Paul Bettany is addressing that controversial leaked text exchange with Johnny Depp.
A 2013 text conversation between Paul and Johnny about Johnny’s now ex-wife Amber Heard was included in the 132-page ruling on Johnny’s libel case back in 2020. In their messages, they discussed Amber, with Johnny saying they burn her, among other graphic things, and Paul seemingly taking Johnny’s comments as a joke and replying that they do a “drowning test” to see if Amber is “a witch.”
In a recent interview with The Independent, Paul opened up about those messages being made public during Johnny’s defamation suit against The Sun’s published over the tabloid calling him a “wife beater.” Paul stated that is was “a really difficult subject to talk about” and noting that addressing this would “just pour fuel on the fire” and choking the whole situation to be “very strange.”
He elaborated by saying:
“It was a strange moment. What was strange about it was you suddenly have one of the most scabrous newspapers in London and their lawyers pouring through your texts for the last 10 years. Can you imagine what it would be like, honestly, to have a bunch of lawyers go through every one of your emails and texts for 10 years?
All I can tell you was that it was an unpleasant feeling.”
Paul and Johnny have worked together on many films and have remained friends over the years. When Johnny was facing allegations from Amber, Paul said in a tweet:
“Known Johnny Depp for years and through several relationships. He’s the sweetest, kindest, gentlest man that I’ve ever known. Just saying.”
The controversial 2013 text exchange included Johnny texting Paul:
“Let’s burn Amber!!!”
To which Paul replied:
“Having thought it through I don’t think we should burn Amber – she’s delightful company and easy on the eye, plus I’m not sure she’s a witch. We could of course try the English course of action in these predicaments – we do a drowning test. Thoughts?”
And Johnny reportedly responded with:
“Let’s drown her before we burn her!!! I will f*** her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she’s dead.”
