Johnny Depp sued Amber Heard for defamation over an op-ed she wrote in 2018. Image Source: MARCA

Actor Johnny Depp and actress Amber Heard are fighting for their rights!

During the Thursday proceedings of the case where Johnny Depp is suing ex-wife Amber Heard for defamation over a 2018 op-ed, she wrote for The Washington Post on surviving domestic violence and detailing her experience, Amber Heard and Johnny Depp’s former marriage counselor’s deposition was heard.

Dr. Laurel Anderson, a Los Angeles-based therapist whose deposition was recorded in February, was played and heard in the Fairfax courtroom in Virginia on Thursday. In her deposition, she was asked if she could recall any violent acts from Mr. Johnny Depp’s end towards Amber Heard, to which she replied with an explanation that he had been well controlled for almost 20-30 years and added that both of them had been victims of abuse in their home (childhood), but she thought that Johnny Depp was in control for a few decades, but with Amber Heard, he was triggered and they engaged in what she described as' mutual abuse’.

Dr. went on to say that Amber Heard would sometimes initiate fights to keep Johnny Depp with her because she has abandonment issues, and she once told her that if Johnny Depp was about to leave her to deescalate the fight, she would strike him to keep him there because she thought it was better to be in a fight than have him leave. The former marriage counselor also added that she had witnessed "multiple" small bruises on Amber Heard’s face at an in-person meeting. She also shared that Amber Heard had slapped the actor because he was being incoherent and talking about being with another woman, and the therapist mentioned that Johnny Depp’s mother was in the hospital at the time.

Dr. Laurel Anderson added that Amber Heard’s jackhammer style of talking and habit of cutting off Johnny Depp overwhelmed him. The therapist concluded that Amber loved Johnny, Johnny loved Amber, and the actress was not stupid as she was aware that what they were doing was not healthy. She did, however, mention that Johnny Depp was a good communicator and was forthcoming when he was given space to talk without being interrupted.

Dr. Laurel Anderson, former marriage counselor of the former couple's. Image Source: PEOPLE 

During the opening statements, Amber Heard’s attorney, Ben Rottenborn, claimed that the evidence would show that the actress had suffered domestic abuse by Johnny Depp and that the violence had taken many forms, including physical, emotional, verbal, and psychological, as well as sexual. Ben added that the court was going to hear the most graphic and horrifying terms about the violence that Amber Heard had suffered from domestic violence. Johnny Depp’s spokesperson denied all the allegations and stated that the claims stated by Amber Heard's attorney were all fictitious claims. The spokesperson added that these claims only surfaced after Amber Heard was sued for defamation for her opinion that stated that she was a victim of "sexual violence."

Johnny Depp’s spokesperson shared with E! News in a statement that words are key in a defamation case, and Amber Heard’s allegation conveniently came after she was sued. The statement continued and added that this is a pattern that Amber Heard follows. Johnny Depp’s attorney, Camille Vasquez, said during the opening statement that Amber Heard had manufactured false allegations against Johnny Depp to boost her career in the light of the # MeToo movement and argued that she had added the allegation of sexual assault after she panicked on realizing that she had accused the actor of a serious allegation and could not back down from her notoriety as a survivor.

Amber Heard’s former personal assistant, Kate James, who worked with her from 2012 to 2015, also testified during the proceedings where she mentioned that Amber Heard felt that she had the right to spit in her face when she asked for a salary increment. She was hired with an initial salary of $25 an hour, and her duties ranged from picking up the actress’ dry cleaning to talking with her Hollywood agents. Kate also mentioned that Amber Heard was taking some prescribed stimulant drugs, had appeared drunk, and had a "kick the dog" sort of relationship with her sister Whitney Heard. Kate James also mentioned that the actress also became belligerent and abusive, sending abusive texts at all times of the day. The former personal assistant described how she merely became someone who could be lashed out at by Amber Heard.

Amber Heard's former personal assistant; Kate James. Image Source: NY Post 

Kate James also testified that Amber Heard had discussed with her taking psychedelic mushrooms, ecstasy, cocaine, and sometimes she would appear under the influence of illegal drugs. James went on to detail that Amber Heard would appear disoriented, partying with her friends, heavy drinking, laughing, all sorts of things, along with drugs. Kate James also described that Amber Heard had mentioned to her that she did not like hanging out with Johnny Depp’s friends as they were old men and were always playing guitars, which bored her. The assistant went on to describe Johnny Depp as a peaceful, calm, shy, and almost quiet man and she had never seen the actor get violent with her boss or any signs of domestic abuse when she visited their house. 

Kate James mentioned an incident where she detailed that the actress was angry at her for leaving some magazines out in the house when she had asked her to store them in the garage. She described Johnny Depp as always completely passive and mentioned that Johnny was kind and loving towards her four-year son as well. Kate added that their relationship did not look perfect to her due to Amber Heard's insecurities. Amber Heard's lawyer did get Kate to admit that she met the actor post the former couple's breakup after Johnny sent her a text that read, "we'll fix her flabby ass nice and good" but Kate clarified that although she met Johnny Depp that afternoon they did not have wine and couldn't recall much about the conversation they had. (most likely about Amber Heard). 

Kate James’ testimony was previewed at London’s Royal Courts of Justice last year when she provided evidence that Amber Heard had appropriated Kate’s own experience of being violently raped at a machete point in Brazil and twisted it into her own story and used it against the actor.

The trial is expected to last up to six weeks, and there will be many celebrity witnesses, including Elon Musk, James Franco, and Paul Bettany, among others.