Paula Patton Opens Up About Robin Thicke Divorce Being So Public
Paula Patton
Paula Patton is a bombshell in red while attending an AOL Build Series event on Wednesday (June 8) in New York City. The 40-year-old actress was joined by her Warcraft co-stars Travis Fimmel, Ben Foster, and Robert Kazinsky. Paula recently opened up about how public her divorce was from Robin Thicke. “I don’t think you can control that,” Paula told People. “You just keep living your life and have faith that everything sorts itself out. Be patient, I’m learning that later in life it’s like, ‘All in due time,’ and the real goal is to find joy in the right now. Focusing on what I have right now is really good and not be concerned with things I can’t control: How other people see me, what they say, it’s wasted energy for me and it’s never done me any good.” source: www.justajared.com
Amber Heard's Lawyers Defend Her in Lengthy Statement: 'Amber Is the Victim'
Amber Heard, Johnny Depp.
Amber Heard‘s legal team, lead attorney Samantha F. Spector and co-counsel Joseph P. Koenig, just released a statement defending her and her actions throughout the past week in her allegations of domestic violence against Johnny Depp.
“As the result of Amber’s decision to decline giving an initial statement to the LAPD, her silence has been used against her by Johnny’s team. Amber did not provide a statement to the LAPD in an attempt to protect her privacy and Johnny’s career. Johnny’s team has forced Amber to give a statement to the LAPD to set the record straight as to the true facts, as she cannot continue to leave herself open to the vicious false and malicious allegations that have infected the media. Amber has suffered through years of physical and psychological abuse at the hands of Johnny,” the statement, provided to Just Jared, began.
“In domestic violence cases, it is not unusual for the perpetrator’s playbook to include miscasting the victim as the villain,” the statement continued. “In reality, Amber acted no differently than many victims of domestic violence, who think first of the harm that might come to the abuser, rather than the abuse they have already suffered. Amber can no longer endure the relentless attacks and outright lies launched against her character in the Court of Public Opinion since the tragic events of May 21st. With her statement Amber hopes to give the LAPD the opportunity to conduct an accurate and complete investigation into the events of that evening and before. If that occurs, and the truth is revealed, there is no doubt that Amber’s claims will be substantiated beyond any doubt, and hopefully Johnny will get the help that he so desperately needs.”
From the beginning it has been Amber’s desire to keep this matter as private as possible, even though LAPD officers responded to a 911 call made by a third-party. The LAPD officers viewed not only the disarray that Johnny had caused in the apartment but also the physical injuries to Amber’s face. We filed the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage at the very end of the day on Monday May 23rd and we did not serve Johnny with the Petition at the premiere of Alice Through the Looking Glass that evening. We sent a letter to Johnny’s counsel team the next morning making it clear we wanted to keep this matter out of the media. We then held off requesting a domestic violence restraining order as we knew that Johnny was out of the country.
We took the high road. Unfortunately, Johnny’s team immediately went to the press and began viciously attacking Amber’s character. Amber is simply a victim of domestic violence, and none of her actions are motivated by money. Amber is a brave and financially independent woman who is showing the courage of her convictions by doing the right thing against Johnny’s relentless army of lawyers and surrogates.
The Family Law Court is not going to be influenced by misinformation placed in the social media based on anonymous sources. Amber is the victim. Amber is a hero.”
Abuse Allegations and What's Next in Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's Divorce: All Your Questions Answered
How will Amber Heard's domestic violence allegations against Johnny Depp affect their divorce?
In a new statement on Tuesday, Heard's lawyers said she is "a victim of domestic violence" who decided not report her alleged abuse to police who responded to a 911 call on May 21 in order to "protect her privacy and Johnny's career."
In their statement, Heard's attorney Samantha F. Spector and co-counsel Joseph P. Koenig added, "Johnny's team has forced Amber to give a statement to the LAPD to set the record straight as to the true facts."
Depp's divorce attorney Laura Wasser contended in court documents that Heard is "attempting to secure a premature financial resolution by alleging abuse."
Heard, 30, was granted a temporary restraining order against Depp on May 27, after alleging in court papers that the 52-year-old actor physically and verbally abused her throughout their four-year relationship.
The allegations came four days after Heard filed a divorce petition on May 23 citing irreconcilable differences and requesting spousal support from Depp. Here, legal experts weigh in on the latest questions surrounding the evolving case.
How Do the Abuse Claims Affect Divorce Proceedings?
