The defamation case brought by actor Johnny Depp against his ex-wife Amber Heard has reached its

final week.But
what preceded the case? Depp and Heard's relationship began more than a decade ago, and eventually devolved into
what appears to have been a toxic marriage.The couple split in 2016, but have continued to battle in court over an op-
ed Heard wrote for The Washington Post in 2018, in which she described surviving domestic violence -- without
mentioning Depp by name.Depp is suing for $50 million in damages and denies ever being physically violent with
Heard. Heard is countersuing for $100 million and claims she was only ever violent with Depp in self-defense or
defense of her younger sister.As the case plays out, social media has become a frenzy, devouring sound bites, evidence
and clips of the courtroom. Depp spent four days testifying.2016In May, Heard files for divorce and is granted a
temporary restraining order against him.Heard claims that Depp had thrown a phone at her, leaving her
bruised.“During the entirety of our relationship, Johnny Depp has been verbally and physically abusive to me," Heard
says in a sworn declaration. 2017The couple's divorce is finalized.2018 Heard writes the op-ed for The Washington
Post at the heart of the defamation lawsuit.2019 Depp sues Heard for defamation, claiming the Post article was a ruse
for Heard to gin up positive press for herself. Depp also claims she is not the victim of domestic violence but instead
the perpetrator.After the ruling in 2020, Depp posts a statement on Instagram saying he had been asked to exit the
"Fantastic Beasts" franchise."greed to that request,"
2021
Heard countersues Depp for $100 million.
2022
On April 11, the weekslong defamation trial kicks off, with Heard and Depp appearing in court in Fairfax
County, Virginia.
In the defense's opening statement, attorney J. Benjamin Rottenborn reads the entirety of Heard's Post op-ed to the
jury, and tells them that the actor exercised her right to free speech.
At the end of his four-day testimony, when asked what he had lost due to Heard's op-ed in the Post, Depp says,
"Nothing less than everything.”On May 24, Heard's team rests its case. Depp's team asks Circuit Court Judge Penney
Azcarate to dismiss Heard's countersuit, which was unsuccessful.On May 25, Depp returns to the stand. “It’s insane
to hear heinous accusations of violence, sexual violence, that she’s attributed to me, that she’s accused me of,” Depp
says, when asked about what it had been like to listen to Heard’s testimony. Heard also returns to the stand on May
26 before closing arguments. She says she has been inundated with death threats since the start of the trial.
The jury for the trial, which is being held in Fairfax County, Virginia, is expected to begin deliberating Friday.