Johnny Depp is set to sue ex-wife, Amber Heard, for defamation relating to her allegations of abuse against him, according to Deadline.
The actor is seeking more than $50 million in damages against Heard.
Depp’s lawsuit which accuses Heard of orchestrating “an elaborate hoax to generate positive publicity for Ms. Heard and advance her career” and accuses her of physically abusing him—targets a Washington Post op-ed Heard wrote last December, describing what it’s like to become a public face for domestic abuse victims in America.
The piece never mentions Depp by name, but he’s accusing her of, among other things, causing Disney to drop him from the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise, which it did shortly after the article was published.
Amber Heard has reacted saying she ‘will not be silenced.’ She hit back via her attorney Eric M. George who told People:
‘This frivolous action is just the latest of Johnny Depp’s repeated efforts to silence Amber Heard. She will not be silenced.’
‘Mr. Depp’s actions prove he is unable to accept the truth of his ongoing abusive behavior. But while he appears hell-bent on achieving self-destruction, we will prevail in defeating this groundless lawsuit and ending the continued vile harassment of my client by Mr. Depp and his legal team.’