Johnny Depp’s Graphic and Violent Text Messages Revealed During Trial | ‘Lets Burn Amber!!!’

Trigger Warning: This story contains details of abuse and assault, along with drug abuse, that may be disturbing to readers. 

During Johnny Depp's defamation trial, several text messages were shown to the jurors in which he used violent and obscene language and discussed copious drug and alcohol use.

According to Variety, Depp took the stand for the third consecutive day in a courtroom in Fairfax, Virginia, as his trial against ex-wife Amber Heard continued, while trying to disprove his ex-wife’s allegations that he physically and sexually abused her while they were together. 

During the cross-exam, Depp acknowledged at times violent text messages that he sent to Heard and other friends, including actor Paul Bettany, while he was still in a relationship with Heard, per Vice. 

In 2013, Depp reportedly texted Bettany, “Lets burn Amber!!!” according to Heard’s lawyer, J. Benjamin Rottenborn. He then wrote, “Let’s drown her before we burn her!!!” Heard’s attorney then said, “You said, ‘I will fuck her her (sic) burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she is dead’… and you wrote that about the woman who would later become your wife.”

Depp replied, “Yes, I did.” 

Then in 2015, Depp texted someone with the contact name “sis”—possibly Heard’s sister. In the text, Depp wrote, “I’m alright. Though, I never ever want to lay eyes on that filthy whore Amber.”

“When you called Amber that ‘filthy whore’, she was your wife at the time, correct?” Heard’s lawyer said. Depp said yes. Another text written by Depp, from 2014, said, “I’ll smack the ugly cunt around before I let her in.”

When Rottenborn asked if he’d read the texts correctly, Depp said, “You did, sir.” 

Several texts were also about a man battling substance abuse. During the multi-day testimony, references to the “monster” came up repeatedly as a metaphor for Depp’s reliance on substances—powders, pills, and alcohol.

Depp originally said the term was used to appease Heard, but several text messages reveal he used the metaphor when talking to others, and not just Heard. According to Depp, he had tried most drugs by the time he was 15.  “They’ve always been a medicine for me. A numbing agent,” Depp shared.

He was also asked about drug use, including with his friend Marilyn Manson. “Yes, we drank together. We’ve had cocaine together maybe a couple of times,” Depp testified. “I once gave Marilyn Manson a pill so he would stop talking so much.”

The court then heard that in December 2014, he wrote to Heard saying he “let it get too far.”  

“We/I tend to do that,” Depp wrote. “I don't want to be conditioned to continue that behaviour. Therefore I'll put in heavy work with drink. I'm sorry for being less… I’m a fucking savage. I’ve got to lose that… Know that you are right I am well aware that I should have been bigger than the moment, and that it'll never again manifest in negative experiences. It can be done.” 

Depp also shared that he and Heard were “perfect,” in a text to his security detail, adding that all he had to do was “send the monster away and lock him up.” 

The shocking revelations come amid another contentious battle in court for Heard and Depp over their tumultuous marriage. The couple married in 2015 and settled their divorce in August 2016.

Depp’s cross-examination will resume on April 25, 2022. Heard is expected to testify during the trial, which will last about six weeks. It is currently in its second week. 
 
References:

https://variety.com/2022/film/news/johnny-depp-amber-heard-text-messages-1235237867/

https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3v7mw/johnny-depp-cross-examination-texts-trial

Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Paul Morigi