Johnny Depp covered his face after a psychiatrist asked if Marlon Brando was dead during cross-examination with Depp's attorney in court on Monday (May 23).
Dr. David Spiegel, a psychiatrist and physician, was called to the stand on Monday as an expert witness for the 36-year-old Aquaman actress in her defamation case against her former husband.
The 58-year-old Edward Scissorhands star is suing Heard for $50 million after she referred to herself as a domestic abuse survivor in an op-ed she wrote for the Washington Post in 2018. While she never mentioned Depp's name, he has repeatedly denied allegations and is claiming her article ruined his career and reputation.
Heard is countersuing her ex-husband for $100 million, claiming she was only ever violent against Depp in self-defense or defense of her younger sister, per NBC News.
Dr. Spiegel was hired by Heard and her lawyers to testify against Depp's mental state throughout her relationship with the actor.
Per the Daily Mail, the psychiatrist testified in court that the actor's alleged use of an earpiece while filming may be a sign of decline from substance and alcohol abuse - comparing it to his field of work.
Spiegel admitted that whilst he does not know Hollywood rules, he finds it hard to believe that an actor would have to use an earplug for the entire movie. "If I was giving a lecture and I was fed my lines, I would think there's a cognitive deficit," Spiegel expressed.
Watch a clip from the trial below:Following this, Depp’s lawyer Wayne Dennison asked if Spiegel may have made an error in his statement, and he responded: "I don’t believe that actors are routinely given their entire script through earpieces. I find that hard to believe."
The lawyer then asserted there was no evidence to prove this, asking: "Do you know whether Marlon Brando used an earpiece?"
Spiegel then replied: "Whether... Isn’t he dead?" The Pirates of the Caribbean star can be seen burying his face in his hands as the psychiatrist added: "So the answer’s no, he does not use one now."
Depp’s lawyer clarified: "No... I used the past tense." Apologizing, Spiegel continued: "Again, I know nothing. I will concede to you I know nothing about acting. I will concede to you 100 percent."
"If that is the standard, and people have done that thing, then I apologize and that was wrong on my part," he added.
The psychiatrist testified earlier that the Fantastic beasts actor has narcissistic personality traits: "The fact he thought that Amber owed him and only wanted to be together with him because of his fame is an example of that," Spiegel examined. "I think jealousy is an example of that."
Depp's lawyer challenged the psychiatrist about whether he had broken the Goldwater Rule, which prohibits mental health professionals from diagnosing people they have not examined.
Spiegel responded that he did not because he did not make a "definitive diagnosis".
The closing statements of the trial will be given on May 27.
