Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard faced each other in court for the first time on Tuesday for the second day of the actor's $50million defamation lawsuit

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard face each other in court for first time in $50million lawsuit

Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard faced each other in court for the first time on Tuesday, a day after the actor's $50million lawsuit kicked off at Fairfax County District Court in Virginia.

The actor, 58, is suing his former partner Amber, 35, for libel over a 2018 article she wrote in the Washington Post in which she discussed her experiences of domestic abuse.

Johnny's lawyers say the article falsely implies Amber was physically and sexually abused by him when they were married.

Both the actor and Amber appeared in person on Tuesday, with fans gathering outside hoping to catch a glimpse of the former Hollywood couple walk into court.

Image: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock) BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Johnny wore a navy suit for day two of the trial while Amber was smartly dressed in a grey jacket and black shirt.

The actor waved at fans as he headed into court to watch his legal team, consisting of prosecutors Benjamin Chew and Camille Vasquez, begin their opening arguments on Tuesday.

On the first day of the trial a jury panel of 11 people were sworn in, with potential candidates asked a series of questions on subjects including the MeToo movement, their links to the entertainment industry, and their opinions of the Washington Post.

Image: REUTERS) REUTERS)

Amber divorced Johnny in 2017, just two years after they married. A year later released the piece titled: 'I spoke up against sexual violence — and faced our culture’s wrath'.

While the article does not mention Johnny by name, but his lawyers will argue it is a 'clear implication that Mr Depp is a domestic abuser'.

Image: SplashNews.com) SplashNews.com) Image: SplashNews.com) SplashNews.com)

The actress’s lawyers are expected to argue she should be immune from the libel suit because of a Virginia law known as an anti-Slapp provision (strategic lawsuit against public participation).

The provision is designed to protect people from nuisance lawsuits when they speak about matters of public concern.

Amber's lawyer, Elaine Bredehoft, has argued the article addresses a serious issue of public concern: preventing domestic violence.

The actress has also filed a counterclaim for defamation against Johnny because of statements his lawyer made about her.

Image: REUTERS) REUTERS)

The case is being brought in Virginia rather than in California, where the actors live, because the Washington Post’s online editions are published through servers located in Fairfax County.

Johnny lawyers say one of the reasons they brought the case in Virginia is because the state’s anti-Slapp law is not as broad as the one in California.

It comes after the Pirates of The Caribbean star lost a similar defamation case in the UK, which he brought against the publishers of The Sun, News Group Newspapers (NGN).

Image: Getty Images for Art of Elysium) Getty Images for Art of Elysium)

An article also written in 2018 by The Sun’s executive editor Dan Wootton referred to Mr Depp as a “wife-beater” in the headline.

Following a 16-day trial in July 2021, a judge found the content of the article to be “substantially true”.

Johnny was refused permission to appeal against the decision at the Court Of Appeal.