Johnny Depp’s exes Winona Ryder and Vanessa Paradis will no longer be called to give evidence in the actor’s libel trial against the Sun.
Depp is suing the paper and its publisher News Group Newspapers over an article calling him a “wife-beater,” something he strongly denies.
The High Court has heard evidence from both Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard, who is accusing him of assault, but the actor’s barrister David Sherborne has now said there will be no need to hear from Ryder and Paradis.
Both were due to appear via video link this week. They claim Depp has never been violent to them.
Sherborne told the court, according to Deadline: “There is no need to reschedule those witnesses, much as it would have been a pleasure to have them here.”
Judge is going to release the witness statements of Winona Ryder and Vanessa Paradis in full to the Press Association with the explanation that the witnesses were not called, and WSs are being released only because they were part-quoted from on a previous occasion.
— Nick Wallis (@nickwallis) July 16, 2020
Paradis was in a relationship with Depp for more than 14 years; they share two children together.
Ryder and Depp were engaged for three years from July 1990. The star had a “Winona Forever” tattoo, which he’s since changed to “Wino Forever.”
Paradis wrote in her statement, shared by Page Six Thursday: “I work as a musician, singer-songwriter, actress, and fashion model. 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 a kind, attentive, generous and non-violent person and father,” she continued. “On movie sets the actors, directors and entire crews adore him because he is humble and respectful to everyone, as well as being one of the best actors we’ve seen. I am aware of the allegations which Amber Heard has publicly accused Johnny of for more than four years now.
“This is nothing like the true Johnny I have known, and from my personal experience of many years, I can say he was never violent or abusive to me. I have seen that these outrageous statements have been really distressing, and also caused damage to his career because unfortunately people have gone on believing these false facts.
“This is so upsetting as he has helped so many persons in his personal and professional life, with kindness and generosity.”
Ryder said in her statement, “I am aware of the violence allegations that have been made publicly for the last few 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 counted him as my best friend, and as close to me as family. I count our relationship as one of the more significant relationships of my life,” she added. “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 wildly different, I was absolutely shocked, confused and upset when I heard the accusations against him.”
Ryder continued, “The idea that he is an incredibly violent person is the farthest thing from the Johnny I knew and loved.
“I cannot wrap my head around these accusations. He was never, never violent towards me. He was never, never abusive at all towards me. He has never been violent or abusive towards anybody I have seen.
“I truly and honestly only know him as a really good man — an incredibly loving, extremely caring guy who was so very protective of me and the people that he loves, and I felt so very, very safe with him.
“I do not want to call anyone a liar but from my experience of Johnny, it is impossible to believe that such horrific allegations are true. I find it extremely upsetting, knowing him as I do.”
