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Amber Heard has released an explosive statement about the Johnny Depp domestic abuse claims.

Amber Heard’s lawyers have issued a statement in response to several media reports since the actress filed for divorce from Johnny Depp last Monday.

Heard, 30, accused the 52-year-old actor of repeated domestic violence culminating in an alleged incident on May 21 at their home in which the police were called.

At the time Heard declined to press charges.

Less than a week later, Heard filed a restraining order against Depp, appearing at the Los Angeles courthouse with a visible bruise and she claimed that Depp threw a cell phone at her face.

Over the weekend Johnny Depp’s friend, comedian Doug Stanhope wrote an opinion piece titled “Johnny Depp Is Being Blackmailed by Amber Heard – Here’s How I Know,”

Stanhope claimed on the night of the alleged violence Depp said Heard was planning to leave him and “tell lies about him if she didn’t get what she wanted.”

 

Amber Heard's facial bruising. Via Twitter/TMZ

But now Heard’s lawyers have addressed the various claims, including why Heard initially didn’t give a statement to the police.

Her lawyers said “As the result of Amber’s decision to decline giving an initial statement to the LAPD, her silence has been used against her by Johnny’s team.  Amber did not provide a statement to the LAPD in an attempt to protect her privacy and Johnny’s career.

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“Johnny’s team has forced Amber to give a statement to the LAPD to set the record straight as to the true facts, as she cannot continue to leave herself open to the vicious false and malicious allegations that have infected the media.

“Amber has suffered through years of physical and psychological abuse at the hands of Johnny.

“In domestic violence cases, it is not unusual for the perpetrator's playbook to include miscasting the victim as the villain.

 

“Amber has suffered through years of physical and psychological abuse at the hands of Johnny." Via Getty.

They say that Heard wanted to keep everything private, and it was a third party who called the police to Depp’s apartment on May 21.

“In reality, Amber acted no differently than many victims of domestic violence, who think first of the harm that might come to the abuser, rather than the abuse they have already suffered.”

“Amber can no longer endure the relentless attacks and outright lies launched against her character in the Court of Public Opinion since the tragic events of May 21st.  With her statement Amber hopes to give the LAPD the opportunity to conduct an accurate and complete investigation into the events of that evening and before. If that occurs, and the truth is revealed, there is no doubt that Amber’s claims will be substantiated beyond any doubt, and hopefully Johnny will get the help that he so desperately needs.”

“From the beginning, it has been Amber's desire to keep this matter as private as possible, even though LAPD officers responded to a 911 call made by a third-party.  The LAPD officers viewed not only the disarray that Johnny had caused in the apartment but also the physical injuries to Amber’s face. We filed the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage at the very end of the day on Monday May 23rd and we did not serve Johnny with the Petition at the premiere of Alice Through the Looking Glass that evening.  We sent a letter to Johnny's counsel team the next morning making it clear we wanted to keep this matter out of the media.  We then held off requesting a domestic violence restraining order as we knew that Johnny was out of the country.

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Johnny and Amber in Queensland. Via Getty.

"We took the high road" the statement says "unfortunately, Johnny's team immediately went to the press and began viciously attacking Amber’s character.  Amber is simply a victim of domestic violence, and none of her actions are motivated by money.  Amber is a brave and financially independent woman who is showing the courage of her convictions by doing the right thing against Johnny's relentless army of lawyers and surrogates.”

"The Family Law Court is not going to be influenced by misinformation placed in the social media based on anonymous sources.  Amber is the victim.  Amber is a hero.”

  For domestic violence support 24/7, call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).