Johnny Depp in court says he has never struck any woman in his life
Actor Johnny Depp wasted no time after taking the stand in court on Tuesday, saying that "never did I myself reach the point of striking Ms. Heard in any way, nor have I ever struck any woman in my life."
Depp was in a Virginia court Tuesday afternoon to testify in his defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard. Depp is suing the actress for more than $50 million, saying her claims of domestic abuse have harmed his career and reputation.
Heard, 35, has filed a countersuit against Depp, 58, seeking $100 million in damages and saying his legal team falsely accused her of fabricating claims against Depp.
Depp on Tuesday said Heard's "untrue" accusations that she had been a victim of domestic abuse "permeated the industry," eventually becoming global news and in many circles have been accepted as fact.
"I'm obsessed with the truth so today is my first opportunity that I've been able to speak about this case in full for the first time," Depp told the court. "I felt a responsibility of clearing the record."
Depp shares details about his early relationship with Heard
"In the beginning of my relationship with Ms. Heard, it was, from what I recall and what I remember, she was ... too good to be true," Depp said. "She was attentive, loving; she was smart, she was kind, she was funny, she was understanding."
They did have arguments, he admitted, but overall, he described the relationship as "amazing." They developed touching rituals, including a sort of welcome-home routine.
"I would come in the house or hotel, and she would sit me down on the couch and give me a glass of wine, and take my boots off, set them to the side," he recalled. "And I'd never experienced anything like that in my life."
But Depp said he came home one day and when realizing Heard was busy, he removed his own shoes. According to Depp, Heard became "visibly shaken or upset" that he had broken the rules of the routine.
"I thought that was strange," he said, adding that from that moment on, he began noticing other changes. "Within a year or year and half, she had become another person, almost."