Old Texts Between Paul Bettany And Johnny Depp Discussing 'Burning,' 'Drowning' Amber Heard Presented In Court

There have been a lot of revelations made during the Johnny Depp - Amber Heard trial that is currently underway. 

The attorneys have gone above and beyond in digging up the other side's past. Depp was cross-examined at the trial and his history of drug use and a set of violent messages he exchanged with his friends regarding Heard were presented in court by her lawyers. The texts included carrying out violent acts on the 36-year-old actress.

Depp testified that he did do drugs with his friends, celebrities like Marilyn Manson and Paul Bettany. Ben Rottenborn, Heard's representative asked if Bettany was a "good friend you've done drugs with." To this, the Pirates of the Caribbean actor responded, "That's a strange question. Paul Bettany is a good friend, yes." Bettany is best known for portraying Vision in the Disney+ show WandaVision and has co-starred with Depp in The Tourist (2010), and Transcendence (2014). Texts exchanged between the two joking about murdering Heard were used in the testimony.

In the texts, Depp had said, "Let's drown her before we burn her!!! I will f--- her burnt corpse afterward to make sure she is dead." Bettany had replied, "My thoughts entirely! Let's be CERTAIN before we pronounce her a witch." Rottenborn confirmed with Depp, "[Y]ou wrote that about the woman who would later become your wife." He replied in the affirmative. Some people are stating that this was a sketch from Monty Python and the Holy Grail about witches and burning them at the stake.

In another set of exchanges with a contact named "sis," probably Depp's sister, he sent, "I’m alright. Though, I never ever want to lay eyes on that filthy whore Amber." They were married at the time. 

Bettany has in the past addressed the contents of these texts when they were made public during the libel case Depp had filed against the British tabloid, The Sun, for labeling him a "wife beater." He said it was embarrassing to have his past texts in public and added, "I knew him before. But we hadn't spoken for years. During the marriage I didn't know them. So I wasn't around for any of that. We live in a world without context."

The text messages also revealed Depp's struggle with substance abuse which he said has "always been a medicine for me. A numbing agent." He also admitted doing "cocaine together maybe a couple of times" with Marilyn Manson, a man who has been accused of sexual assault and abuse by multiple women in the past. This was a repeated theme in Depp's messages. Christi Dembrowski, Depp's sister, however, did not want Depp to be painted as a violent drug addict, as reported by The Guardian. She had also texted Heard about Depp with a deep concern for his well-being. “I love him so much but he needs help,” and added, "I’m scared and I can’t deal." She had even enquired about the time Depp had claimed Heard threw a vodka bottle that had severed his finger.

The trial is being held on account of Depp who has sued his ex-wife for defamation after the 2018 Washington Post op-ed was published. Heard has shared her experience with domestic abuse without explicitly naming Depp. But the case is being made that it was implied it was Depp who claims he has never laid hands on Heard during their relationship.