Thousands of pages of documents filed in the libel suit of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard were unsealed over the weekend, including text messages between the actor and Marilyn Manson and his team’s apparent attempt at his ex’s “brief stint as an exotic dancer.” – to mention woman. during the process.
The court documents, published online and verified by The Post, contain a series of behind-the-scenes actions by lawyers from both sides to present certain claims to the jury in Fairfax, Virginia.
A 965-page document filed March 28 details Heard’s opposition to a series of motions by Depp’s attorneys, including one to exclude his medical history from the trial and others asking for potentially damaging information about the actress to be presented.
Attorneys for the “Aquaman” star said Depp improperly brought up “Amber Heard’s sister Whitney’s reality show video” and “Whitney and Amber’s past romantic relationships,” the statement said.
Depp also wanted to tell the jury about “Amber’s brief stint as an exotic dancer years before she met Mr. Depp,” her lawyers wrote, while also resisting, “Mr. Depp frivolously and maliciously tried to suggest or imply that Ms. Heard was once an escort.”
The documents also showed new text messages between Depp and rocker Manson, née Brian Warner, who has been accused of sexual assault and grooming, including by his former fiancée Evan Rachel Wood, whom he sued in March for defamation.
In a 2016 text, Manson reportedly wrote “I have an amber 2.0” and also “Lindsay just gave me an amber… please remove”
Depp replies, “I’ve been reading A LOT of material about that and sociopathic behavior…it’s fucking real my brother!! My ex-ct is fucking MANUAL!!!” according to the document.
Then, in a clear reference to an incident where police were called to Depp and Heard’s shared Los Angeles apartment in 2016, Manson wrote, “I’m having serious police amber scenarios with L’s family. I’m fucking stressing. Me.” I don’t know if you’re back, but I need asylum somewhere because I think the police are coming my way,” the statement read.
Heard’s lawyers claimed that Depp and Manson had “drug binges” together, including in the days before the actress arrived in Australia and the two got into a now infamous fight that ended with the actor losing the tip of his right middle finger.
The files also contain a lengthy passage of allegations that Heard’s attorney Elaine Bredehoft claims she couldn’t ask Depp’s former agent Tracey Jacobs, including that the actor “lied to the LAPD.”
On the list of “relevant and harmful information” excluded at the trial, “Mr. Depp appeared drunk and stoned on TV, to the point where Disney studio directors called Ms. going on with your client,” the documents state. It is not clear to which alleged appearance the lawyer referred in the file.
Heard’s team also claimed that “the same issues arose during the filming of Pirates 5 and Disney told Ms. Jacobs that the behavior would not be tolerated,” Disney “wouldn’t accept this” and that “there is no love between Johnny and Disney , given the Pirates five situation.’”
Depp’s relationship with Disney played a major role in the lawsuit, as his lawyers argued that Heard’s defamatory allegations would have cost him tens of millions of future “Pirates” revenue, while Heard’s team argued that Disney dropped the actor because of his own behavior.
The actor’s lawyers said Heard’s team offered misleading evidence, stating that Bredehoft “could have continued to question Ms. Jacobs for another three hours, but chose not to.”
Documents also show how Depp’s lawyers worked to rule out testimony related to the actor’s arrest and pending lawsuits for other matters, including a lawsuit in which he was charged with assault that was settled in July.
His lawyers, who were successful in their argument, said that “it will serve no other purpose than to prejudice him in front of the jury” and that Heard would use it to “provide evidence that portrays Mr. Depp as an abusive man.”
The jury awarded Depp $10.35 million for charges that he was defamed by an op-ed in which Heard made allegations of domestic violence. She was awarded $2 million for her allegations that Depp’s attorney had made false and harmful comments about her.
In an interview with NBC News after the jury verdict, Heard complained of evidence that was excluded from the trial, including “a folder of years-long notes dating back to 2011 from the very beginning of my relationship and created by my doctor, who I reported the abuse to.”
“How could they pass a verdict, how could they not come to that conclusion,” Heard said, referring to the evidence the jury was shielded from.
Heard’s representatives did not return a request for comment. Depp’s representatives did not comment.