Amber Heard ‘Felt Nothing’ For Elon Musk, Psychologist Testifies During Defamation Trial

Topline

A psychologist who evaluated Amber Heard testified in Johnny Depp’s defamation lawsuit against the actress Wednesday that Heard said she “felt nothing” during her relationship with Elon Musk, who she dated shortly after splitting from Depp.

Key Facts

Dr. Dawn Hughes, a forensic psychologist hired by Heard’s team, read notes in court from the 29 hours she spent evaluating Heard.

Hughes testified that Heard said she was “heartbroken” during her relationship with Musk, whom she met in 2016, and that her “soul was dead” and she “felt nothing,” according to Insider.

Earlier in the trial, talent agent Christian Carino testified Heard told him she wasn’t in love with Musk during their relationship.

An executive for the American Civil Liberties Union testified last week that Musk likely paid a $500,000 portion of a $3.5 million donation Heard pledged to the organization, and that Musk communicated with the ACLU about Heard’s planned donation on her behalf.

Tangent

Depp’s lawyers rested their case against Heard on Tuesday after calling over two dozen witnesses. Hughes is one of the first witnesses called by Heard’s lawyers. The Aquaman actress is also expected to take the stand this week for the first time. Hughes testified Tuesday that Heard experienced intimate partner violence from Depp and suffered “very clear psychological, traumatic effects” because of it.

Key Background

Depp, 58, is suing Heard, 36, for defamation over a 2018 Washington Post op-ed his ex-wife wrote in which she identified herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse,” though she did not mention Depp by name. Depp and Heard divorced in 2016. The Edward Scissorhands actor believes the implication that he abused Heard cost him his acting career, including a role in a future Pirates Of The Caribbean film. Depp also sued a British paper The Sun for libel for calling him a “wife beater.” In 2020 a judge ruled for the paper, saying there was “overwhelming evidence” Depp abused Heard. During his testimony, Depp denied hurting Heard and claimed she abused him instead. During his testimony, Depp spoke about a fight between the couple in which his finger was severed. Depp said Heard threw two vodka bottles at him, but Heard has previously denied that and said Depp hurt his finger while attacking her and slamming his cell phone against a wall. Depp also testified about an incident in which he found fecal matter in his and Heard’s bed, which he believes Heard put there.

Further Reading

Musk Likely Paid Portion Of Amber Heard’s Pledged ACLU Donations, Exec Testifies (Forbes)

Johnny Depp Defamation Trial: Here Are The Key Moments From The Actor’s Testimony (Forbes)