Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty
Here’s everything you need to know about this serious turn of events:
2016
May 25: News of the divorce filing breaks
On May 23, 2016Heard files for divorce from Deppciting irreconcilable differences. In the divorce petition, Heard, then 30, asks for spousal support from Depp, then 52.
Hours after Heard’s filing (but before the world learns of it),Depp attends the Los Angeles premiereof his film,Alice Through the Looking Glass. “I never would’ve guessed he was going through a divorce, or anything like that,” a source at the premiere told PEOPLE.
May 26: Sources close to the couple speak out, details emerge about their rocky relationship
A source close to Heardtells PEOPLEthe actress “did what she had to do to take care of herself” after months of strife. Meanwhile Depp addresses the split via his rep.
“Given the brevity of this marriage and the most recent andtragic loss of his mother, Johnny will not respond to any of the salacious false stories, gossip, misinformation and lies about his personal life,” his rep told PEOPLE in a statement. “Hopefully the dissolution of this short marriage will be resolved quickly.”
May 27: Heard alleges Depp abused her and goes to court to get a restraining order
Heard unleashes a bombshell: She filed for, and is granted, a temporarydomestic violence restraining order against Depp.
In her court filing, she alleged that Depp was verbally and physically abusive toward her throughout their four-year relationship and that he has a problem with substance abuse. She stated that the latest incident was on May 21, when she says Depp argued with her and hit her in the eye with a cell phone. She submitted as evidence photos of her apparently bruised face and damaged property from their apartment.
“Johnny has a long-held and widely-acknowledged public and private history of drug and alcohol abuse,” she said inher declaration. “He has a short fuse. He is often paranoid and his temper is extremely scary for me as it has proven many times to be physically dangerous and/or life-threatening to me.”
In court, Heard appeared to have avisible bruise on her right eye. A judge granted her a temporary restraining order requiring Depp to stay 100 yards from her and gave her sole use of their downtown L.A. apartment, but declined to order any temporary spousal support for her or require Depp to stay away from her dog, Pistol.
Depp responds in court papers
Depp’s divorce attorney Wasser said Heard’s domestic abuse claims are financially motivated.
Police say they saw no evidence of a crime
A source close to Heard told PEOPLE she was too shaken to file a report at the time. The source also alleged that Depp knew about Heard’s plans to file for the restraining order and offered her money not to do so.
Depp continues band tour, makes a charity appearance in Portugal.
The day Heard goes in court in L.A.,Depp is in Portugalplaying and making a charity appearance with his band Hollywood Vampires.
Hours before their Rock in Rio festival performance in Lisbon, Portugal, on Friday, Depp and his bandmates Alice Cooper, Robert Deleo and Bruce Wikin are photographed fitting and adjusting hearing aids to support the Starkey Hearing Foundation.
A concertgoer tells PEOPLE Depp appeared to be “fine” during the band’s performance. “Johnny was absolutely fine. He played a really good gig,” Wendy Holland, who was at the show, tells PEOPLE. “It was like the events of the week hadn’t played a part at all.”
Depp’s daughter Lily-Rose defends him on social media
The actor’s then-17-year-old child took to Instagram on May 29 to speak out about the domestic abuse allegations against her father. “My dad is the sweetest, most loving person I know, he’s been nothing but a wonderful father to my little brother and I, and everyone who knows him would say the same,” Lily-Rose captioned athrowback photoof the father-daughter pair.
Lily-Rose’s mother and Depp’s longtime partner of 14 yearsVanessa Paradisreportedly wrote a handwritten letterto defend her ex, calling him a “sensitive, loving and loved person.” Paradis and Depp also share 14-year-old son Jack.
Heard’s lawyer explains why she didn’t tell police about her alleged abuse
Ina statement, Heard’s lawyers said the actress decided not to report her alleged abuse to police who responded to a 911 call on May 21 in order to “protect her privacy and Johnny’s career.”
Spector and Keonig went on to say that Amber’s restraining order was an attempt to “set the record straight as the true facts.”
“With her statement Amber hopes to give the LAPD the opportunity to conduct an accurate and complete investigation into the events of that evening and before. If that occurs, and the truth is revealed, there is no doubt that Amber’s claims will be substantiated beyond any doubt, and hopefully Johnny will get the help that he so desperately needs,” they wrote.
2017
Depp and Heard finalize their divorce
After reachinga $7 million settlementout of court in August 2016 — which Heard donated to the ACLU — the former pairfinalized their divorcein January 2017.
“It is a great day. All Amber wanted was a divorce and now she has it. In the words of Gerald Ford, ‘Our long national nightmare is over,’ " Heard’s attorney Pierce O’Donnell told PEOPLE at the time.
The judge denied Depp’s request to impose a$100,000 sanctionon Heard for allegedly delaying the proceeding. Depp was ordered to pay $500,000 towards Heard’s legal fees, according to court papers.
2019
Depp files a lawsuit
Depp files a $50 million lawsuit against Heard in March 2019, seeking damages for her2018Washington Postop-ed,in which she wrote about surviving domestic violence, although she never mentioned Depp specifically.
The lawsuit was ultimately delayed several times due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
2020
Depp loses his U.K. libel lawsuit
In November 2020, Depplost his highly publicized U.K. libel lawsuit caseagainst British tabloidThe Sun,which he launched after they referred to him as a “wife-beater.” The court upheld the outlet’s claims as being “substantially true” and Heard testified to back up the claims. Depp attempted to overturn the decision, butwas overruledin March 2021.
2022
The pair return to court
In addition to Heard and Depp, several other celebrities are expected to testify virtually in the trial. On Heard’s end,James Franco,Ellen Barkin, andElon Muskwill testify, according toDeadline.Paul Bettanywill testify virtually for Depp.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
source: people.com
