Winona Ryder and Vanessa Paradis gave powerful statements defending Johnny Depp against the “handcuff-beater” claims in their UK court case, saying they never saw violence in 18 years combined with him.
Depp’s former fiancé, Ryder, 48, and Paradis, the mother of their two 47-year-old children, had wanted to present evidence via video link to defend the actor in his explosive defamation case against the newspaper The Sun.
Although it was announced Thursday that they were no longer being called, the court issued full witness statements from both women declaring their shock at the allegations of abuse made by their ex’s ex-wife, Amber Heard.
Ryder, who was engaged to Depp during their four-year relationship in the 1990s, wrote:
“I am aware of the allegations of violence that have been made publicly in recent years by Johnny Depp’s ex-wife, Amber Heard.
“I knew Johnny very well years ago. We were together as a couple for four years, and I considered him my best friend and as close to me as my family. I count our relationship as one of the most significant relationships in my life.
“I understand that it is very important that I speak from my own experience, as I obviously was not there during his marriage to Amber, but, from my experience, which was so completely different, I was absolutely shocked, confused, and disgusted when I heard the accusations against him. .
“The idea that he is an incredibly violent person is the furthest thing from the Johnny I knew and loved.
“I cannot understand these allegations. He was never, he was never violent towards me. He was never, never abusive at all towards me. He has never been violent or abusive to anyone he has seen.
“I really and honestly only know him as a really good man, an incredibly loving and extremely caring guy who was very protective of me and the people he loves, and I felt very, very safe with him.
“I don’t want to call anyone a liar, but from my experience with Johnny, it is impossible to believe that those terrible accusations are true. I find it extremely annoying to meet him like me.
Paradis, who was with Depp for 14 years until 2012, just before he met Heard and accused of repeatedly hitting her, wrote:
“I work as a musician, singer, songwriter, actress, and fashion model. I have known Johnny for over 25 years. We have been partners for 14 years and we raised our two children together.
“Throughout all these years, I have known Johnny as a kind, caring, generous and non-violent person and father.
“On movie sets, the actors, directors and entire teams adore him because he is humble and respectful of everyone, as well as being one of the best actors we have seen.
“I am aware of the charges that Amber Heard has publicly accused Johnny of for over four years.
“This is nothing like the real Johnny I have ever met, and from my personal experience of many years, I can say that he was never violent or abusive to me.
“I have seen that these outrageous statements have been really distressing and have also hurt his career because unfortunately people have continued to believe these false facts.”
“This is so disturbing as it has helped so many people in their personal and professional lives, with kindness and generosity.”
Before the trial began last week, a 34-year-old Heard spokeswoman had already insisted that the experiences of the two women had nothing to do with allegations of domestic abuse.
“We are glad that they did not have the same experience as Ms. Heard,” said a spokeswoman for Ryder and Paradis.
“However, the experience of one woman does not determine the experience of another woman.”
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