Newly released text messages suggest Johnny Depp 'cut off his own finger,' and blamed Amber Heard.

This post deals with domestic violence and might be triggering for some readers.

For years, the very public separation of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard has dominated news headlines.

The former couple, who finalised their divorce in early 2017, have both been accused of domestic violence.

In 2016, Amber Heard spoke out against domestic violence in a YouTube video. Post continues below.

Depp is currently suing the British newspaper The Sun for publishing an article that alleged he had been abusive to Heard. However, texts emerged this week which suggest the actor cut off his own finger. While we don’t know if the incidents are linked, he’s previously alleged Heard was responsible for severing the top of his middle finger during a dispute.

Depp claimed in US court papers that Heard was responsible for a similar injury after she threw a bottle of vodka at him during a violent altercation just a month after they were married. These claims were heard in Depp’s $90 million defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife after she authored an op-ed with the Washington Post detailing her experience of domestic abuse, without naming Depp.

During proceedings – which have been delayed until August 2020 – Heard countered his claims about her injuring his finger, stating he “severely injured his finger, cutting off the top” when he smashed a telephone against a wall.

This week, London’s High Court heard texts between Depp and his personal doctor, David Kipper, which suggest the actor’s injury may have been self-inflicted.

“I cut the top of my middle finger off … What should I do!?? Except, of course, go to a hospital …. I’m so embarrassed for jumping into anything with her … F**K THE WORLD!!! JD,” wrote Depp on March 7, 2015.

12 days later, Depp wrote back: “Thank you for everything. I have chopped off my left middle finger as a reminder that I should never cut my finger off again!! I love you, brother. Johnny.”

Reports have also emerged of the kind of violence Heard was allegedly subjected to during this time.

“That night the complainant shoved Ms Heard into a ping-pong table, threw bottles through window panels of a glass door, then grabbed Ms Heard and tore off her nightgown,” said The Sun’s representation, Adam Wolanski, QC, detailing a fight which occurred on March 4, 2015.

“The complainant grabbed Ms Heard by her neck and choked her against the refrigerator.

“The complainant mocked her, while touching and grabbing her by her breasts and repeatedly shoved her up against the refrigerator.

“The complainant then grabbed Ms Heard by the neck and collarbone, slammed her against the countertop and strangled her.”

Previously unseen text messages have also come to light of Depp saying he would "burn" and "drown" his ex-wife.

The disturbing text messages, which were allegedly sent by Depp to his actor friend Paul Bettany in 2013, were read out in London’s High Court during the preliminary hearing in Depp's libel suit.

On November 6, 2013, Depp allegedly wrote, "Let’s burn Amber," the court heard. 

That same day, Depp also texted Bettany, “Let’s drown her before we burn her!!! I will f**k her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she is dead.”

The court also heard text messages which were sent by Depp to Bettany in May 2014.

"I’m gonna properly stop the booze thing, darling … Drank all night before I picked Amber up to fly to LA, this past Sunday … Ugly, mate," he allegedly wrote.

"No food for days … powders … half a bottle of whiskey, a thousand red bull and vodkas, pills, two bottles of Champers on plane and what do you get..???

"An angry, aggro Injun in a f**kin’ blackout, screaming obscenities and insulting any f**k who got near … I’m done.

"I am admittedly too f**ked in the head to spray my rage at the one I love … For little reason, as well I’m too old to be that guy But, pills are fine!!!"

Depp's lawyer David Sherborne told the court: “One person, one side, is lying, and one is not.

“Obviously, we say that it is Ms Heard [who is lying], Mr Depp is 100 per cent clear about that.”

In February 2020, after multiple detailed abuse allegations from both Depp and Heard, audio surfaced of Heard admitting to "hitting" her ex-husband.

In audio published by the Daily Mail, which was reportedly recorded as the couple talked through their relationship problems, the former couple discussed an incident that occurred the previous night.

In the leaked audio recording, which was reportedly released by Depp himself, the actor accused Heard of punching him in the face. Heard is also allegedly heard admitting to striking Depp with pots and pans and throwing vases at him.

"I'm sorry that I didn't... hit you across the face in a proper slap, but I was hitting you, it was not punching you," Heard said in the audio.

"I'm sorry I hit you like this. But I did not punch you. I did not f***ing deck you. I f***ing was hitting you," she continued.

"I don't know what the motion of my actual hand was, but you're fine, I did not hurt you, I did not punch you, I was hitting you."

Later on in the recording, Depp suggests the pair should take time apart during their arguments to prevent them from escalating.

Heard responded: "I can't promise that it will all be perfect. I can't promise you I won't get physical again. God I f***ing sometimes I get so bad I lose it."

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard began dating after meeting on the set of The Rum Diary in 2011.

Several years later, the fellow actors were married in a private civil ceremony in February 2015 at their home in Los Angeles.

