Soon after photos of Johnny Depp’s alleged abuse of soon-to-be ex-wife Amber Heard went viral, many of the actor’s friends and fellow celebrities came to his defense. Paul Bettany emphasized his longtime friendship with Depp, whom he called “the sweetest, kindest, gentlest man that I’ve ever known” while stressing that “domestic violence is a serious allegation” and that “trial by Twitter is unhelpful.” On Sunday, comedian Doug Stanhope wrote an op-ed for The Wrap claiming that Heard and her associates were trying to blackmail Depp for money. However, perhaps the sincerest — and most moving — defense of 52-year-old star came from his own daughter, Lily-Rose Depp.
“My dad is the sweetest most loving person I know,” she wrote on Instagram, adding that Depp has “been nothing but a wonderful father to my little brother and I.” She even alluded to the outpouring of support from Bettany, Stanhope and others who have come to Depp’s defense since Heard’s allegations first broke, saying that “everyone who knows him would say the same.”
Along with her brief comments, Lily-Rose included an old photo of her father helping her take her first steps as an infant:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BF_YP_5BaCH/
Heard filed for divorce from Depp after 15 months of marriage on May 25. A few days later, a judge granted the actress’s request for a restraining order against Depp just as photos of her bruised face and a damaged wall were released to the press. Aside from the order, however, the litigation between the two is still ongoing.