Johnny Depp Update: Why Actor’s Ex-Girlfriends Won’t Appear In Court

Johnny Depp’s ex-girlfriends, Winona Ryder and Vanessa Paradis are no longer needed to testify in the actor’s libel suit against News Group Newspapers. The lawsuit was filed after the company’s outlet, The Sun, published an article in 2018 about his marriage to Amber Heard and referred to him as a “wife-beater.”

Over the last week and a half, Depp has appeared in court to deny the outlet’s abuse accusations and share several encounters in which he claimed he was on the receiving end of Heard’s violent attacks.

Ryder and Paradis were expected to testify as witnesses on Depp’s behalf in the libel suit, however, the actor's lawyer told The Hollywood Reporter that the two stars are no longer needed to take the stand because the UK outlet has not contested Depp’s claim that he has never been violent with the women.

Although Depp’s exes are not required to appear in court, Ryder provided a witness statement in support of her former flame.

“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,” she revealed.

Paradis appeared to echo Ryder’s statements, revealing that she did not experience violence during her relationship with the actor.

“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,” she started.

“This is so upsetting as he has helped so many persons in his personal and professional life, with kindness and generosity.”

Depp previously accused Heard of using their marriage to help her career, accusations that her lawyer has denied. The actress is scheduled to appear in court to testify on her behalf at some point during the trial, which is expected to last three weeks.