Johnny Depp slaps $50 million defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard, calls abuse claims ‘elaborate hoax’

After Johnny Depp’s attorney contends that they have ‘new evidence’ to refute Amber Heard’s violence claims last month, the actor has now filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife. According to the lawsuit obtained by the Pirates of the Caribbean star, the 55-year-old actor described Heard's 2016 abuse allegations as 'an elaborate hoax'.

"Ms. Heard is not a victim of domestic abuse, she is a perpetrator," says the suit, while calling the allegations against Depp as "hoax", Depp’s lawyer states in the Daily Mail.

In the suit, The Blast mentions that Heard’s claims were aimed for her benefit. They state that according to Depp, the claims were “false allegations” against him “an elaborate hoax to generate positive publicity” for her and “advance her career.” The lawsuit strongly states that she is the one attacked him, claiming, “Ms. Heard is not a victim of domestic abuse; she is a perpetrator.”

In the op-ed, Heard, 32, had revealed that she lost out on a number of film roles as a result of the "full force of our culture's wrath for women who speak out". She had also claimed that she received death threats after she accused Depp of domestic violence.

In the lawsuit, Depp's lawyers insisted that he "never abused Ms Heard" and alleged that she used the claims in order to further her career in Hollywood.

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Depp also claimed he was dropped from a Pirates of the Caribbean film after the op-ed was published, causing him financial damage. He is seeking USD 50 million in damages.

In response to the lawsuit, Heard's representative said, "This frivolous action is just the latest of Johnny Depp's repeated efforts to silence Amber Heard. She will not be silenced. Mr. Depp's actions prove he is unable to accept the truth of his ongoing abusive behaviour.

"But while he appears hell-bent on achieving self-destruction, we will prevail in defeating this groundless lawsuit and ending the continued vile harassment of my client by Mr. Depp and his legal team," the rep added.

The couple’s split was very acrimonious with Heard accusing Depp of domestic abuse which led to a $7 million payout from Depp, she reports she donated to charities focused on helping to stop violence against women and the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.