Kate Moss Johnny Depp

Kate Moss is expected to testify in the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard defamation trial.
Image via Dimitrios Kambouris, Jim Watson / AFP

Johnny Depp & Kate Moss: What happened during that ‘stairs’ incident?

Will Kate Moss testify in the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard defamation case? We revisit the infamous 1994 incident between the exes…

Kate Moss Johnny Depp

Kate Moss is expected to testify in the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard defamation trial.
Image via Dimitrios Kambouris, Jim Watson / AFP

Amber Heard’s mention of Kate Moss – the ex-girlfriend of Johnny Depp – whom she is suing in a highly publicised defamation lawsuit, has set tongues wagging.

The Aquaman actress name-dropped the supermodel in her testimony last week before the trial went on a week-long break. In it, she insinuated that her ex-husband assaulted her during their 90’s romance.

Amber and Johnny are embroiled in a messy $100 million defamation case in the Fairfax, Virginia Court. The former Pirates of the Caribbean actor is suing his ex-wife over claims she made in a Washington Post op-ed . In it, she claimed to be a victim of abuse during their two-year marriage. In return, Amber is counter-suing Johnny after his legal team labeled her claims an “elaborate hoax”.

MENTION OF KATE MOSS A TURNING POINT IN DEFAMATION TRIAL?

Prior to stepping off the stand last week, Amber Heard was recorded mentioning Kate Moss’s name in an attempt to justify her admission of hitting Johnny Depp.

Testifying about an argument in 2015, Amber claimed she feared her partner would push her younger sister Whitney down the stairs in a fit of rage. She said: “I instantly thought of Kate Moss and the stairs, and I swung at him”.

At that exact moment, Johnny Depp’s legal team was seen doing fist pumps – in “celebration” of what had just transpired.

Amber appeared to be referring to an unverified rumor that Johnny once pushed Kate down the stairs during their relationship.

According to legal experts, Amber Heard’s reference to Kate Moss could issue a turning point in the case, in which Johnny Depp’s legal team could bring in new evidence. Kate could also be brought in as a character witness to shed light on her relationship with Depp.

JOHNNY DEPP’S LEGAL TEAM COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF COMMENT

US entertainment lawyer Mitra Ahouraian told New York Post: “[Kate Moss] is still allegedly friends with Johnny and her testimony wasn’t allowed to come in before because it wasn’t as relevant. 

“That’s one mistake that [ Amber Heard ] made, was bringing up Kate Moss, which potentially opened the door to [Depp’s team] bringing [Moss] on as an impeachment witness – and Moss saying ‘This never happened'”.

Another lawyer, criminal defense attorney Halim Dhanidina told the publication that Depp’s team could use the mention to their advantage. He said: “You brought up Kate Moss and she wasn’t going to be part of this trial. But now she is.

“Johnny Depp’s team is going to argue that they should be permitted to call her to debunk any rumor about Johnny Depp pushing [Moss] downstairs”.

The trial will resume on Monday 16 May, with Amber Heard returning to the stand.

WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN THE MODEL AND JOHNNY DEPP?

Johnny Depp and Kate Moss were arguably one of the most-loved celebrity couples during the 90s.

Described as “two peas in a pod”, the duo were known for their wild partying, heavy drinking and chain-smoking, and their rebel rock star attitudes – like trashing hotel rooms.

But the couple split suddenly in 1998 after four years of dating fueling speculation that all was not well. In addition, Johnny Depp spoke with regret about their split, claiming he had been “so stupid” during their relationship.

“I have never got that emotional over a woman before,” he said in a candid interview with HELLO! magazine in 1998.

But their romance was also shrouded with rumours that Johnny Depp had a “violent temper”. The couple was often spotted in heated arguments in public, claim reports.

But whilst Johnny Depp has spoken about his past romance in-depth, Kate Moss has remained fiercely private. In 2012, Kate told Vanity Fair that she cried for “years and years” after their break-up.

THE STAIRS RUMOUR

According to People magazine, on 13 September 1994 Johnny Depp was arrested for criminal mischief after allegedly trashing his New York hotel room.

The publication reports that police found Depp “in a state of possible intoxication”, whilst girlfriend Kate Moss was found “uninjured”. Charges against the actor were dropped, on the condition that he stay out of trouble for six months.

However publication The Robb Report claims there was more to the story – and that Johnny Depp had trashed the room after Kate accused him of being unfaithful.

This incident led to unconfirmed rumours that Johnny Depp had pushed Kate down a flight of stairs. Neither Johnny nor Kate have ever commented on the rumours.