Johnny Depp trial - live: Amber Heard defence case tells of actor’s ‘erratic’ and ‘unprofessional’ behaviour

WARNING: This live blog contains allegations of physical and sexual violence that some readers may find distressing.

Amber Heard’s defence case continues in the defamation trial brought against her by ex-husband Johnny Depp.

Heard is being sued by Depp for $50m for implying he abused her in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed. Although she didn’t name him, he claims her allegations impacted his ability to work.

Testimony has been given by several of Heard’s former friends as well as her sister, acting coach, and makeup artist. They all testified either seeing her injuries or alleged altercations with Depp.

On Thursday, Depp’s longtime friend spoke of a jealous streak in the actor, while his former agent said he romanticised drugs and constantly showed up late to sets impacting his career. The actor’s ex-business manager described his increasingly dire financial situation and “erratic behaviour” relating to drugs and alcohol. Actor and Depp-ex Ellen Barkin recalled him drinking all the time and once throwing a wine bottle across a room during an argument.

Testimony resumes on Monday.

Key points

• Here’s what attorneys say about the Johnny Depp v Amber Heard so far

• Heard grilled over alleged attack where Depp sexually assaulted her

• Heard’s ex-friend cries as she feared ‘monster’ Depp would ‘do something worse than he intended’

• Depp showed up late to set on ‘virtually every movie’, former agent says

• Depp attorney who called Heard’s abuse claims ‘fake’ refuses to answer 75 questions from her team

• Depp’s ex Ellen Barkin says ‘jealous’ actor threw wine bottle across room in fight

• Depp attorney says Marilyn Manson video ‘demolished’ Amber Heard’s abuse claims

Depp’s ex Ellen Barkin says ‘jealous’ actor threw wine bottle across room

04:59 , Oliver O'Connell

Actress Ellen Barkin has claimed that “jealous” Johnny Depp once threw a wine bottle across a hotel room back when they were dating in the early 1990s.

Ms Barkin said she first became friends with Mr Depp in 1994 when they starred in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas together before their relationship turned “sexual” and they would meet up a few times a week.

Read more:

Johnny Depp’s ex Ellen Barkin says ‘jealous’ actor threw wine bottle in fight

Heard makeup artist describes covering up actor’s injuries before James Corden show

04:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Amber Heard’s former make-up artist has testified that she concealed injuries on Heard’s face before her appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden.

Melanie Inglessis gave evidence in the ongoing $50m defamation trial – brought by Johnny Depp against ex-wife Heard – on Wednesday (18 May).

Read more:

Makeup artist describes covering Amber Heard injuries before James Corden appearance

Depp attorney who called Heard’s abuse claims ‘fake’ refuses to answer 75 questions

03:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp’s attorney refused to answer more than 75 questions from Amber Heard’s lawyers in the multi-million-dollar defamation trial on Thursday – despite admitting that he had spoken to the press and given information to so-called “internet journalists” about the former couple.

Adam Waldman gave video testimony back in February after being subpoenaed by Ms Heard’s legal team.

Mr Waldman, who has worked on and off on Mr Depp’s legal team since October 2016, is at the centre of the Aquaman actress’s $100m counterclaim in the trial after he called her allegations of abuse “fake” and “a hoax”.

Rachel Sharp reports:

Johnny Depp attorney refuses to answer 75 questions from Amber Heard’s lawyers

Depp’s former friend says Marilyn Manson isn’t to blame for actor’s drug use

02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp’s former long-time friend Bruce Witkin testified on Thursday (19 May) that Marilyn Manson isn’t to blame for the Pirates actor’s drug use.

While on the stand, Depp – who was briefly married to Witkin’s sister-in-law Lori Anne Allison – claimed he once gave Manson a pill to stop him from talking so much.

Read more:

Johnny Depp’s former friend says Marilyn Manson isn’t to blame for actor’s drug use

Depp ‘romanticised’ drugs and has ‘fundamental issues with anger’, former agent says

02:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp “romanticised” drugs and had “fundamental issues with anger”, according to his former agent who testified in the Pirates of the Caribbean star’s multi-million-dollar defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard.