Experts say that although the domestic violence allegations may not result in a court awarding Heard a higher sum in divorce proceedings, they do give her an advantage in negotiations.
"It won't affect the money. It's not like [Heard] gets more [spousal] support because of a domestic violence claim," Los Angeles-based attorney Ambrosio Rodriguez tells PEOPLE. "But what she does have, from a strategy point, what she has over him now is something to make him settle quick, as opposed to dragging it out."
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard in January 2015.
Family law attorney Stephanie Blum echos Rodriguez's statements, telling PEOPLE that the allegations allowed Heard to get a court hearing sooner that she would have otherwise.
"So, if [Heard] is looking for [Depp] to pay her spousal support or pay her legal fees, making these allegations too would allow her to have those requests decided on by the court within weeks," she says. On May 27, a judge denied Heard's request for temporary spousal support.
What About Heard Not Reporting the Alleged Abuse to Police Right Away?
In court documents, Heard claims Depp pulled her hair and hit her with a cell phone on May 21.
A source close to the actress previously told PEOPLE that responding officers encouraged Heard to make a statement about the alleged incident, but Heard declined because she was too shaken up.
Although the source told PEOPLE that officers saw Heard's wounds and trashed house the night of the incident, an LAPD spokesperson told PEOPLE that responding officers found no evidence of a crime.
Amber Heard left court on May 27 with an apparent bruise near her eye.
On Tuesday, Heard's attorney Spector and co-counsel Koenig issued a statement elaborating on their client's reasoning and saying her "silence has been used against her by Johnny's team."
"Amber did not provide a statement to the LAPD in an attempt to protect her privacy and Johnny's career," Spector and Koenig said. "Johnny's team has forced Amber to give a statement to the LAPD to set the record straight as to the true facts, as she cannot continue to leave herself open to the vicious false and malicious allegations that have infected the media."
"In reality, Amber acted no differently than many victims of domestic violence, who think first of the harm that might come to the abuser, rather than the abuse they have already suffered," the lawyers' statement continued.
Rodriguez tells PEOPLE that only about 15 percent of domestic violence victims report the abuse.
"It is very common for domestic violence victims to delay reporting their abuse," he says. "As long as she can explain why she delayed in reporting, it should not hurt the case."
Could Depp Face Criminal Charges, and if So, What Are the Possible Repercussions?
"It is rare for the D.A. to file criminal charges in a domestic violence case when the police do not arrest the alleged perpetrator," says Blum.
The chances of charges being filed are "slim," adds Rodriguez, "in light of the fact that police didn't find any evidence."
If Depp were to be charged with a felony and convicted, "the minimum punishment would be three years of felony probation, a 52-week anger management class and fees and fines of over $2,000," says Rodriguez.
"There would also be a lifetime ban on owning a firearm and he would lose all the rights that come from being a felon. There would also be a criminal protective order in place that would make it a crime for him to contact her in any way."
How Might Depp's Celebrity Affect the Case? "Everything is altered because he is one of the most famous movie stars in the world," says Rodriguez. "I expect LAPD and the D.A.'s office to be extra careful before moving forward." What Does Depp's Initial Response Mean? Depp's lawyer, Laura Wasser, said in court documents that Heard made the accusations "to secure a premature financial resolution by alleging abuse." "His court filings state he is out of the country and had not 'heard' the 'specific' allegations," celebrity divorce lawyer Jonathan Wolfe tells PEOPLE, referring to Depp's months-long tour with his band Hollywood Vampires.
"That is hard to imagine."
Amber Heard with bruises on her face
What Happens Next? Experts say the divorce proceedings could proceed quickly – or become a drawn-out battle. Most likely, "[Depp] and his team will want to resolve this quickly," Wolfe says. "That said, since she has already gone public [with abuse claims], she may already have used much of her leverage, harmed his reputation … [Depp] may now be more determined than ever to defend himself against these allegations." However, Wolfe adds, there is hope that the restraining order issue could be resolved without a court fight.
"The final restraining order hearing is scheduled for June 17th," he says. "Since [Depp] is willing to agree to the restraints, don't be surprised if this issue is settled by the parties before the hearing."
