Amber Heard And Johnny Depp's Court Battle Just Got A Whole Lot More Complicated

After years of battling it out in the press, actors Johnny Depp and Amber Herd have officially taken their fight to the courtroom (via CNN). Both parties were in Fairfax, Virginia, on April 12, 2022, because Johnny Depp filed a defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife. 

The point of contention was an op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post, titled, "I spoke up against sexual violence—and faced our culture's wrath. That has to change." Depp is suing Heard for $50 million on the grounds that this led to him losing acting parts and lots of money. In response to the lawsuit, Heard has filed a $100 million defamation countersuit against the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star.

Ahead of the trial — which is expected to last around six weeks and will potentially include testimonies from star witnesses like James Franco, Jason Momoa, and Paul Bettany (per EW) — Heard took to her social media to share a message with her supporters.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

On April 9, 2022, Amber Heard shared a long statement on Twitter and Instagram addressing her feelings about her upcoming court battle with Johnny Depp. The "Aquaman" star revealed that she is going to take a break from social media while she awaits the verdict of her lawsuit against Depp in Virginia. 

In defense of the article that started this debacle, Heard maintained that her ex's defamation claims are faulty. "I never named him, rather I wrote about the price women pay for speaking out against men in power," she said. "I continue to pay that price, but hopefully when this case concludes, I can move on and so can Johnny."

Since meeting the movie star on the set of their film "The Rum Diary" in 2009, marrying him in 2015, and swiftly divorcing Depp in 2016, Heard has had a long and tumultuous history with the 58-year-old (via Insider), including allegations of physical assault on behalf of both parties.

In her social media statement, Heard expressed that, despite their current situation, she still holds a place in her heart for her former life partner. "I have always maintained a love for Johnny and it brings me great pain to have to live out the details of our past life together in front of the world," she said. 

Thinking about the difficult weeks ahead, Heard closed her statement by asking fans to help her through this time. "I recognize the ongoing support I've been fortunate to receive through these years," she said, "and in these coming weeks I will be leaning on it more than ever."

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.