Tracey Jacobs gave video testimony to the court in Fairfax, Virginia, on Thursday morning where she claimed that his increasingly “difficult” reputation meant people around Hollywood grew “reluctant” to work with him and his “star dimmed”.

Read more:

Agent Tracey Jacobs says Johnny Depp ‘romanticised’ drugs and has ‘anger issues’

Lance Bass deletes viral TikTok mocking Heard

01:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Lance Bass has deleted the TikTok video of him mocking Amber Heard’s court testimony.

After being widely condemned, the former *NSYNC member has removed the viral video in which he “reenacted” part of Heard’s testimony.

Read more:

Lance Bass deletes viral TikTok mocking Amber Heard’s testimony after backlash

Depp says he made waffles for fans cheering him on outside court

Friday 20 May 2022 00:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp said he made waffles for his fans as he arrived at the Virginia courthouse on day 19 of his defamation trial against Amber Heard.

The actor, 58, arrived at Fairfax County Circuit Court on Thursday just before the day’s proceedings were temporarily held up over a delayed juror.

Read more:

Johnny Depp says he made waffles for fans cheering as he arrives at court

Psychologist: Memes and videos mocking Amber Heard expose hatred and distrust of women

Friday 20 May 2022 00:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Memes and videos mocking Amber Heard expose the “deep hatred” and distrust of women as well as revealing the prevalence of misogyny, experts have warned.

Campaigners from leading UK charities and experts told The Independent viral online responses to the lawsuit between Johnny Depp and Ms Heard shed light on how many people assume women who report domestic abuse and sexual violence are lying.

Maya Oppenheim, Women’s Correspondent for The Independent, reports:

Videos and memes mocking Amber Heard expose hatred and distrust of women, experts say

Depp was ‘very concerned’ about Heard working with James Franco, acting coach says

Thursday 19 May 2022 23:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp was “very concerned” about Amber Heard in roles opposite James Franco, her acting coach testified.

Kirsty Sexton gave testimony in the ongoing defamation trial brought on by Depp against ex-wife Heard.

Read more:

Johnny Depp was allegedly ‘concerned’ over Amber Heard roles with James Franco

Editor’s Letter: Analysing data from the Depp v Heard trial is more complicated than you’d think

Thursday 19 May 2022 23:25 , Oliver O'Connell

I analyse audience interactions all day, every day – and I know that sometimes a story isn’t quite what it seems, writes Lucy Anna Gray.

Analysing data from the Depp v Heard trial is more complicated than you’d think

Heard makeup artist describes covering up actor’s injuries before James Corden show

Thursday 19 May 2022 23:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Amber Heard’s former make-up artist has testified that she concealed injuries on Heard’s face before her appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden.

Melanie Inglessis gave evidence in the ongoing $50m defamation trial – brought by Johnny Depp against ex-wife Heard – on Wednesday (18 May).

Read more:

Makeup artist describes covering Amber Heard injuries before James Corden appearance

Depp attorney says Marilyn Manson video ‘demolished’ Heard’s abuse claims

Thursday 19 May 2022 22:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp’s attorney has claimed that video taken by Marilyn Manson “demolished” Amber Heard’s allegations that she was abused by her ex-husband.

Testimony from Adam Waldman, who has worked on and off on Mr Depp’s legal team since October 2016, was played in court on Thursday during the former couple’s high-stakes defamation trial in Fairfax, Virginia.

Mr Waldman, who is at the centre of Ms Heard’s counterclaim after he called her abuse allegations “fake” and “a hoax”, gave video testimony back in February after being subpoenaed by the Aquaman actress’s legal team.

Read more:

Johnny Depp attorney says Marilyn Manson video ‘demolished’ Amber Heard abuse claims

Depp’s ex Ellen Barkin says ‘jealous’ actor threw wine bottle across room

Thursday 19 May 2022 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Actress Ellen Barkin has claimed that “jealous” Johnny Depp once threw a wine bottle across a hotel room back when they were dating in the early 1990s.

