Yet another celeb has been roped into the legal drama unfolding between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.
As followers of the domestic drama may recall, Johnny is pulling all the stops in his case against his ex.
In an effort to prove his claim that she’s lying about the abuse at his hands — and even about those bruise photos — he’s already subpoenaed Amber’s ex-boyfriend Elon Musk, along with some other “hoax-assisting friends” of hers, as his official response calls them.
Related: Amber Failed To Get Johnny’s Defamation Suit Dismissed
Now the Crimes Of Grindelwald star is sending a subpoena to another man formerly in Amber’s life — her costar James Franco.
The two played onscreen lovers in the 2016 indie The Adderall Diaries; we can’t imagine anyone remembers the film, but it may end up having some profound legal ramifications.
Also worth seeking out — a teeny tiny lil Timothée Chalamet plays young Franco.
But it’s different footage Johnny is interested in.
The Blast just got hold of a surveillance cam vid from the elevator in the building where Johnny and Amber lived together.
Related: Johnny Accuses Amber Of Severing His Finger!
In the footage, you can clearly see Amber go downstairs to the lobby, leave the elevator and return with Franco, who rides up with her to her apartment.
The video is dated May 22, 2016 — just a day after the incident in which Amber described Johnny as having hurled a phone at her “like a baseball pitcher” — allegedly giving her a phone-shaped bruise on her cheek. (This was the alleged fight that was the final straw, according to Amber, the one that led to the restraining order and divorce.)
So the subpoena is ostensibly being sent simply because Franco is a witness; he hung out with Amber and clearly saw her face. He could testify if she had a big bruise on it or if she said it was false — or even if her story changed.
After all, Johnny’s claim is that the whole thing is a hoax, right?
Johnny’s lawyer told The Blast just that:
“We are interested in James Franco and Elon Musk as fact witnesses because we have evidence they are men who saw Amber Heard’s face in the days and nights between when she claimed Mr. Depp smashed her in the face on May 21 and when she went to court with painted on ‘bruises’ to obtain a Temporary Restraining Order on May 27.”
“Painted on bruises.” Hmm.
But there’s another possibility for Johnny wanting to question his ex-wife’s costar, one we have to bring up.
In 2014, during the filming of the movie, there were rumors James and Amber were having an affair.
It may sound ridiculous — it’s just acting after all, right? — but is it possible it didn’t seem silly to Johnny?
Amber has already mentioned Johnny’s jealousy over James as an early driving force in his abusive treatment of her.
The Aquaman star attested in her legal documents:
“On the flight, Johnny ordered the flight attendants to give him an oxygen tank, and drank heavily. Johnny’s handlers told me that he was upset that I was filming a movie with a romantic scene with James Franco the day before. Soon, Johnny began to throw objects at me. Instead of reacting to his behavior, I simply moved seats. That didn’t stop him. He provocatively pushed a chair at me as I walked by, yelled at me, and taunted me by yelling out the name ‘James Franco.’”
Is it possible Johnny wants to know the truth about their relationship once and for all?
Is he less interested in what James can help him prove, and what James was doing there in the first place??
In April 2016 the stars were doing press for the movie together; it had a small theatrical run after hitting the festival circuit in 2015.
In May their professional obligations would have been over… were they just friends?
In the video, Amber moves right next to Franco for the elevator ride, and he can be seen resting his head on her shoulder. It’s a pretty familiar gesture.
Perhaps friendly, who knows?
The real point is, Johnny has seen this video now. And if he already had a problem with Franco, he no doubt has a bigger one now.
Regardless of all that, one thing seems sure. If Johnny had any inkling that bringing James into the case could hurt his chances, we don’t think he would. Why bring a guy in who could corroborate Amber’s story? Depp must be sure he can’t under oath.
What do YOU think??
[Image via Adriana M. Barraza/WENN.]
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