Why Johnny Depp's Lawyers Were Happy Amber Heard Said Kate Moss' Name

To say that the court battle between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard has been complicated would be an understatement. The celebrities have spent the last several weeks making claims about one another in court after Depp sued his former wife for defamation (via Vox). His complaints stem from a 2018 op-ed she published about her experiences with sexual and domestic abuse. Although he was not named in the article, the actor is arguing that it caused harm to his career.

"I never named him, rather I wrote about the price women pay for speaking out against men in power," Heard wrote on Instagram ahead of the trial. "I continue to pay that price, but hopefully when this case concludes, I can move on and so can Johnny." She filed a lawsuit of her own against Depp.

During their testimony, both celebrities have accused the other of abuse (via Entertainment Weekly). Recently, the "Aquaman" actress made startling comments that brought up Depp's former girlfriend, Kate Moss. Specifically, she referenced the model and alleged abuse she suffered at Depp's hand while talking about a fight between Depp and her sister, Whitney. After remembering a story about "Kate Moss and the stairs," Heard claimed she got violent with her ex out of fear that he would push Whitney down a flight of stairs (via the Independent).

While her story might seem like a negative for Depp, his attorneys appeared visibly thrilled that Heard brought up Moss.

Johnny Depp's attorneys appeared happy that Amber Heard brought up Kate Moss in court. In fact, attorney Benjamin Chew pumped his fist after the "Aquaman" actress mentioned the model, according to the New York Post. A source speculated to the outlet on why that might be viewed as a positive development. 

"Amber mentioned an ex of Johnny's that clearly she felt was not supportive of him, which couldn't be further from the truth," they said. "[Moss] is still allegedly friends with Johnny and her testimony wasn't allowed to come in before because it wasn't as relevant," Mitra Ahouraian, a lawyer, added. "That's one mistake that [Heard] made, was bringing up Kate Moss, which potentially opened the door to [Depp's team] bringing [Moss] on as an impeachment witness."

Moss and Depp dated in the '90s, according to Newsweek. The publication noted Depp blamed himself for their breakup in an interview with Hello! "I was difficult to get on with, I let my work get in the way and I didn't give her the attention I should have done," he said in 1998. It is unclear what sort of relationship they have now. 

Vulture noted that the case already has the potential for a multitude of celebrity witnesses. The list included the likes of James Franco, Elon Musk, and Paul Bettany. In late April Fox News reported that both Musk and Franco were no longer expected to speak during the trial.