Winona Ryder ‘felt so very safe’ with Johnny Depp as she defends her ‘extremely caring’ ex

Winona Ryder said that she only knows Johnny Depp as an ‘incredibly loving, extremely caring guy’.

The Stranger Things actress was scheduled to appear as a witness on behalf of her ex-fiance on Wednesday, but due to time constraints, both her and Vanessa Paradis’s appearances were scrapped from the schedule.

However, both stars witness statements were submitted before the trial.

Ryder – who was in a relationship with Depp between 1989 and 1993 and engaged to the star for three years – said: ‘I am aware of the violence allegations that have been made publicly for the last few years by Johnny Depp’s ex-wife Amber Heard.

‘I knew Johnny very well years ago. We were together as a couple for four years, and I counted him as my best friend, and as close to me as family.

‘I count our relationship as one of the more significant relationships of my life.’

The 48-year-old continued: ’I understand that it is very important that I speak from my own experience, as I obviously was not there during his marriage to Amber, but, from my experience, which was so wildly different, I was absolutely shocked, confused and upset when I heard the accusations against him.

‘The idea that he is an incredibly violent person is the farthest thing from the Johnny I knew and loved.

‘I cannot wrap my head around these accusations. He was never, never violent towards me. He was never, never abusive at all towards me. He has never been violent or abusive towards anybody I have seen.’

The Edward Scissorhands actress added: ‘I truly and honestly only know him as a really good man – an incredibly loving, extremely caring guy who was so very protective of me and the people that he loves, and I felt so very, very safe with him.

‘I do not want to call anyone a liar but from my experience of Johnny, it is impossible to believe that such horrific allegations are true. I find it extremely upsetting, knowing him as I do.’

Vanessa, who was in a relationship with Depp, 57, between 1998 and 2012, also filed a witness statement.

The 47-year-old, who shares daughter Lily-Rose, 21, and son Jack, 18, with Depp, said: ‘I work as a musician, singer-songwriter, actress, and fashion model.

‘I have known Johnny for more than 25 years. We’ve been partners for 14 years and we raised our two children together.

‘Through all these years I’ve known Johnny to be a kind, attentive, generous and non-violent person and father.

‘On movie sets the actors, directors and entire crews adore him because he is humble and respectful to everyone, as well as being one of the best actors we’ve seen.

‘I am aware of the allegations which Amber Heard has publicly accused Johnny of for more than four years now.

‘This is nothing like the true Johnny I have known, and from my personal experience of many years, I can say he was never violent or abusive to me.

‘I have seen that these outrageous statements have been really distressing, and also caused damage to his career because unfortunately people have gone on believing these false facts.

‘This is so upsetting as he has helped so many persons in his personal and professional life, with kindness and generosity.’

Neither Ryder nor Paradis will appear via video link following their witness statements. 

Depp is suing The Sun’s publisher News Group Newspapers (NGN) over an April 2018 column from The Sun’s executive editor Dan Wootton, which referred to the actor as a ‘wife beater’.

NGN’s defence relies on 14 allegations of domestic violence against his ex-wife Ms Heard, all of which Depp denies.

Heard and Depp met on the set of The Rum Diary in 2009 and started dating after his separation from Paradis.

They tied the knot in 2015, with Heard filing for divorce the following year.

The trial continues. 

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