Chapter 743: Bad Image!

Flanked by his bankruptcy lawyer and agent Whigham, Johnny Depp exited the police station, his expression somber under the weight of the day's events. The air was thick with the flash of cameras and the relentless clamor of entertainment reporters, who swarmed around him, hurling questions with the fervor of a frenzied crowd.

"Johnny, how many times have you beaten your wife?" shouted one reporter.

"Is your drug use the reason for the domestic violence allegations?" another chimed in.

"What's your response to Amber Heard's accusations of sexual assault within marriage?" a third reporter pressed, eager for a sensational quote.

"You've got a slew of negative allegations against you; is there a pattern of violence towards women in your life?" another added, voice raised over the din.

Despite no formal confirmation of domestic violence from the authorities, the media seemed all too ready to cast Depp as the villain in their narrative.

Overwhelmed but resolute, Depp raised his voice, struggling to be heard over the cacophony. "I have never committed domestic violence. Absolutely not! I, Johnny Depp, swear on everything I hold dear, I have never raised my hand to any woman," he declared, his tone laced with desperation and sincerity.

He continued, his voice thick with emotion, "The only person I've ever abused is myself."

Yet, his impassioned denial fell on skeptical ears. To the paparazzi and their online counterparts, Depp was already guilty, another fallen idol in a town that thrived on scandal.

Years of battling public accusations, drug abuse, alcoholism, and a slew of unprofessional on-set antic, had tarnished his image irreparably. These narratives painted him as a Hollywood pariah, and in the court of public opinion, his past misdeeds were conflated with the allegations at hand, making him the perfect candidate for vilification.

The task of dismantling a celebrity of Depp's caliber was colossal, yet meticulously orchestrated by his adversaries, including Martin, who had never forgiven Depp for an outrageous incident on the set of "The Martian" in Death Valley. Martin's vendetta was not just to see Depp financially ruined but publicly disgraced.

As Depp vociferously defended his innocence to the indifferent ears of the press, his team, consisting of his bodyguard, lawyer, and agent, ushered him towards the sanctuary of his waiting vehicle.

The moment the car doors slammed shut, Depp erupted, "Where is she? That woman, where is that crazy woman? Why is she accusing me of abuse? I've never laid a hand on her!"

As the driver navigated away from the chaotic scene, Whigham attempted to soothe him, "Calm down, Johnny, please."

But Depp was far from calm, his voice breaking as he repeated, "I haven't done anything to harm her personally! Why would she do this, why..." His voice trailed off, lost amidst the roar of the engine and the haunting echo of unanswered questions.

"Johnny, you need to stay strong and address this situation head-on," the lawyer said with grave solemnity. "The evidence Amber has presented is highly incriminating. Several key pieces she submitted to the LAPD bear your fingerprints, and they've found injuries to her lower body that contained traces of your DNA..."

Depp shook his head in disbelief. "No, that's not true. She initiated those encounters, knowing I was vulnerable," he countered.

The lawyer pressed on, seeking any additional proof. "Do you have any audio or video evidence that might support your side?"

Depp faltered, his mind racing. "I... Why would she do this?"

Not missing a beat, the lawyer continued, "I've reviewed the LAPD files. The evidence Amber has compiled isn't isolated to this incident. It includes recordings, photographs from multiple occasions, and even physical items like wine bottles and other objects purportedly used as weapons."

Whigham interjected sharply, "Johnny, wake up! She's trying to completely destroy you!"

Spurred by the urgency, Depp snapped to attention. "Where is she? I need to speak with her face-to-face. These allegations are all fabrications; she's maligning me."

In that moment, Whigham made a call, his expression darkening as he listened. The room fell silent.

"What's happened now?" the lawyer asked anxiously.

Whigham ended the call and looked up grimly. "Amber is currently holding a press conference, publicly accusing Johnny of domestic violence."

It was clear that Amber Heard was intent on escalating the situation publicly, foregoing any private resolution.

...

At the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel, the atmosphere was electric. The vast press room buzzed with the chatter of reporters, their cameras poised towards the figure at the microphone.

Amber Heard stood before the crowd, her eyes red and swollen, marks visible on her neck, her expression one of distress. Flanked by her agent, she lifted an empty wine bottle from a box, its diameter notably wide.

With dramatic flair, she clasped her throat, mimicking a choking gesture. "Johnny Depp seized me by the throat," she declared, then shifted the bottle in her hands, adding, "and he slammed me against the ping-pong table..."

She paused, covering her mouth as tears began to flow, the implication of her words hanging heavy in the air.

The room erupted into a frenzy of flashes and shutter clicks, all centered on the bottle she held.

Regaining her composure, Amber continued, her voice steadier, "Johnny Depp has harmed me repeatedly. I am just thankful this wasn't a broken wine bottle." The implication was clear, and the room buzzed with the gravity of her allegations.

