Amber Heard and Johnny Depp’s brief marriage did not end amicably. She wrote an op-ed about him; he sued her for $50 million over that op-ed, claiming defamation. Heard countersued for $100 million. They went to trial, exposing intimate details of their toxic relationship. For six weeks, the jury and public listened to testimony about violence, drug use, and epic fights. While the jury largely sided with Depp, awarding him over $10 million in damages, the court of public opinion remains divided. She has tried to leave that world behind her, but Amber Heard’s ex-girlfriend, Bianca Butti, has stepped forward to defend her, insisting she believes every word Heard has said about Depp, based on what she observed during their own romance.

Amber Heard’s ex-girlfriend believes her

Amber Heard’s testimony in 2022 left the jury feeling empty. Her recollection of physical and emotional abuse fell flat, lacked emotion, and felt rehearsed. Amber Heard’s ex-girlfriend, Bianca Butti, doesn’t disagree, but she insists that it wasn’t because Heard was lying or even exaggerating. Butti, who agreed to be interviewed for Hollywood Vampires: Johnny Depp, Amber Heard, and the Celebrity Exploitation Machine, said she believes everything Amber Heard said. She insists that despite the verdict, she knows Heard was in a very violent relationship with Johnny Depp.

Butti told the book’s authors that Heard often recoiled and shut down during arguments, suggesting she had been in an abusive relationship in the past. As for Heard’s stiff testimony, Butti thinks she may have dissociated from the events of her marriage to Depp. She said, “She had nowhere to put everything. She didn’t know how to cry. She didn’t know how to freak out. She didn’t know how to break down. She just knew how to keep going… She was completely detached… She was shut down.”

The former flames’ relationship timeline

Bianca Butti and Amber Heard kept their relationship mostly private. Still, the duo had a deep connection. They dated from early 2020 until late 2021. According to Soap Central, the former flames ended their romance due to scheduling conflicts that resulted in prolonged periods of time apart. At the time, Heard was working in the United Kingdom, while Butti remained in Los Angeles to focus on her cinematography career.

Despite their split, Butti and Heard remained in contact, with Butti offering emotional support during the defamation trial. She admitted to being in regular contact with Heard and feeling proud that she stood up for herself, despite the outcome. It is unclear if the former lovers still speak regularly now that Heard has officially relocated to Spain for a fresh start. Heard is now the mother of three.

Hollywood Vampires: Johnny Depp, Amber Heard, and the Celebrity Exploitation Machine was released on June 17. It is available at all major book retailers.