Ms Barkin said she first became friends with Mr Depp in 1994 when they starred in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas together before their relationship turned “sexual” and they would meet up a few times a week.

Read more:

Johnny Depp’s ex Ellen Barkin says ‘jealous’ actor threw wine bottle in fight

Thursday 19 May 2022 22:01 , Oliver O'Connell

Testimony closes for the day and for this week.

The jury is excused for a three-day break as jury trials do not sit on Fridays in Virginia.

Next week is the final week of testimony.

New Witness: Jessica Kovacevic, Heard’s talent agent

Thursday 19 May 2022 21:53 , Oliver O'Connell

Jessica Kovacevic, Amber Heard’s agent, testifies about Heard getting the part of Mera in Aquaman. She says the movie was very successful and Heard received no negative reviews and no complaints about her performance.

Her career arc was steadily rising. When it came to the Aquaman sequel, Ms Kovacevic successfully renegotiated Heard’s contract despite some comments from the studio of a lack of chemistry with leading man Jason Mamoa.

She testifies there were online rumours of Heard being replaced and many negative posts and much social media chatter. Her career faltered at the time of Mr Waldman’s statements regarding her relationship with Depp.

Ms Kovacevic points to a movie project at Amazon as an example of work that Heard was dropped from following the bad press she received, though industry people would not say that was the reason.

She has not been hired for any roles similar to Aquaman since the bad press began.

“No one want someone who’s been accused [of lying] and making things up and abusing someone, involved in their project.”

New Witness: Eric George, attorney for Heard for op-ed

Thursday 19 May 2022 21:32 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric George, a litigator in entertainment law who advised Heard on the op-ed, is now testifying in pre-recorded video testimony.

He says he took a long time reviewing the draft of the op-ed to prevent Heard from being sued about it in relation to the dissolution of her marriage.

Mr George says Heard followed all of his legal advice and ignored none of it.

Thursday 19 May 2022 21:17 , Oliver O'Connell

Dr Blaustein and Depp met 18 times.

He had concerns about some of the medication Depp was taking, particularly when used with alcohol. They stopped having sessions when Depp went to Australia to film Pirates 5.

Depp told him he had a “chaotic” relationship with Heard featuring “lots of anger, disappointment, and high emotional expression”. At one point he refers to her as a “pain in the ass”.

He once told Heard she was being like “his mother and psychotic sister”.

Depp also talked about “rage and chaos” in his other relationships and told him about “something horrible inside him” and used the term “devil” which Dr Blaustein believes was about his “internal struggle”.

New Witness: Dr Alan Blaustein, Depp’s psychiatrist

Thursday 19 May 2022 20:56 , Oliver O'Connell

The next witness is Dr Alan Blaustein, a psychiatrist who treated Depp.

He says Depp had anxiety and there were discussions about Depp being bipolar and having anger issues.

Depp laughs as Disney executive asked whether he could be paid ‘one million alpacas’

Thursday 19 May 2022 20:51 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp found humour in a question a Disney executive was asked during her witness testimony in the ongoing defamation trial brought against Amber Heard.

During Thursday’s (19 May) trial, a pre-recorded deposition from Tina Newman was presented to the court.

In the video, Newman was questioned about Depp’s future in the forthcoming Pirates 6 film.

Inga Parkel reports:

Johnny Depp laughs at ‘one million alpacas’ for Pirates role question

Thursday 19 May 2022 20:28 , Oliver O'Connell

Court breaks for the afternoon recess and will resume at 3.45pm

Thursday 19 May 2022 20:28 , Oliver O'Connell

Barkin does recall him throwing a wine bottle across a hotel room during an argument with his friends and others.

It was thrown in her direction where she was standing with others.

She was asked how the relationship ended and recalls there was a goodbye and he stopped calling her.

Barkin also recalls Depp being jealous to the point he thought a scratch on her back was because she had cheated on him.

She finishes her testimony by saying Depp could be “controlling” and “demanding”.

Thursday 19 May 2022 20:24 , Oliver O'Connell

Barkin recalls Depp being drunk “all the time” and his preferred drink was red wine.

