Johnny Depp has denied ever striking his ex-wife Amber Heard during his $50 million defamation trial against her.
Yesterday (April 19), the Pirates of the Caribbean star, 58, took the stand, opening up about his childhood, his career in the film industry, and his short-lived marriage to 35-year-old Heard.
Heard claims her former husband physically and sexually assaulted her during their relationship - allegations which Depp vehemently denies.
Depp started his testimony on Tuesday stating that Heard's claims are "not based in any species of the truth".
The actor said: "Nothing of the kind had ever happened. Though [in] the relationship there were arguments and things of that nature... but never did I, myself, reach the point of striking Ms. Heard in any way. Nor have I ever struck any woman in my life."
"I am obsessed with the truth," he added. "Today is... actually the first opportunity that I've been able to speak about this case in full."
The Fantastic Beasts star also said that Heard's accusations had "permeated the industry".
He said her allegations became a "quote-unquote fact" when they were reported by the media.
Per The Independent, Depp said: "Since I knew there was no truth to it whatsoever, I felt it was my responsibility to stand up – not only for myself in that instance but stand up for my children, who at the time were 14 and 16.
"So they were in high school and I thought it was diabolical that my children would have to go to school and have their friends or people in the school approach them with the infamous People magazine cover with Ms. Heard with a dark bruise on her face."
He hopes the ongoing trial will clear his name and keep his children, Lily-Rose Depp, now 22, and Jack Depp, now 20, from "this horrid thing they were having to read that their father" had done "which was untrue".
Depp referred to the period following his ex-wife's allegations as "trying times".
He added: "It’s strange when you’re Cinderella, so to speak, and in 0.6 seconds you’re Quasimodo," he said, with regards to how the public's attitude towards him had changed following the publication of Heard's op-ed.
