Hollywood actor James Franco has been dragged into Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s legal drama.
The Pirates of the Caribbean star is currently suing his ex-wife for defamation, after she wrote about being an alleged victim of domestic violence in an op-ed for the Washington Post in December 2018.
While Johnny’s name was excluded from the piece, his legal team have argued that the op-ed implied that he “perpetrated domestic violence against her”.
According to The Blast, Johnny’s legal team are now planning to subpoena James Franco over surveillance footage of him entering an elevator with Amber just hours after she allegedly got into a huge fight with Johnny.
Amber previously claimed that their fight left her with multiple bruises on her face and body, however, Johnny has accused his ex-wife of ‘painting on’ the bruises.
The alleged footage of James and Amber was recorded just one day before Amber filed for divorce from Johnny.
The news comes after Johnny’s legal team subpoenaed Amber’s ex-boyfriend Elon Musk back in April.
In a statement, Johnny’s attorney said: “We are interested in James Franco and Elon Musk as fact witnesses because we have evidence they are men who saw Amber Heard’s face in the days and nights between when she claimed Mr. Depp smashed her in the face on May 21 and when she went to court with painted on ‘bruises’ to obtain a Temporary Restraining Order on May 27.”
Responding to their plans to subpoena James Franco, Amber’s attorney Eric M. George told E! News: “Amber Heard and James Franco once lived in the same apartment complex and were simply taking an elevator at the same time. Period.”
“Johnny Depp and his team have been trying—and failing—to place a salacious story based on this irrelevant footage for weeks. It’s pathetic.”
Amber filed for divorce from Johnny in 2016, one year after the couple tied the knot.
At the time, the actress obtained a temporary restraining order against him, and alleged that he was verbally and physically abusive towards her – claims Johnny has vehemently denied.
The pair eventually settled their divorce out of court in August 2016, and issued a joint statement which read, “Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love. Neither party has made false accusations for financial gain. There was never any intent of physical or emotional harm. Amber wishes the best for Johnny in the future.”
The actress reportedly donated her share of the divorce settlement, about $7 million, to the American Civil Liberties Union and the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
