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The notes describe abuse as far back as 2012.
By Kurtis Condra — Written on Jun 17, 2022
Amber Heard has released a binder with notes made by her therapist which she says prove abuse allegations against Johnny Depp dating back to 2012.
Heard disclosed the notes as part of an interview with NBC's Savannah Guthrie, her first interview since a Virginia jury sided with Depp finding that Heard defamed in an article describing herself as a victim of domestic violence.
But Depp's supporters are already attempting to discredit her latest claims by comparing the therapist's handwriting with Heard's.
Amber Heard says the therapist notes discuss Johnny Depp's alleged abuse as far back as 2012.
Heard revealed the notes, which begin in 2011, when Guthrie asked if there was any evidence she wished she could have presented to the court.
The judge presiding over the trial dismissed these notes as "hearsay," prohibiting Heard's legal team from submitting the documents as evidence.
Guthrie was given access to this binder and said that the notes contain descriptions of altercations between Depp and Heard that would turn violent.
Heard told her therapist that Depp "hit her, threw her against a wall, and threatened to kill her" in a 2012 incident.
Referring to a later incident, the therapist writes that Depp "ripped her nightgown [and] threw her on the bed."
Responding to Heard's interview with NBC, a spokesperson for Depp has said to "Dateline" that Depp wants to "move forward" after the verdict's outcome.
“It’s unfortunate that while Johnny is looking to move forward with his life, the defendant and her team are back to repeating, reimagining and re-litigating matters that have already been decided by the Court and a verdict that was unanimously and unequivocally decided by a jury in Johnny’s favour,” his team wrote.
Many on Twitter allege that the therapists' notes are in Amber Heard's handwriting.
As has become typical on social media, some users attempted to discredit Heard's claims by attempting to argue that the notes are inaccurate.
Some assume Heard wrote these herself, attempting to show similar handwriting, while others say therapists would not write like this.
Concerns were also raised about why Heard's therapist did not report these allegations to the police.
However, as has been pointed out online, therapists are not required to report abuse and some would consider it a breach of their client's confidentiality, not to mention the danger it could put a victim in if their abuser knew they were making allegations against them.
If you or someone you know is suffering from domestic abuse or violence, there are resources to get help.
There are ways to go about asking for help as safely as possible. For more information, resources, legal advice, and relevant links visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline. For anyone struggling with domestic abuse, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). If you’re unable to speak safely, text LOVEIS to 1-866-331-9474 or log onto thehotline.org.
Kurtis Condra is a writer for YourTango, based in San Francisco, California. His expertise includes pop-culture deep dives, human interest stories, and news. When not writing for YourTango, he focuses on his poetry. You can follow his poetic journey on Instagram.