Paul Bettany addresses controversial texts with Johnny Depp

Actor Paul Bettany has addressed the controversial text messages between him and Johnny Depp that surfaced during Depp’s legal battles involving ex-wife Amber Heard. Bettany clarified that he has not spoken to Depp for years prior to the messages being exposed and has not been in contact with him since.

During Depp’s 2020 libel lawsuit against News Group Newspapers, text exchanges from 2013 were presented as evidence. In those messages, Depp used graphic language regarding Heard, including a suggestion to ‘burn Amber.’ Bettany responded to the messages with dark humor, referencing historical witch trials and suggesting a ‘drowning test’ instead.

Bettany explained his decision to remain silent during the highly publicized legal proceedings, stating that he prefers to live an ‘incredibly quiet life’ and felt that being portrayed as a close confidant to Depp was inaccurate given their lack of recent communication.