Johnny Depp’s attorney Camille Vasquez called rumors of a romance with the actor “unethical” and “sexist.”
In a new interview, Vasquez — who rose to fame during the actor’s high-profile defamation lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard — said she was disappointed that people thought her interactions with Depp were somehow “inappropriate or unprofessional.”
“I care deeply about my customers and we have clearly become close. But when I say we, I mean the whole team, and of course Johnny,” Vasquez told People, adding that the ‘Pirates of The Caribbean’ star has been her friend and client for four and a half years.
“It is also an unethical charge. It’s sexist,” she said. “It’s unfortunate and disappointing, but at the same time it’s part of the territory. I can’t say I was that surprised.”
Vasquez defended her and Depp’s interactions in court, saying she is “Cuban and Colombian.”
“I am tactile. What do you want me to say? I hug everyone. And I’m not ashamed of that,” she said, adding: “This man was fighting for his life and it broke my heart to see him sitting day after day listening to the most horrific accusations against him.
“And if I could offer a little comfort, then of course I would, whether it’s holding his hand or letting him know that we were there and that we would fight for him because he deserved it.”
Vasquez said she is “very happy” in her relationship with boyfriend Edward Owen.
The attorney quickly gained her own fans during Depp’s six-week trial for her grueling cross-examination of Heard. After the lawsuit, in which Depp won $15 million, Vasquez admitted the newfound attention was “a little overwhelming.”
“But if I can be an inspiration to young women who want to study law and study hard and work hard, it was all worth it,” she said on GMA on Wednesday.