oleg has any idea about the campaign. Still, it certainly helped to raise awareness for many of the cases as other celebrities posed as other artists.
The actor – and Winona Ryder – are the reason What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? exists
The 1993 drama movie ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?’ was a huge moment for so many stars and has gone down as a cult classic in the years since. As well as showcasing Johnny Depp’s skills as a talented actor, it also gave Leonardo DiCaprio a platform to become the legend that many of us know and love today.
Believe it or not, but the film wasn’t even an idea until Winona Ryder had something to say. It turns out that she read the original novel and convinced Johnny to give it a try. He spoke to director Lasse Hallström about turning it into a movie, and an agreement was in place before the script. Lasse even roped in the author of the novel, Peter Hedges, to write the script.
Johnny Depp might have lost his identity along the way
Have you ever wondered which one is Johnny Depp’s authentic voice? One of the many talents that he’s showcased over the years is the ability to change his voice and accent for every character, making each one feel unique. It also means that no one really knows what Johnny Depp truly sounds like in interviews, even the actor himself.
If there is one thing that many people have learned, it’s that Johnny is one of the quirkiest stars when it comes to interviews, especially as he seems to flick between a British and American accent in many speeches. However, it was during his interview on ‘The Today Show’ that the actor admitted, “the last thing I want to look like is me.”
The actor was supposed to be a part of the Dark Universe
There was once a time when Universal Studios had grand plans to create a ‘Dark Universe.’ You know how Marvel and DC both have their own cinematic universes? It was set to be just like that, but rather than focusing on heroes and villains, the studios wanted to bring classic monster movie characters back to the big screen.
Universal planned on welcoming the Invisible Man, the Mummy, Frankenstein’s Monster, and Dracula. Sadly, it never got off the ground, thanks to Tom Cruise’s 2017 action film ‘The Mummy.’ It turned out the film scraped in $80 million across the box office across the US, and Universal decided to pull the plug on the new universe before it was too late – including Johnny Depp’s take on the Invisible Man.
Fans worried Johnny Depp was ill as he prepared for a movie role
It usually doesn’t take long for rumors to spread about celebrities, especially with the likes of social media, meaning we now see more of their lives than ever before. That was the case in spring 2018 when a new photo of Johnny hit the internet. In 2017, the actor was busy working on various movies, where he seemed to be healthy and full of life.
However, that all changed the following year when the actor appeared to be slim and pale. Several believed that Johnny was ill, while others stated the actor had relapsed and was taking illegal substances again. However, it turns out that Johnny was actually preparing for the comedy-drama ‘The Professor,’ where he plays the lead – a character who loses their life to a terminal illness.
He still has no idea if becoming an actor was the right decision
Playing so many different characters means that Johnny Depp has appeared as several faces throughout the years. What many people don’t know is that it might be the actor’s way of escaping from his reality. Sadly, it seems that Johnny still has no idea if becoming an actor was a good decision for his life or not.
During the ASU Origins Project talk, Johnny spoke about a conversation he had with his mentor Marlon Brando. Johnny was filming two or three movies a year, but Marlon worried it was too much, stating, “we only have so many faces in our pocket.” Johnny’s response? That he wasn’t sure whether becoming so many people was ever the right decision, and his career all happened by mistake.
Johnny Depp has been focused on his music in recent years
In a surprising move for many, it seems that Johnny Depp has been working on his musical career in recent years. However, people close to the actor weren’t surprised by the move, as it seems that Johnny has always been keen on his music. In fact, he even dropped out of high school to dedicate all of his time to his band.
It was only because they split up that Johnny turned his attention toward acting in the first place. Johnny’s passion for music has never left, as the actor has been working with various artists behind the scenes. However, it seems that Johnny has been paying more attention to his music than ever before in recent years, as he’s now a part of Hollywood Vampires.
Playing Jack Sparrow almost got Johnny Depp fired by Disney
Jack Sparrow is arguably one of the most famous pirates of all time, even though he is nothing more than a Disney character. That hasn’t stopped people from falling from Jack and cosplaying the character ever since. Of course, Johnny Depp is the face behind the star, but it almost wasn’t that way thanks to the first movie in the franchise, ‘Curse of the Black Pearl.’
That’s because Johnny made some controversial decisions for the character that appears to enrage Disney CEO, Michael Eisner. Vanity Fair reports that Michael believes Johnny was playing Jack like someone who had been drinking and was a part of the LGBTQ community. In the end, the moves were almost enough to see the actor fired.
Bodyguards have claimed they had to protect Johnny Depp from himself
It seems that Johnny Depp has faced plenty of battles throughout his career. However, one that appears to be ongoing and could be the biggest of his life is the battle Johnny Depp has always had with himself. Miguel Sanchez and Eugene Arreola have both worked as the actor’s bodyguards throughout the years.
However, they stated in a lawsuit that the actor creates a “toxic” environment and “financial hurricane.” To top it off, Miguel and Eugene state they spent most of the time protecting Johnny from himself. One of the examples in the case was when the actor was allegedly at a nightclub, and they noticed he had illegal substances on his face. The pair were then supposedly tasked with making sure no one noticed.
The actor has suffered money woes in recent years
Being such a huge name in Hollywood means that Johnny Depp has earned around $650 million throughout the years. He has also enjoyed a net worth of $60 million at his peak. Unfortunately, Johnny has long been plagued with financial woes that have been enough to see him allegedly lash out at others and sell off most of his things.
It’s said that in 2012, financial advisers tried to make Johnny understand that the $3.6 million he spent on staff wages and millions of dollars on lavish aspects of his lifestyle had to be backed up with his income. The result? Johnny fired the advisers. Some also claim the actor could be in as much as $40 million of debt.
There are claims that working conditions weren’t the best with Johnny Depp
Working for a celebrity is some people’s idea of a dream job, while others want to stay as far away as possible. Now, it appears that working with Johnny Depp might not be the dream that many imagined. There have been multi-claim lawsuits that state Johnny created toxic working conditions and refused to pay many members of staff throughout the years.
Several former staff members have stepped forward in the last few years to tell their side of the story, with many talking about how chaotic it’s always been to be a part of Johnny’s team. So where has all the money gone? There is no giant scheme at hand; Johnny simply spent it all on various things throughout the years.
He has been through a host of lawyers and managers in recent years
It might come as little surprise that several professionals have tried to make Johnny Depp see the error of his spending and convinced him to calm things down throughout the years. However, no one has ever been able to break through to the actor. It’s said that Johnny has blown millions of dollars on planes and fast cars in recent years. That’s just the beginning.
The star also spent millions on Caribbean islands, a $22 million yacht, and a French village. To top it off, some reports claim Johnny can spend up to $2 million a month on his lifestyle, including $30,000 on drinks. This has seen Johnny come to blows with his lawyers and managers, with many claiming they weren’t paid or the actor broke contracts.
Hollywood might be through with Johnny Depp after everything he’s been through
Many of us never thought we would see the day that Johnny Depp was shelved. After all, the actor has appeared in a host of movies and TV shows and has been a staple in Hollywood for generations, but could that all have come to an end? The beginning of the end appeared to be when he started a relationship with Amber Heard, as cheating rumors flooded the headlines.
From there, things went from bad to worse as the worst parts of both of their lives were dragged through the courts. Losing his role in the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ franchise might have been the final nail in the coffin for Johnny. Although it looked like he could come back, there is usually only so much controversy one person can survive.