Johnny Depp is suing The Sun for publishing a 2018 article that described him as a "wife-beater." It was written shortly after he was cast in the Fantastic Beasts film series amid allegations of abuse by his ex-wife Amber Heard.
Depp has denied Heard's allegations, but their tumultuous few years of marriage have generated much press since they divorced in 2017.
Two of the actor's former longtime partners, Winona Ryder and Vanessa Paradis, provided new statements that defend Depp ahead of the libel case.
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Johnny Depp's exes, Winona Ryder and Vanessa Paradis, defend him
Paradis, with whom Depp also shares two children, was in a relationship with the now 56-year-old actor between 1998 and 2012. She gave a pretrial statement that, according to Variety, reads:
"I have known Johnny for more than 25 years. We’ve been partners for 14 years and we raised our two children together. Through all these years I’ve known Johnny to be a kind, attentive, generous, and non-violent person and father."
"He was never violent or abusive to me," Paradis added.
Depp was also in a relationship with his Edward Scissorhands co-star Winona Ryder between 1989 and 1993. She additionally provided a statement that defends Depp.
"I cannot wrap my head around (Heard's) accusations. He was never, never violent towards me. He was never, never abusive at all towards me," Ryder's statement said.
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Variety also reported a statement issued by Amber Heard's spokesperson in response to Paradis' and Ryder's comments.
"In relation to Vanessa Paradis and Winona Ryder’s evidence, we are glad they did not have the same experience as Ms. Heard. However, one woman’s experience does not determine the experience of another woman."
Depp's case against The Sun will take place over three weeks in July. He is also suing Heard for libel related to an article she wrote in The Washington Post in 2018.