A former friend of Johnny Depp’s told his libel trial that he “can definitely have a jealous streak in him”.
Jurors heard that the Pirates of the Caribbean star “would work himself up” when his ex-wife Amber Heard was “doing something that he couldn’t be around to see”.
Giving evidence on Thursday was Bruce Witkin, a musician who was friends with Mr Depp for nearly four decades.
The court heard a video deposition, which was recorded in February, and described jealous behaviour towards those he was in a relationship with.
“He would be jealous of Nicholas Cage and Adam Ant”, Mr Witkin said about Mr Depp, when ex-girlfriends expressed their admiration of other stars.
Mr Witkin said he saw that behaviour during Mr Depp’s relationship with former French model Vanessa Paradis, who he shares two children with, adding that “a lot of it was in his head and not reality”.
He added that Mr Depp would get “inside his own head” whenever Ms Heard was working alongside male actors.
Addressing allegations of domestic violence, Mr Witkin said he never saw the ex-couple physically abuse each other.
However, he said he once saw bruises on Ms Heard’s arm when he and Mr Depp were working on a documentary about Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards.
In another instance, Mr Witkin said he his Mr Depp with “fat lip” one time.
Mr Depp’s alleged substance abuse was also brought up during Mr Witkin’s testimony, in which he said he tried to help the actor by setting him up with a therapist.
“He’d say, ‘I’ll be all right. I’ll be all right.’ And well, you’re not all right,” Mr Witkin told the court, recalling a conversation the pair had.
People close to Mr Depp were concerned about his wellbeing, including Mr Depp’s sister, Christi Dembrowski, Mr Witkin said.
“Everybody, I think, deep down inside was, but ... the people on the payroll won’t really say much.
“They’ll try but they don’t want to lose their job,” Mr Witkin said.
“I’m not saying they all fall into the category. But it’s a strange thing around people like him. Everybody wants something.”
Talking of their friendship, which began its demise towards the end of 2017, Mr Witkin said: “He wrote me this weird text saying I stabbed him in the back and badmouthed him.
“And I’m like, ‘What are you talking about?’ And he wouldn’t explain it. And I pretty much haven’t seen him since 2018.”
Mr Depp’s former agent Tracy Jacobs also took the stand on Thursday via video deposition.
She told the court towards the end of their working relationship, Mr Depp had become a difficult client and would “show up late to projects” including the production of Pirates of the Caribbean 5.
“Crews don’t love sitting around for hours and hours for the star to show up,” Jacobs said.
“People talked...and it made people reluctant to use him.”
She added that Mr Depp had become “unprofessional” due to his drug and alcohol use.
Tracy Jacobs, Johnny Depp’s former agent, is the next person to take the stand in the Depp vs. Amber Heard defamation trial via video deposition.
Mr Depp is suing his ex-wife for $50 million in a libel suit over a 2018 article she wrote in The Washington Post which his lawyers say falsely implies he physically and sexually abused her while they were together, although he is not mentioned by name in the piece.
He has denied all accusations.
Ms Heard is countersuing Mr Depp for $100 million.
The trial at Fairfax County district court, in Virginia, continues.
