Johnny Depp’s $50 million libel suit against Amber Heard captured the attention of the world. The costly process in the courtroom has since ignited debate and controversy across all corners. Relationship problems had started well before the trial came about with the two parting ways, and divorcing in 2016 after under two years of marriage. We explore the main reasons behind the divorce which paved the way for one of the most acrimonious Hollywood splits in recent times. 

‘Irreconcilable differences’

Legally speaking, the reason cited for the divorce between Heard and Depp was ‘irreconcilable differences’. The definition of this legal term is the failure to be able to agree on fundamental issues within a marriage. This could include adultery, unreasonable behaviour, desertion or separation of 2 – 5 years. In the case of the famous stars, the recent court battle highlighted a number of instances that would spell no way back for the former spouses. 

How it started

Having met in 2011, on the set of the film, The Rum Diary, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard married in 2015. It was not long into their married life that problems seemed to begin. In 2016, Heard filed for divorce claiming that the actor had been physically abusive towards her while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. In response, Depp said the claims were not true and that Heard’s subsequent domestic abuse allegations written in the Washington Post were made as an attempt to safeguard a financial settlement.

Depp sues the Sun 

After the claims by Heard, the UK’s Sun newspaper published content where Depp was described as a ‘wife beater’, leading to him to sue the parent company that owns the paper for libel. Although he lost the case in the UK, a retrial was requested by Depp where new evidence was submitted. This evidence pertained to Heard’s promise of donating her divorce settlement to charities. Something that Depp said she did not do.

Compensation 

Depp went on to sue Heard for $50 million in relation to the opinion piece she wrote in the Washington Post. He said that he was not physically or verbally abusive towards her, to which Heard responded by counter suing him for $100 million, maintaining that she had been assaulted by her former husband.

Prenuptial agreement

Depp also said that during an argument in 2015, the end of one of his fingers was cut off due to a vodka bottle being thrown at him by Heard who had allegedly become angry about the fact that his legal team had asked her to sign a pre-nuptial agreement (a signed agreement defining how assets would be divided in the event of a divorce).

Claims on both sides 

Another factor discussed at the trial was a row highlighted by Depp where he said the actress had spread human excrement on their bed, to which Heard responded by saying the act had been carried out by their pet dogs. The Oscar nominee said that after the incident, his former spouse had called her friends to say that he had been hitting her. A restraining order was sought by Heard after this and there were pictures taken of Heard with facial marks. 

Conclusion

Although the recent court case took place after the former couple’s divorce, it has served to highlight the nature of their marriage and some of the irreconcilable differences they both had. Like many divorces, the reasons for it are complex and occur often over a period of years. Although this case was a clear exception, many divorces do have the propensity to escalate, and to grow into something that is both emotionally and financially expensive.