Johnny Depp has allegedly filed a defamation case against Amber Heard, suing her for $50 million in damages. The actor claims that his ex-wife's accusations of abuse were "an elaborate hoax" reports The Telegraph.
A representative on behalf of Heard immediately responded to the news, telling People magazine that the "frivolous action" was "groundless and vile harassment" of the actress - adding that "she will not be silenced".
It's believed that Depp launched the case in response to an article that Heard wrote for the Washington Post back in December, titled: “I spoke up against sexual violence - and faced our culture’s wrath. That has to change."
While the actress doesn't directly mention Depp within the article, his lawyers argue that the piece "depends on the central premise that Ms Heard was a domestic abuse victim, and that Mr Depp perpetrated domestic violence against her", according to legal documents seen by People.
In his defamation case, it's reported that Depp accuses Heard of making "false allegations" in order to "advance her career", adding that: "Ms Heard is not a victim of domestic abuse, she is a perpetrator." The papers also claim that Depp has "newly obtained surveillance camera videos" which "conclusively refute" the abuse allegations.
The actor also reportedly argues that the article resulted in him being dropped from the lucrative Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, while Heard was "hired by L’Oreal Paris as its global spokesperson".
In the statement to People, 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."
In the powerful Washington Post op-ed, Heard wrote passionately about the wrath she received following the abuse allegations and why institutions protect perpetuators. Depp has continued to secure high-profile acting jobs, including a role in JK Rowling's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - a decision that was met with controversy.
"Imagine a powerful man as a ship, like the Titanic. That ship is a huge enterprise," she wrote. "When it strikes an iceberg, there are a lot of people on board desperate to patch up holes — not because they believe in or even care about the ship, but because their own fates depend on the enterprise."
Heard filed for divorce from Depp in May 2016, the same week she was granted a temporary restraining order against the actor. In August 2017, the pair reached a settlement outside of court and released a joint statement, calling their relationship "intensely passionate and, at times, volatile, but always bound by love."
"Neither party has made false accusations for financial gain," they continued. "There was never any intent of physical or emotional harm."
