‘Not abusive’: US actor Johnny Depp’s ex-partners come to his defence in his libel suit against UK tabloid The Sun

The star is suing the British newspaper over a 2018 report that referred to him as a ‘wife-beater’

Vanessa Paradis, who was Depp’s partner for 14 years, says he is a ‘kind, attentive, generous, and non-violent person and father’

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Published: 11:59pm, 13 May 2020Updated: 5:09am, 14 May 2020

Two former romantic partners of actor Johnny Depp came to his defence on Wednesday in his libel suit against British newspaper The Sun, dismissing claims that he was violent or abusive.

Actresses Vanessa Paradis and Winona Ryder offered supportive statements for the Pirates of the Caribbean star, who is suing the tabloid paper’s publisher, News Group Newspapers, over an April 2018 article which referred to the 56-year-old Depp as a “wife-beater”.

The article contained allegations by Depp’s ex-wife, Amber Heard, who filed for divorce after requesting a domestic violence restraining order. Depp has strenuously denied the allegations.

In a hearing conducted remotely, lawyers for Depp argued that statements from Ryder and Paradis should be included as evidence in the actor’s case against the publisher.

French model-actress and singer Vanessa Paradis, left, and actress Winona Ryder, two former romantic partners of actor Johnny Depp. Photo: AP

“We’ve been partners for 14 years and we raised our two children together,’’ Paradis said, court documents show. “Through all these years, I’ve known Johnny to be a kind, attentive, generous, and non-violent person and father.”