Johnny Depp sent texts to his personal assistant apparently ordering him to buy cocaine and ecstasy, the High Court has heard.
The texts were among a string the Pirates of the Caribbean star failed to reveal in his ongoing legal action against The Sun — breaching a court order to disclose relevant evidence.
In one message he wrote: “Need more whitey stuff ASAP brotherman — and the e-business!!!
“Please I’m in a bad bad shape. Say NOTHING to NOBODY!!!!”
Depp, 57, is suing The Sun for libel over an article that referred to him as “a wife beater”.
The Sun’s lawyers say the texts cast doubt on the actor’s insistence he did not take drugs prior to an argument with then-wife Amber Heard, during which she says he attacked her. Depp denies violence.
The texts were exchanged between Depp and assistant Nathan Holmes between February 25 and March 7, 2015 — just before the alleged attack.
It is suggested Depp was trying to obtain ecstasy pills and cocaine while drinking heavily.
In one exchange, Depp seemingly admonishes Holmes for failing to get him more drugs.
His message reads: “F****** give me the goddam numbers. I’ll take care of this s***!!!
“I’m a grown man and I will NOT BE JUDGED. AND I WILL NEVER EVER LIVE IN THIS WORLD CAGE ANY LONGER.”
Other messages refer to “happy pills” and wanting to be “ecstatic again”.
It is believed the texts were sent while Depp was in Australia filming Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge.
Depp’s case could now be thrown out after Mr Justice Nicol ruled he did breach the disclosure of evidence order by not revealing the texts.
Adam Wolanski QC, representing The Sun, said Depp’s behaviour showed he had “forfeited the right” to pursue his case in court.
He added: “He has demonstrated contempt for our courts and for your Lordship. The absence of any contrition from him or an apology, demonstrates a breathtaking arrogance.
“This directly demonstrates that he is not telling the truth on an important matter at the heart of this case.
“If this evidence was missed, what else has been missed?”
Mr Wolanski said Depp’s failure to disclose meant The Sun would have been denied a fair hearing.
Depp accepts the evidence should have been disclosed.
But his lawyers told the court the failure was due to a mistaken understanding of what was relevant and the case should continue.
Depp’s lawyers also denied he had “threatened and intimidated” Aquaman star Ms Heard, 34, in an attempt to stop her helping The Sun’s case.
The actress is due to give evidence for The Sun.
The allegations of violence were in an article by Sun executive editor Dan Wootton, who is also being sued by Depp.
The Sun’s publisher, News Group Newspapers, has applied to have the case kicked out after Depp’s texts were revealed in a US libel case.
