Prominent MeToo activist Amanda de Cadenet drops her support for Amber Heard

Prominent MeToo supporter Amanda de Cadenet has dropped her support for Amber Heard after listening to her ‘verbally abusing’ Johnny Depp in bombshell audio tapes published exclusively by DailyMail.com.

The 34-year-old actress was expecting de Cadenet, a close friend and longtime women’s rights activist, to testify against Depp in a series of looming defamation cases.

But the British-born TV host, 48, reveals in a new legal declaration that she changed her mind because she was ‘appalled and shocked to hear how Amber was speaking to Johnny’.

Her dramatic about-turn came after DailyMail.com released a series of bombshell audio tapes in which the couple were overheard discussing their marriage problems and frequent fights.

The Aquaman beauty admitted ‘clocking’ her Oscar nominated husband in the jaw and pelting him with pots, pans and vases in various recordings made prior to the couple’s May 2016 split.

She also appeared to be goading 57-year-old Depp, predicting that nobody would believe his accounts of the violence and telling him: ‘You are such a baby. Grow the f**k up Johnny.’ 

Amanda de Cadenet dropped her support for Amber Heard after listening to her ‘verbally abusing’ Johnny Depp in audio tapes published by DailyMail.com.  The 34-year-old actress was expecting de Cadenet, a close friend and longtime women’s rights activist, to testify against Depp in a series of looming defamation cases.

Her dramatic about-turn came after DailyMail.com released a series of bombshell audio tapes in which the couple were overheard discussing their marriage problems and frequent fights. The Aquaman beauty admitted ¿clocking' her Oscar nominated husband in the jaw and pelting him with pots, pans and vases in various recordings made prior to the couple's May 2016 split

Her dramatic about-turn came after DailyMail.com released a series of bombshell audio tapes in which the couple were overheard discussing their marriage problems and frequent fights. The Aquaman beauty admitted ‘clocking’ her Oscar nominated husband in the jaw and pelting him with pots, pans and vases in various recordings made prior to the couple’s May 2016 split

De Cadenet is the second prominent MeToo figure to part company with Heard in the space of a week after high-profile Time’s Up attorney Roberta Kaplan confirmed her firm is no longer representing her. 

A source close to de Cadenet said she was a survivor herself and remained a steadfast advocate of women’s rights.

‘Amanda feels she was used and misled by Amber and hopes Amber receives the help she needs,’ the source added.

‘Amanda believes in the power of redemption and reconciliation and hopes both parties are able to achieve that.’ 

Heard’s historical claims of domestic abuse will come under the microscope in defamation cases either side of the Atlantic, beginning next month when Depp takes the UK’s Sun newspaper to court in London for calling him a ‘wife-beater’.

The former lovebirds will square up again next January in Virginia where Depp is suing his ex-wife for $50 million over an op-ed she wrote for the Washington Post about surviving domestic violence.

Heard turned to close pal de Cadenet for support after her marriage ended in a May 21, 2016 blowout fight, attending a party at her house the very next day where she was pictured smiling but with hair covering one side of her face.

The photographer and founder of non-binary digital jobs platform, Girlgaze, became a staunch ally, publicly indicating that she believed Heard’s claims that she was abused and beaten by Depp.

‘As a long time womxn’s rights activist and survivor, it is my fundamental position to believe womxn who speak up about domestic or sexual assault,’ de Cadenet states in her June 18 declaration, using an alternative spelling for women favored by some feminists and trans activists.

A source close to de Cadenet said she was a survivor herself and remained a steadfast advocate of women¿s rights. ¿Amanda feels she was used and misled by Amber and hopes Amber receives the help she needs,¿ the source added. ¿Amanda believes in the power of redemption and reconciliation and hopes both parties are able to achieve that'

A source close to de Cadenet said she was a survivor herself and remained a steadfast advocate of women’s rights. ‘Amanda feels she was used and misled by Amber and hopes Amber receives the help she needs,’ the source added. ‘Amanda believes in the power of redemption and reconciliation and hopes both parties are able to achieve that’

Heard turned to close pal de Cadenet for support after her marriage ended in a May 21, 2016 blowout fight, attending a party at her house the very next day where she was pictured smiling but with hair covering one side of her face (pictured)

Heard turned to close pal de Cadenet for support after her marriage ended in a May 21, 2016 blowout fight, attending a party at her house the very next day where she was pictured smiling but with hair covering one side of her face (pictured) 

‘Historically womxn’s rights in this area have been chronically undermined and womxn have had their voices silenced.

‘This is one of the reasons why, when Amber told me her version of the conflict between her and Johnny, it was my inclination to believe her and support her.’

However de Cadenet, who divorced Duran Duran bassist John Taylor in 1997 and is now married to Strokes guitarist Nick Valensi, goes to reveal her abrupt change of heart.

‘I recently acknowledged that I will not testifying (sic) in Johnny Depp’s upcoming defamation case against the Sun. I also acknowledged that new facts have come to my attention which has changed my perspective on this matter,’ she writes in her declaration, obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com.

‘When the first audio tape was released, and I heard Amber being verbally abusive to Johnny, I was horrified,’ she writes in the statement, obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com.

‘I texted Robbie Kaplan, Amber’s attorney, and let her know I needed to speak with her urgently. When we spoke, I told her I was appalled and shocked to hear how Amber was speaking to Johnny and that it was not ok with me.