Amber Heard's portrayal of her ordeal painted a stark picture of fear and vulnerability. "To support Depp's recovery, I disposed of all his narcotics by flushing them down the toilet. When he discovered his stash missing and inquired about it, I confessed to discarding them," she recounted, her voice trembling slightly. "He wouldn't accept it. In disbelief, he demanded I strip, insisting on searching my clothes for hidden drugs, an action that inflicted deep psychological wounds on me."

Given Depp's tarnished public image over the past year, none of the journalists present doubted Amber's claims.

"This is typical Depp behavior," one reporter murmured.

"Of course, addicts are capable of such low acts," another added.

"It's heartbreaking to see what she's had to endure," commented a third, the room buzzing with preemptive judgment against Depp.

Amber glanced towards her manager, who promptly switched on the projector. The screen lit up with images and videos that added visual testimony to her claims. The first video displayed was from their wedding night, showing Depp in a fit of rage, destroying the venue and, when Amber attempted to calm him, shoving her to the ground and striking her across the face.

The footage shifted to a close-up of Amber in her bridal gown, a vivid bruise marring her face. Subsequent images chronicled further evidence of injuries sustained over the course of their marriage.

"These images confirm a pattern of domestic abuse that began on our wedding day," Amber declared, her voice cracking as she fought back tears.

At the conclusion of the press conference, Amber's emotions overcame her. "I wanted to endure silently, to aid Depp's battle with his addictions. But all I received in return was repeated harm and sorrow. I can no longer maintain this marriage," she announced, tears streaming down her face. "I am therefore filing for divorce from Johnny Depp and will pursue legal action."

The newsroom erupted into chaos, signaling the onset of a highly publicized and contentious legal battle.

Amber exited the press hall without entertaining questions and retreated to a private lounge. After making a brief phone call, she entered a nearby reception room.

Megan Ellison was already there, her expression one of cautious approval. "You handled that well," she stated succinctly.

Without mincing words, Amber replied, "Boss, I need a top-notch attorney to manage the divorce and secure financial compensation from him."

Megan was prepared, extending a business card. "Lawyer Bjorkman, an expert in divorce and compensation litigation."

Aware of Depp's substantial assets, Amber's resolve hardened. "I will ensure Depp is left with nothing," she declared, her determination unwavering.

Megan Ellison, reflecting on the harrowing circumstances Johnny Depp had subjected both the crew and Amber to, felt a sense of grim satisfaction. She glanced at the evidence Amber was clutching, a wine bottle, and inquired, "Did Depp really use this one?"

Amber replied with a hint of scorn, "Getting a bottle with Depp's fingerprints and his saliva is hardly a challenge, given his habits as a perpetual drunkard."

Megan simply nodded, her expression unreadable, and promptly exited the room, leaving the implications of their strategy hanging in the air.

In no time, Johnny Depp's domestic violence scandal erupted, setting off a media firestorm that quickly circled the globe. Headlines blared details of the feud, drawing the attention of millions.

As both parties engaged in a bitter public battle, the once adoring couple now seemed consumed by mutual loathing. Initially, Depp managed to hold his ground, but Amber's camp escalated the conflict dramatically by releasing a damning video. This video, prominently featured on TMZ's homepage, showed Depp alongside his daughter, Lily-Rose, in a compromising scene filled with drugs and alcohol, sparking widespread outrage.

Public opinion was incensed. "How could any father expose his child to such behavior?" people asked incredulously online.

"Is this even his real daughter?" one person speculated, reflecting the shock that reverberated through the community.

"Someone intervene, please! Depp is out of control," another implored, pointing to his longstanding issues with substance abuse and now apparent neglect.

The National Parent-Teacher Association was quick to express its alarm, announcing an urgent investigation to address the concerns surrounding the welfare of Depp's daughter.

In Depp's world, such behaviors might have seemed trivial, normalized by years of excess and disregard for societal norms. However, the public and social institutions demanded accountability.

Amid this turmoil, Amber Heard was portrayed as a beleaguered victim, rallying support from powerful allies like Megan Ellison and even Elon Musk. Behind Musk, the enigmatic Martin manipulated media narratives, ensuring Amber emerged as a prominent figure in the fight against domestic violence.

Conversely, Johnny Depp was increasingly vilified, his name becoming almost synonymous with the allegations against him.

The situation culminated when Amber Heard's lawyer filed for divorce on her behalf in a Los Angeles court, citing not just domestic violence but also marital coercion as grounds. The lawsuit extended beyond mere separation, encompassing a division of assets and seeking substantial damages for the alleged abuse.

Amber's demand? A staggering $100 million in compensation. This legal battle wasn't just another celebrity scandal, it was a stark portrayal of a deeply troubled relationship, now played out in the full view of a captivated and divided public.