While Amber Heard and Johnny Depp have done things throughout their individual careers that warrant mention, together, they dragged the rest of the world into their tumultuous relationship. The couple married in 2015, and Heard filed for divorce in 2016. After that, they began airing their dirty laundry for the world's consumption, and it wasn't pretty.
Heard's allegations of domestic abuse on the part of Depp resulted in the 2022 Depp v. Heard trial over defamation allegations. Heard penned a 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post alleging sexual violence, and while she didn't name Depp, there was no confusion as to whom she meant. Depp brought his suit, and the televised trial revealed far more than anyone wanted to know.
On top of the abuse allegations, Depp claimed Heard left human feces in their bed as a prank, and Heard detailed her allegations of domestic violence. The trial marred both actors' reputations, though Depp came out on top, winning $10 million in compensatory and $5 million in punitive damages. Heard won $2 million in compensatory damages from Depp, and they settled after appeal. The whole thing was messy, and while both actors took a hit, Heard's reputation was significantly more damaged than Depp's. Depp had been dropped from his "Fantastic Beasts" role over the trial and had been making international films for several years by that point, while Heard's screen time in her only major release of the time, "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom," amounted to under 20 minutes and a handful of lines.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
