Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Amber Heard
A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Amber Heard.
Amber Heard is an American actress notable for her roles in both film and television. She gained early recognition with her leading role in "All the Boys Love Mandy Lane" (2006) and starred in movies like "The Ward" and "Drive Angry." Heard also played supporting roles in films such as "Pineapple Express," "Never Back Down," and "The Danish Girl." A significant part of her career involved portraying Mera in the DC Extended Universe, appearing in "Justice League," "Aquaman," and "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom." Additionally, she has acted in TV series including "Hidden Palms" and "The Stand."
April 2015: Breached Australia's biosecurity laws
In April 2015, Amber Heard and Johnny Depp breached Australia's biosecurity laws by failing to declare their two dogs when they flew into Queensland.
May 2015: Dogs flown out of Australia
In May 2015, Amber Heard and Johnny Depp's dogs were flown out of Australia hours before a euthanasia deadline due to biosecurity law breaches.
December 2015: Case adjourned multiple times
By December 2015, Amber Heard and Johnny Depp's biosecurity case in Australia had been adjourned four times, with Heard instructing her lawyers to enter not guilty pleas.
2016: Divorce and Allegations of Abuse
In 2016, Amber Heard and Johnny Depp divorced, and both accused each other of domestic abuse, leading to defamation cases.
2016: Arrest made public during divorce proceedings
In 2016, Amber Heard's 2009 arrest for misdemeanor domestic violence became public during her divorce proceedings from Johnny Depp.
April 2018: The Sun labeled Depp a wife beater
In April 2018, The Sun labeled Johnny Depp a wife beater
June 2018: Depp sued News Group Newspapers
In June 2018, Johnny Depp brought a libel lawsuit in the United Kingdom against News Group Newspapers (NGN), the company publishing The Sun, which had labeled him a "wife beater".
December 2018: Heard wrote op-ed in The Washington Post
In December 2018, Amber Heard wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post, which later led to Johnny Depp suing her for defamation.
February 2019: Depp sued Heard for defamation
In February 2019, Johnny Depp sued Amber Heard for defamation over a December 2018 op-ed for The Washington Post.
2019: Nomination for Worst Actress
In 2019, Amber Heard's performance in London Fields received a nomination for the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress.
April 2020: Waldman's statements published in the Daily Mail
In April 2020, statements made by Johnny Depp's then-lawyer, Adam Waldman, were published in the Daily Mail, leading to Amber Heard's counterclaim for defamation.
July 2020: Heard was a key witness in Depp libel trial
In July 2020, Amber Heard was a key witness for News Group Newspapers (NGN) during Johnny Depp's libel lawsuit trial in the United Kingdom.
August 2020: Heard filed a counterclaim against Depp
In August 2020, Amber Heard filed a counterclaim against Johnny Depp, alleging a harassment campaign.
November 2020: Depp lost libel claim against The Sun
In November 2020, the presiding judge found that Johnny Depp had lost his libel claim against News Group Newspapers (NGN), accepting that the allegations Amber Heard made against Depp had damaged her career and activism.
2020: Petition to Remove Heard from Aquaman Sequel
In 2020, following Depp's loss in his UK libel case, an online petition began to remove Amber Heard from the Aquaman sequel.
January 2021: Reported allegation on donation status by Depp's lawyers
In January 2021, the Daily Mail reported an allegation from Johnny Depp's lawyers that Amber Heard had not completed her pledged donations.
March 2021: Depp's appeal rejected
In March 2021, Johnny Depp's appeal to overturn the verdict in his libel case against News Group Newspapers was rejected.
December 2021: ACLU COO testified about donations
In December 2021, the ACLU's chief operating officer testified that the organization expected to receive Amber Heard's donation over a 10-year period, with $1.3 million donated to the ACLU in her name between 2016 and 2018.
2022: Depp v. Heard Trial
By the start of the 2022 Depp v. Heard trial in the US, the petition to remove Heard from Aquaman 2 had reached 2 million signatures.
2022: Depp v. Heard Trial Testimony on Donations
During the 2022 Depp v. Heard trial, testimony revealed that as of 2021, Amber Heard had donated $250,000 to CHLA, and Heard stated that defending the case had cost her over $6 million in legal fees, delaying her donations.
2023: Critical Observations on Heard's Reduced Role in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Following the release of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom in 2023, critics observed that a number of Amber Heard's scenes seemed to have been cut from the film, with Dolph Lundgren confirming it.