In mid-2016, however, the Aquaman star filed for divorce from Depp.

At the time, court documents from the settlement were obtained by the press which revealed Heard was seeking a temporary restraining order against Depp, alleging she’d been subjected to verbal and physical abuse after a drunken argument in their LA apartment.

The court documents claimed that Depp "became extremely angry", throwing a phone at Heard, hitting her cheek and eye "with extreme force".

Photographs were then published by PEOPLE that showed Heard with a blackened eye and split lip, and a video emerged online of him shouting at her and throwing a wine glass.

Depp vehemently denied the allegations – he still does – and no charges were laid.

Instead, Depp's lawyers argued that Heard was "attempting to secure a premature financial resolution by alleging abuse".

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In August 2016, the former couple settled their divorce and the domestic abuse case against Depp after Heard withdrew her request for a temporary restraining order.

"Our relationship was intensely passionate and at time volatile, but always bound by love," the former couple said in a statement.

"Neither party has made false accusations for financial gain. There was never any intent of physical or emotional harm."

As part of the settlement, Depp paid Heard US$7 million, which she split evenly between two charities.

In a personal statement, Heard shared that she made the decision to show that "money played no role for me personally and never has, except to the extent that I could donate it to charity and, in doing so, hopefully those less able to defend themselves".

Although Depp and Heard's divorce was finalised in January 2017, the abuse allegations didn't falter.

In December 2018, Heard wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post about her experience with domestic abuse.

Though Heard didn't mention Depp by name, she gave insight into what happened when she became "a public figure representing domestic abuse", and how she was left to endure "the full force of our culture’s wrath for women who speak out".

 

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Proud to stand alongside so many strong and courageous people in the fight for equality at the 4th annual Women’s March

A post shared by Amber Heard (@amberheard) on Jan 20, 2020 at 12:55am PST

"I write this as a woman who had to change my phone number weekly because I was getting death threats. For months, I rarely left my apartment, and when I did, I was pursued by camera drones and photographers on foot, on motorcycles and in cars. Tabloid outlets that posted pictures of me spun them in a negative light," she wrote.

"I felt as though I was on trial in the court of public opinion — and my life and livelihood depended on myriad judgements far beyond my control."

In the opinion piece, Heard wrote that she was told, even by friends, that she would never work again in Hollywood, that she would be "blacklisted".

"A movie I was attached to recast my role. I had just shot a two-year campaign as the face of a global fashion brand, and the company dropped me. Questions arose as to whether I would be able to keep my role of Mera in the movies Justice League and Aquaman.”

Depp himself initially stayed quiet about Heard's allegations, but in an October interview with British GQ he said he would "never stop fighting" the allegations.

"To harm someone you love? As a kind of bully. No, it didn't, it couldn't even sound like me," he said.

"The thing that hurt me is being presented as something that you're really as far away from as you could possibly get, you know?

"I worry about the people that bought it and I worry about her."

In early 2019, however, Depp sued Heard for US$50 million for defamation over the op-ed she wrote, which "depended on the central premise that Ms. Heard was a domestic abuse victim and that Mr. Depp perpetrated domestic violence against her".

As part of the lawsuit, Depp claimed that Heard had physically abused and "threw objects" at him during their marriage. He also claimed that her allegations were "fabricated" and part of an "elaborate hoax to generate positive publicity" for Heard.

Depp's case also claimed that Heard's op-ed directly led to him being dropped from his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in a Pirates Of The Caribbean movie.

In response to the case, Heard denied Depp's claims and released a 300-page filing, which outlined the alleged "horrific" abuse she suffered at the hands of "the monster" during their relationship.

The case included multiple photos of herself with bruises on her face and scars on her arm, which Depp later responded to with photos of scratches and his fingertip, which was allegedly severed from a glass bottle thrown by Heard.

Following the release of the recording of the couple's therapy session, Depp and Heard have responded to the new claims.

"These tapes containing Amber Heard’s chilling confessions of violence further expose and destroy her abuse hoax," Depp’s lawyer Adam Waldman told The Daily Mail.

On the other hand, a spokesperson for Heard accused Depp of "vindictively" leaking the tape.

"Anyone familiar with the dynamics of domestic abuse would immediately recognise what is really going on here," she said.

"Throughout the extended tape recording that Johnny Depp vindictively turned over to the press, Ms Heard repeatedly attempts to placate Mr Depp, ignore his accusations and force him to acknowledge what was really happening in their relationship."

Feature Image: Getty

For more on this topic:

• An international model and a low-key son: Everything we know about Johnny Depp's children.
  
• When Amber Heard accused Johnny Depp of abuse, it was only the beginning.
  
• MONEY DIARY: This is precisely how Johnny Depp found himself in "financial turmoil".
  

If this post brings up any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. It doesn’t matter where you live, they will take your call and, if need be, refer you to a service closer to home.

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