Depp is suing Hurd for $ 50 million, claiming that a 2018 article she wrote in the Washington Post slandered him. Depp claims that the piece – which he does not mention by name – falsely portrayed him as a rapist. Hurd has filed a $ 100 million lawsuit against Depp, saying his lawyer’s statements calling the allegations of abuse were “fraudulent.”
Tracy Jacobs, who testified in recorded testimony, said she had represented Depp for 30 years as his talent agent and at one point said he was “the biggest star in the world.” Jacobs said Depp ended it at about the same time he broke up with other business partners in his life.
Jacobs testified that she was honest with Depp that the regular delay on set and his behavior, including drug and alcohol use, harmed his career. She testified that Depp had to use a headset regularly while on set to feed on his lines.
“His star faded as it became increasingly difficult to find him a job because of the reputation he had gained for being late and other things,” Jacobs said. “People were talking and it was about his behavior.
The future of “Pirates” by Depp
As part of his lawsuit, Depp claims that Hurd’s article caused him to lose his job, including tens of millions of dollars, which he said would be paid for a potential sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film that he would probably not be part of. Jacobs also testified that he could not remember Disney committing to have Depp in the film.
Jacobs testified that at one point Depp was in a state of “financial despair” and asked the agency to give him $ 20 million.
Longtime Disney chief executive Tina Newman, whose statement was recorded in February and played for jurors on Thursday, said she did not remember seeing Hurd’s article and did not know if Depp was considering a role in the sixth “Pirate Movie.”
“It’s over my head,” Newman said. “I just know this is a project that’s probably under development in the studio.”
Jurors also heard recorded testimony from Depp’s former business manager, Joel Mandel, with whom Depp broke up in 2016 and whose company Depp sued in 2017, accusing her of mismanagement of his income. The case was resolved in 2018.
Mandel testified that around 2010 it became more difficult to work with Depp due to the seemingly daily use of substances.
“What I’ve always experienced as a person who likes to enjoy his wine at the end of the day has become a consumption that seemed excessive,” said Mandel. “The ability to coordinate and find moments when it will meet has become more difficult. Over time, it became clear that he had problems with alcohol and drugs. And that turned into more misbehavior, more stressful behavior, more moments when it was hard to engage in the kinds of conversations I needed to do my job. “
Mandel said he began to express regular concern about Depp’s “very difficult financial circumstances” in 2015, and said that while Depp’s income was very significant, his expenses were also significant. He said at one point Depp paid $ 300,000 a month to staff.
Hurd’s legal team pointed to the fact that several of Depp’s paid staff testified as part of his case against her and accused them of siding with Depp because he paid them.
Hurd finished his testimony earlier this week.
Hurd’s agent, Jessica Kovacevic, testified that the actress’ career did not follow the expected upward trajectory after Aquaman, and she believes that negative media attention has had a detrimental effect on her income.
Kovacevic also testified that no questions had been raised about Hurd’s performance in the 2018 DC hit film, and that she expected Hurd to earn more after starring in it, but did not.
CNN turned to Warner Bros., the studio behind the film, for comment. (CNN and Warner Bros. share parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery)
Ellen Barkin testified
Actress Ellen Barkin, who said she has known Depp since 1990, testified that she had an affair with Depp, who became sexual in a few months in 1994.
Barkin testified that Depp was drunk “most or most of the time,” that she was with him, and described him as controlling and jealous. She described an incident in a hotel room in Las Vegas when there was a fight, among others.
“Mr. Depp threw a bottle of wine across the room, the hotel room, on one occasion in Las Vegas, while we were filming Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” Barkin recalled.
The trial will resume on Monday for the last week of testimony.
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