Celebrity News May 29, 2016
Johnny Depp's Ex-Partners, Daughter, Friends Defend Him Against Abuse Allegations
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Since Amber Heard filed for divorce from Johnny Depp on May 23, new developments have combined to tee it up as one of Hollywood's potentially most expensive and most acrimonious splits — and Depp is already lining up plenty of character witnesses in the court of public opinion.
People magazine reports on the chain of events since the filing, noting that since Heard's bombshell allegations of domestic abuse emerged on Friday — she accused him of verbal and physical abuse and was granted a temporary domestic violence restraining order — Depp has responded with an accusation of his own.
In court papers, Depp's attorney Laura Wasser alleged, "Amber is attempting to secure a premature financial resolution by alleging abuse. Her current application for a temporary restraining order along with her financial requests appears to be in response to the negative media attention she received earlier this week after filing for divorce. Yet Johnny cannot protect himself or Amber from media scrutiny, and Amber's anger certainly cannot drive this dissolution proceeding."
Surprisingly, in spite of Depp's fortune, the couple had no prenup.
Additionally, the LAPD is responding to questions about an incident of domestic violence at the hands of Depp that Heard claims occurred on May 21. In a statement, police said they saw "no evidence of any crime" when responding to that call, Heard did not file a report, and Depp had already left their apartment when they arrived.
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Meanwhile, Depp's 17-year-old daughter with ex-partner Vanessa Paradis, Lily-Rose Depp, posted a defense of her dad on Instagram, calling him "the sweetest most loving person I know."
In a note obtained by TMZ, Paradis, who was in a relationship with Depp from 1998-2012, wrote, "Johnny Depp is the father of my two children, he is a sensitive, loving and loved person, and i believe with all my heart, that these recent allegations being made are outrageous, in all the years i have known Johnny, he has never been physically abusive with me and this looks nothing like the man i lived with for 14 wonderful years."
Depp was also defended by ex-wife Lori Anne Allison, and by actor friends Paul Bettany and Mickey Rourke.
Johnny Depp, Hollywood Vampires at Starkey Hearing Foundation mission in Lisbon #RockinRioLisboa https://t.co/zu641MLu4D
@RoepkePR
On Friday night, even though his estranged wife had spent an emotional day in court alleging abuse by him, Depp forged ahead with a charity Rock in Rio concert in Lisbon, Portugal. Depp and his Hollywood Vampires band (including Alice Cooper, Robert Deleo, and Bruce Wikin) played a well-received set and posed for photos in support of the Starkey Hearing Foundation.
