The private investigator, hired by Amber Heard's legal team to uncover evidence against Johnny Depp, has disclosed that he has gathered several favorable testimonies about the actor, despite the numerous abuse allegations he has faced.
Paul Barresi, in his recently self-published book titled Johnny Depp's Accidental Fixer, mentioned that he was assigned the responsibility to investigate “the life and background of Johnny Depp and reveal proof of his purported physical mistreatment of women” amidst the actor's defamation lawsuit.
Barresi, 74, was tasked with examining potentially incriminating witness statements, videos, photos, or any other evidence that could support Heard's allegations of physical and mental abuse by her former spouse. Despite conducting interviews with 100 individuals, the investigator discovered that a significant number of them portrayed the actor from Pirates of the Caribbean as a person of exceptional manners and kindness, devoid of any malicious intent.
Despite the claims made by the actress from Aquaman, Depp's acquaintances informed Barresi that he held “respect and admiration for women.”
Brad Furman, director of the 2018 crime thriller City of Lies, also challenged certain allegations against Depp. This came after a legal action by the film's location manager, Gregg Brooks, in 2017, who alleged that Depp had been aggressive towards him on set.
Brooks asserted that Depp suggested paying him $100,000 to strike him in the face, subsequently delivering two punches to his lower torso. Despite this, Furman contested the claim, stating that the confrontation did not escalate physically and that Depp remained cordial throughout. A member of the film crew labeled the incident as “minor,” and a production assistant praised Depp as “gracious.”
Barresi discovered additional backing for the actor when he reached out to Depp's longtime friends in his investigation of the truth about Depp. Chuck Weiss, a singer, stated, “I have always witnessed Johnny showing respect and admiration for women.” Jonathan Shaw, a close friend of Depp, characterized him as a “remarkably composed … extraordinary individual.”
Barresi observed that he developed a sense of admiration for Depp, despite encountering some negative reports. Journalist Mark Ebner recounted an incident where Depp threatened to “set (him) on fire” during a confrontation, which Barresi described as a “ominous warning” to the actor's message to Paul Bettany about burning Heard.
Isaac Baruch's ex-wife alleged that her former husband was a “manipulator” and that he and Depp shared similar traits.
Barresi, with experience working for clients such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Cruise, and Sylvester Stallone, expressed: “My goal throughout this journey was to pay tribute to our common humanity, revealing the person behind the legends and presenting a story based on authentic empathy and understanding.”
Barresi, hired by Heard's legal team in 2019, did not specify which of Depp's defamation trials he worked on. It could have been Depp's 2020 case against a UK newspaper, which labeled him a ‘wife-beater,' with the judge ruling that he had put Heard in fear for her life. Alternatively, it might have been the infamous 2022 case in Virginia, where Depp sued Heard for $50 million, claiming she defamed him in a 2018 op-ed where she described herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse.” Though the article did not name Depp, his legal team argued the allegations were false and cost him lucrative film roles.
Depp emerged victorious on June 1, 2022, as the jury ruled in his favor, determining that Heard had indeed defamed him in the op-ed. As a result, Depp was granted $10.35 million in damages. Depp conveyed his gratitude for the jury's decision, stating that it had brought back meaning to his life and that he was deeply moved by the outcome.
He stated on Instagram that it was important for him to speak the truth, as he felt it was a debt owed to his children and to those who have unwaveringly supported him. He expressed a sense of peace in finally achieving this.
Heard, who filed a counterclaim for $100 million, was granted $2 million by the jury following their determination that Depp's publicist had referred to her accusations as “a hoax of abuse.”
She expressed her deep disappointment on Instagram, stating that she was heartbroken by the fact that despite the overwhelming evidence, her ex-husband's disproportionate power and influence still prevailed.