Amber Heard could get $20million in divorce settlement after just 15 months of marriage - as iPhone bust-up with Johnny Depp was 'sparked by a fight over his dying mother'
Amber Heard could get $20million in a divorce settlement with Johnny Depp after just 15 months of marriage, legal experts claim. The news comes after she was spotted laughing and joking with her lawyer as she stepped out of court on Saturday where she filed for divorce. She was photographed with a faint bruise on her face after claiming that Depp domestically abused her, allegedly throwing an iPhone at her after a row apparently over his dying mother. Heard went public after Depp's lawyers rejected her claims for $50,000 (£34,000) a month in support, $125,000 (£85,000) for her legal fees, their LA penthouse, his Range Rover and custody of their Yorkshire terriers.
Amber Heard
But the couple do not have a prenup so under California law, she is guaranteed at least one half of however much their combined wealth has increased since they were married. During that time, Depp was paid $61million (£40million) for his role in Alice Through The Looking Glass and a further $40million (£27million) for starring in Black Mass.
Johnny Depp with Mother
Heard earned $383,000 (£262,000) during the period and cleared $51,000 (£35,000) after expenses, which included nearly $19,000 (£13,000) in business meals. The row which allegedly ended with Depp throwing an iPhone at Heard started because his children Lily Rose, 17, and Jack, 14 didn't want her at his dying mother, Betty Sue Palmer's bedside, a source claims. A source told The Sun's Andy Hall: 'Jack and Lily-Rose were certain they didn't want her at Betty Sue's deathbed — and that caused huge friction. 'Johnny told Amber but says she acted ''like a petulant child''. That's when things turned nasty and a huge row erupted.' Heard was pictured apparently in good spirits as she left her lawyer's building to a waiting limousine. Heard, who was clasping a laptop computer, arrived at the office at around 3.30pm on Saturday and did not leave until about 7.30pm.
In court documents, Heard alleges she 'lived in fear' of Depp during their 15-month marriage and constantly worried he could return to their Los Angeles condo to 'terrorize me physically and emotionally.' The actress and her lawyer, Samantha Spector, appeared at the Superior Court of California County of Los Angeles on Friday, where she filed for a domestic violence restraining order. Depp was not in court for the filing. Instead, the star was playing with his band, the Hollywood Vampires, at the Rock in Rio Lisboa festival. The first incident she documents in the court files is said to have occurred on her 30th birthday at their Broadway home on April 21 this year, when he turned up late 'inebriated and high'.
A long term friend and neighbor of Heard has given evidence to support the young actress's claims that Depp physically and emotionally abused her. Raquel Rose Pennington, who has known Heard for 13 years, filed court documents on Friday that claimed she saw Depp 'screaming loudly at her' and wielding a wine bottle 'like a baseball bat'.
In her account, Pennington says that she received a text from the star asking her to come over, and upon arrival, found Heard 'by the couch, covering her head with her arms and hands, as Johnny was loudly screaming at her'. The shocking statement continued: 'I ran over and stood in between Johnny and Amber, begging Johnny to stop yelling at her. 'I put my hands out in a defensive manner motioning him to stop. Johnny slapped my hands away and screamed foul obscenities at me.' Pennington added that the Pirates of the Caribbean star then 'picked up a large bottle of wine and began swinging it like a baseball bat' in order to smash 'everything he could', according to the document seen by The Daily Mirror. Following the incident she says she brought Heard back to her own home. Pennington had been at the couple's home Saturday May 21, along with friends Elizabeth Marz and Joshua Drew, when Depp came home 'drunk and high' at around 7.15 pm, according to The Daily Beast.
The group then left as Heard tried to comfort Depp over the passing of his mother the day before A representative for Depp said in a statement on Thursday: 'Given the brevity of this marriage and the most recent and tragic loss of his mother, Johnny will not respond to any of the salacious false stories, gossip, misinformation and lies about his personal life. 'Hopefully the dissolution of this short marriage will be resolved quickly.'
Depp was previously said to be jealous by her close relationship to previous female flames, including Cara Delevingne. It has since been revealed that Heard entered into a domestic partnership to previous partner Tasya Van Ree, and even changed her name to Amber Van Ree in 2008. Comedian Doug Stanhope has come to the defense of Johnny Depp, claiming Amber Heard had told the actor she was going to leave him and threatened to lie about him publicly 'in any and every duplicitous way' if he did not agree to her terms. Stanhope said he was inspired to speak out after watching Depp get 'murdered' on social media after pictures of Heard with a bruise on her face, that she alleged was caused by Depp, appeared online and her allegations became international headlines. The comedian said the minute he heard the actress' allegations against Deep he 'knew it was bulls***t', he writes in a guest column for The Wrap.