‘When I confronted Amber concerning the recording, she informed me it was edited by Johnny’s team. I had hoped Amber would take accountability for her behavior but she did not.

‘I have not spoken with Amber since this exchange and have come to the very painful realization that someone who I advocated for and believed so wholeheartedly, was not entirely forthcoming with me.’ 

Heard cataloged the 'horrific' abuse she claims to have suffered at Depp's hands, describing him as 'the monster' and recalling many of the allegations she made during their divorce. The filing included photos of bruises

Heard with bruises

Heard cataloged the ‘horrific’ abuse she claims to have suffered at Depp’s hands, describing him as ‘the monster’ and recalling many of the allegations she made during their divorce. The filing included photos of bruises and scars (left and right)

The estranged couple managed to agree to a $7 million divorce settlement in August of that year, however their feud reignited when Heard's op-ed was published in December 2018. It didn¿t mention Depp by name but he nonetheless sued her the following March, saying it led to speculation that he was the abuser and caused him to lose the role of Captain Jack Sparrow

The estranged couple managed to agree to a $7 million divorce settlement in August of that year, however their feud reignited when Heard’s op-ed was published in December 2018. It didn’t mention Depp by name but he nonetheless sued her the following March, saying it led to speculation that he was the abuser and caused him to lose the role of Captain Jack Sparrow

LA-based de Cadenet adds: ‘I want to emphasize that I have no further personal knowledge of what happened between Johnny and Amber, and no knowledge of the truth of her accusations against him.

‘I have made this statement in support of due process and upholding the truth.’

Depp and Heard met on the set of The Rum Diary back in 2011 and married four years later before their May 2016 fight proved the final nail in their chaotic relationship.

The estranged couple managed to agree to a $7 million divorce settlement in August of that year, however their feud reignited when Heard’s op-ed was published in December 2018.

It didn’t mention Depp by name but he nonetheless sued her the following March, saying it led to speculation that he was the abuser and caused him to lose the role of Captain Jack Sparrow.

Depp has always argued he was the victim of an ‘elaborate hoax’ instigated by his ex-wife, who ‘faked’ her injuries with makeup and falsified accounts of abuse.

‘Ms. Heard is not a victim of domestic abuse; she is the perpetrator,’ his suit alleges.

‘She hit, punched and kicked me. She also repeatedly and frequently threw objects into my body and head, including heavy bottles, soda cans, burning candles, television remote controls and paint thinner cans, which severely injured me.’

Heard responded with a 300-page filing of her own, cataloging the years of alleged abuse she suffered at the hands of ‘the monster’ and recalling many of the allegations she made during their divorce.

These included a blood-curdling account of how Depp cut off his own finger after a booze and ecstasy bender one month into their marriage, an accusation he denies.

Heard responded with a 300-page filing of her own, cataloging the years of alleged abuse she suffered at the hands of ¿the monster¿ and recalling many of the allegations she made during their divorce. These included a blood-curdling account of how Depp cut off his own finger after a booze and ecstasy bender one month into their marriage, an accusation he denies

Heard responded with a 300-page filing of her own, cataloging the years of alleged abuse she suffered at the hands of ‘the monster’ and recalling many of the allegations she made during their divorce. These included a blood-curdling account of how Depp cut off his own finger after a booze and ecstasy bender one month into their marriage, an accusation he denies. 

The violent incident took place a month after the pair were married and while Depp was filming the fifth installment of the Pirates of Caribbean movie franchise in Australia. The Captain Jack Sparrow actor, 56, chuckles on camera as he reveals how he nicknamed the permanently-damaged digit 'Little Richard.' Pictured: Depp's finger after surgery

The violent incident took place a month after the pair were married and while Depp was filming the fifth installment of the Pirates of Caribbean movie franchise in Australia. The Captain Jack Sparrow actor, 56, chuckles on camera as he reveals how he nicknamed the permanently-damaged digit ‘Little Richard.’ Pictured: Depp’s finger after surgery 

As part of Depp's $50m defamation case against Heard, he included images of his own bruised and battered face (pictured ) following Heard's alleged attacks

Depp bruised

As part of Depp’s $50m defamation case against Heard, he included images of his own bruised and battered face (pictured ) following Heard’s alleged attacks

DailyMail.com revealed in January that the couple had a habit of recording their arguments so they could listen back to them later as a form of DIY marriage guidance.

Depp’s supporters say they amount to a series of bombshell confessions, with Heard admitting she hit the Pirates of Caribbean actor and telling him on tape: ‘See how many people believe you.’

Kaplan, co-founder of the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund and Heard’s attorney until two weeks ago, claimed the tapes had been ‘doctored’.

She argued it was completely legitimate for victims of repeated physical and emotional abuse to defend themselves.

‘We believe Amber and we believe in Amber,’ Kaplan’s firm insisted last week, despite announcing it was no longer representing her.

‘In the strange and unexpected circumstances of today’s world, as travel and logistics have become more costly in light of the pandemic, we understand the decision to move the case to local, Virginia-based trial counsel.’

Heard’s rep declined to comment on the latest legal development.

Depp’s attorney Adam Waldman said: ‘When Amanda de Cadenet, Amber Heard’s best friend and #MeToo activist recants her support for Ms Heard and testifies against her, you know we have reached the beginning of the end of Ms. Heard’s abuse hoax against Johnny Depp.

‘But Ms Heard did not execute her hoax without help from her other powerful friends and the media; we will expose their various roles at the trial Mr Depp and I have arrived in the UK to prepare for.’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk