# Paul Bettany denies close friendship with Johnny Depp

> Paul Bettany says he wasn't close to Johnny Depp despite shared text messages in libel case.
- Title: Paul Bettany denies close friendship with Johnny Depp · NME
- Summary: Paul Bettany says he wasn't close to Johnny Depp despite shared text messages in libel case. Paul Bettany claims he and Johnny Depp weren't close friends…
- Keywords: paul bettany, johnny depp, amber heard, libel case, text messages, 2013, music, culture, Paul, Bettany, denies, close
- Source: NME — https://nme.com/news/film/paul-bettany-johnny-depp-amber-heard-text-messages-sun-libel-wife-beater-3973495
- Published: 2026-10-19T16:02:14+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: paul bettany, johnny depp, amber heard, libel case, text messages, 2013, music, culture
## Text messages shared in court
Paul Bettany and Johnny Depp exchanged texts in 2013 joking about drowning Amber Heard to prove she wasn't a witch.

> I'm not sure we should burn Amber. She is delightful company and pleasing on the eye. We could of course do the English course of action and perform a drowning test. Thoughts? You have a swimming pool?
## Depp lost libel case
Johnny Depp lost his libel case against The Sun in 2020 after judge found 'wife beater' description substantially true.
## Bettany denies close friendship
Paul Bettany said he hadn't spoken to Johnny Depp in years before texts were shared and hasn't spoken to him since.

> I hadn't spoken to Johnny in years when that happened, and I haven't spoken to him since
## Key takeaway

Paul Bettany claims he and Johnny Depp weren't close friends after texts joking about drowning Amber Heard in 2013 libel case.