Actress Winona Ryder and model Vanessa Paradis, both former lovers of Johnny Depp, have come to his defense in a libel trial in the UK.
Dan Wootton, the Executive Editor of The Sun, is being sued by Depp for defamation over an article in April 2018 which referred to him as a “wife-beater.”
The report comes from Deadline and the above remark was a reference to a some allegations made by Depp’s former wife, actress Amber Heard.
The Pirates of the Caribbean star denies Heard’s allegations, and at a remote High Court hearing in the UK on Wednesday, Depp’s lawyers attempted admitting witness statements from Ryder and Paradis.
Paradis is a French model and actress who has two children with Depp. In her statement, she said:
I have known Johnny for more than 25 years. We’ve been partners for 14 years and we raised our two children together. Through all these years I’ve known Johnny to be kind, attentive, generous and non-violent person and father.”
Ryder, who stars in the Netflix series Stranger Things, corroborated Paradis’ statement when reflecting on her relationship with Depp in the 1990s.
Her remarks: “I cannot wrap my head around Heard’s accusations. He was never, never violent towards me. He was never, never abusive at all towards me.”
Depp’s libel action was due to go to court in March but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The case will now be heard at the Royal Courts of Justice from July 7, 2020.
Depp’s lawyer David Sherborne revealed that the actor plans to travel from his home in France to London to give evidence.