She doesn’t recall him being on medication but remembers him taking hallucinogenics, cocaine, and marijuana.

Barkin says she witnessed this dozens of times over the full course of their friendship and sexual relationship.

She says his behaviour did not change.

New Witness: Ellen Barkin, actor

Thursday 19 May 2022 20:22 , Oliver O'Connell

The next witness is the actor Ellen Barkin.

Barkin says she first met Depp in about 1990 and became friends. They were living on different coasts until 1994 when she moved to Los Angeles.

They embarked on a sexual relationship for several months (she estimates three to five) and they would see each other several times a week at either of their houses about ten minutes apart.

She recalls meeting Depp’s sister and an assistant called “Pig” by Depp.

They first acted together in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998).

New Witness: Tina Newman, Disney

Thursday 19 May 2022 20:11 , Oliver O'Connell

Another video deposition. Tina Newman represents the Disney corporation where she is a production executive in the live-action department.

She has worked on the Pirate franchise and testifies she has no knowledge of the Heard op-ed in The Washington Post and it has not been mentioned in discussions at Disney.

Further, she says decisions about whether Depp would be in a possible Pirates 6, she says that decision: “Is above my pay grade.”

Ms Newman does acknowledge that the project is in development at Disney.

Thursday 19 May 2022 20:02 , Oliver O'Connell

Ms Mulrooney says she was first contacted “about an Amber Heard pre-nup” for her marriage to Johnny Depp in late January or early February 2015.

This appears to have turned into arrangements for a post-nup agreement.

She then recalls one phone call from Depp in which he was “mean”, slurring his words [she felt he was intoxicated], called her a “bitch” and fired her.

Ms Mulrooney says: “I was very rattled by the call, I was on the call for a very short time... I told him I had to hang up after a few minutes. It took me off guard. It really shook me up”.

New Witness: Michelle Mulrooney, Heard’s former attorney,

Thursday 19 May 2022 19:47 , Oliver O'Connell

Next up by video deposition is Michelle Mulrooney, Heard’s former attorney.

She is head of her law firm’s estate planning practice, covering pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements.

Former agent says Depp tried to ‘shut down’ London Fields set over Heard nude scene

Thursday 19 May 2022 19:45 , Oliver O'Connell

According to Johnny Depp’s former agent, the actor tried to shut down a version of 2018 film London Fields, which included nude scenes of Amber Heard.

Tracey Jacobs made the claim on Thursday 19 May, during her testimony in the ongoing defamation trial brought against Heard by her ex-husband.

Inga Parkel reports:

Johnny Depp tried to ‘shut down’ London Fields version which featured Amber Head nude

Thursday 19 May 2022 19:24 , Oliver O'Connell

Testifying as an expert witness, Mr Schnell has been a consultant on statistical and forensic analysis of social media posts on all of the major platforms (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Reddit) hundreds of times.

He used Twitter’s API to analyse various hashtags relating to negative tweets about Amber Heard from April 2020 to January 2021 to coincide with Adam Waldman’s defamatory statements about her.

Most tweets used one of four hashtags and there was a total of more than 2 million tweets. The hashtags he described as “rude”.

Using four random tests of thousands of tweets about Heard from that period, he couldn’t find a single tweet that was positive about her.

Depp attorney who called Heard’s abuse claims ‘fake’ refuses to answer 75 questions from her team

Thursday 19 May 2022 19:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp’s attorney refused to answer more than 75 questions from Amber Heard’s lawyers in the multi-million-dollar defamation trial on Thursday – despite admitting that he had spoken to the press and given information to so-called “internet journalists” about the former couple.

Adam Waldman gave video testimony back in February after being subpoenaed by Ms Heard’s legal team.

Rachel Sharp counted them all:

Johnny Depp attorney refuses to answer 75 questions from Amber Heard’s lawyers

New Witness: Ron Schnell, social media forensic expert

Thursday 19 May 2022 18:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Court resumes after lunch with a new in-person witness.

Ron Schnell, a social media forensic expert, is testifying in Heard’s defence case.