Johnny Depp’s history of addiction and attempts to detoxify from drugs amid his tumultuous relationship with ex-wifeAmber Heardare being discussed in court.
During Depp’s defamation trial against Amber Heard in Fairfax, Virginia, on Thursday, Beverly Hills doctor David Kipper’sdeposition(recorded on Feb. 22) was played for the courtroom. In the testimony, Kipper recalled his time spent with thePirates of the Caribbeanstar as the actor attempted to “detoxify from his substance abuse” while engaged to Heard.
The substances included alcohol, opiates, benzodiazepines and stimulants, according to Kipper.
Depp, 58, who also experienced depression and anxiety, was “fearful” of coming off opiates after becoming dependent on them following a dental procedure, according to the doctor. Kipper said he and Depp planned for a two-week drug detoxification at the actor’s home in the Caribbean Islands.
Kipper said there were moments when Depp was hesitant about the process, “not wanting to proceed” with the detox. “He didn’t think he could do it. That changed after a conversation; he was back on board,” said Kipper, whose text messages with Depp from over the years were also read aloud. He also said that later in the marriage there were concerns about Depp abusing Xanax pills.
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The pair, who met while making the 2011 movieThe Rum Diary, broke up in May 2016, when Heard sought a domestic violence restraining order against him, accusing him of abusing her. Depp denied the claims, and the former couple settled theirdivorceout of court in August 2016.
Back in November 2020, Depplost his highly publicized U.K. libel lawsuit caseagainst British tabloidThe Sunfor calling him a “wife-beater.” The court upheld the outlet’s claims as being “substantially true” and Heard testified to back up the claims. In March 2021, his attempt tooverturn the decision was overruled.
In that overseas case, Depptestified about his drug addictionstruggles, saying that he started taking drugs “at a very young age, when it was not a particularly stable or secure or safe home life.” He added that his early drug and alcohol use was “the only way that I found to numb the pain.”
SAMUEL CORUM/AFP via Getty; STAR MAX/AP Images
Depp has yet to take the stand in the current defamation trial, which is expected to last five more weeks.
On Saturday, Heardwroteon Instagram that she will be avoiding social media until after the trial,thanking her followers for their support. She said, in part, “Hopefully when this case concludes, I can move on and so can Johnny. I have always maintained a love for Johnny and it brings me great pain to have to live out the details of our past life together in front of the world.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
source: people.com
