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#Amber Heard’s op-ed ‘canceled’ Johnny Depp, sank his $22.5M movie deal: witnesses

“Amber Heard’s op-ed ‘canceled’ Johnny Depp, sank his $22.5M movie deal: witnesses”

Johnny Depp was painted as the victim in his relationship with Amber Heard by a host of witnesses called to the stand Monday — alleging the actor was punched, “canceled” and lost out on a $22.5 million movie deal because of his vindictive and abusive ex-wife.

The Fairfax, Virginia, jury in Depp’s $50 million defamation lawsuit against Heard heard about the ex-couple’s volatile union, including how the actress allegedly once chucked a can of Red Bull at the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star and called him a “f–ing deadbeat dad.”

“You name it, she’s spewed it,” Travis McGivern, Depp’s longtime bodyguard, testified about Heard.

The jurors were also told about how an op-ed by Heard, 36, in which she called herself a “public figure representing domestic abuse” had “devastated” Depp’s career.

The actor’s talent manager Jack Whigham testified that the 2018 essay sank a massive $22.5 million deal with Disney for Depp to reprise his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the “Pirates” franchise.

“After the op-ed, it was impossible to get him a studio film,” said Whigham, who has represented Depp since 2016.

The actor, 58, was not named in the Washington Post essay — which is at the center of the ongoing trial — but he claims it clearly referenced him and ruined his career, damaged his reputation and cost him tens of millions of dollars.

Amber Heard
Amber Heard considered herself a “public figure representing domestic abuse”.
Reuters/Steve Helber

Heard’s lawyers went to lengths to try to show the actress’ claims were hardly the only thing about Depp that might make movie-goers squeamish, pointing to the time he insinuated he wanted to kill then-President Donald Trump and his apparent history of showing up drunk to events.

Depp’s team, meanwhile, tried to paint Heard as the unhinged one in their relationship, questioning McGivern about alleged violent incidents he witnessed over his nine years working for Depp.

The security guard recalled on the stand how Heard once slugged Depp on the left side of his face during a fight in 2015 at their Los Angeles penthouse.

Travis McGivern, security for Johnny Depp,
Travis McGivern serves as a security guard to Johnny Depp.
AP/Steve Helber
Johnny Depp
Heard’s op-ed allegedly damaged Johnny Depp’s career.
EPA

“The initial look on his face kind of mirrored mine, kind of a look of shock,” McGivern said of Depp’s reaction.

Depp “had a nice little shiner” from the punch, the bodyguard said, noting the actor’s face was swollen and red in the aftermath, and that he did not retaliate.

McGivern claimed he witnessed Heard’s barrage of verbal abuse directed at Depp, including how she called the father of two a “f—ing deadbeat dad,” and a “f—ing cunt.”

The bodyguard said he was once even the subject of Heard’s alleged wrath, testifying that she “demeaned” and mocked him for his chosen profession.

“She called me a ‘yes man,’ ” he said. “Threw some shade on me and my chosen career.

Heard claims that Depp abused her physically and sexually over their relationship, but he has denied the allegations, accusing her of being the violent one.

Erin Falati
Erin Falati testifies remotely in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Court.
EPA/ Steve Helber

Heard’s former nurse Erin Falatai told the jury about text messages with photos of Heard’s red and bruised face that she received from the actress.

But asked what she made of the photos, Falatai replied, “I’m not an expert … I mean there’s color on her face in different areas, I don’t know what’s what.”

The “Aquaman” star filed for divorce from Depp in 2016 and obtained a temporary restraining order against him, alleging he abused her while he was drunk and high.

Depp’s agent, Whigham, said the actor was still able to work after the claims of abuse first came out in 2016, and was paid $8 million for “City Of Lies,” $10 million for “Murder on the Orient Express” and $13.5 million for “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.” The movies were shot in 2017, under contracts reached before the allegations were made against Depp.

But after the op-ed, Whigham testified, it was a struggle to get Depp work, and by 2019 it was clear he wouldn’t be portraying Jack Sparrow on the big screen again.

Douglas Bania
Douglas Bania testifies in the courtroom during Depp’s defamation case against Heard.
Reuters/ Steve Helber

A Hollywood attorney called by Depp’s team as an expert witness also told the jury how Heard’s essay “canceled” the A-lister.

“You wouldn’t want negativity hiring an actor who quote-unquote had been canceled,” Richard Marks said, adding “family-friendly” Disney wouldn’t want their name associated with a star accused of abuse.

“Disney is particularly sensitive,” said the longtime lawyer.

Depp’s team also called another expert witness, Douglas Bania, who specializes in intellectual property damages and valuations. He testified about his analysis of the actor’s public perception in the wake of the op-ed.

Bania said Heard greatly “damaged” her ex-husband’s standing.

“The public perception of Mr. Depp has been damaged,” he told the jury, adding, “They like him less.”

Johnny Depp
Richard Marks is a technical forensics expert.
EPA/ Steve Helber

Heard has yet to testify but could take the stand by Wednesday. Over the weekend, The Post reported, she scrapped her PR team and hired a new firm in a last-minute scramble to better position herself in the press as the highly-watched case continues.

The first witness to be called when Heard’s lawyers begin presenting their case will be clinical and forensic psychologist Dr. Dawn Hughes, The Post confirmed Monday.

A psychologist hired by Depp’s team, Dr. Shannon Curry, who analyzed Heard over a 12-hour session testified last week that the actress has borderline personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder.

With Post wires

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