Paul Bettany has claimed he hasn't spoken to former friend Johnny Depp since their private texts discussing his ex-wife Amber Heard were used in their court case.
Their exchange was made public during Depp's libel case against the Sun in 2020 after he sued the publisher over a 2018 headline.
Depp sued the newspaper after it described him as a 'wife beater' in reference to his relationship with Amber Heard, 40. He ultimately lost the case.
A graphic text exchange between Bettany, 55, and Depp, 63, who have worked together on three films, was read out in court during the trial.
In one text, sent in 2013, Depp wrote, 'Let's burn Amber!!!' to which Bettany responded: 'Having thought it through I don't think we should burn Amber – she's delightful company and easy on the eye, plus I'm not sure she's a witch.
'We could of course try the English course of action in these predicaments – we do a drowning test. Thoughts?'
Paul Bettany has claimed he hasn't spoken to former friend Johnny Depp since their private texts discussing his ex-wife Amber Heard were used in their court case (pictured 2014)
Depp responded: 'Let's drown her before we burn her!!! I will f*** her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she's dead.'
Bettany was asked about the messages during an interview with The Times and he has branded it an 'interesting time', while revealing he has no relationship with Depp.
He told the publication: 'I hadn't spoken to Johnny in years when that happened and I haven't spoken to him since. I was being painted as this close friend of a guy I hadn't spoken to in years and, honestly, amid all the s*** two celebrities threw at each other, that bit was the most odd.
'So I decided to say nothing because, I think, people know me. I've been married 23 years and, for what I do, I live an incredibly quiet life. Everybody kind of thought this is probably a nothing burger – and left it alone.'
During an interview with The Independent in 2021, Bettany commented on the court case.
'I think that's a really difficult subject to talk about and I think that I just pour fuel on the fire,' he said in answer to a question about why he wrote such caustic words.
'It was very strange. It was a strange moment. What was strange about it was you suddenly have one of the most scabrous newspapers in London and their lawyers pouring through your texts for the last 10 years. Can you imagine what it would be like, honestly, to have a bunch of lawyers go through every one of your emails and texts for 10 years? All I can tell you was that it was an unpleasant feeling.'
Their exchange was made public during Depp's libel case against the Sun in 2020 after he sued the publisher over a 2018 headline which labelled him a 'wife beater'
Years earlier, Bettany had tweeted 'Known Johnny Depp for years and through several relationships. He's the sweetest, kindest, gentlest man that I've ever known. Just saying.'
In response, Bettany is said to have replied: 'Having thought it through I don't think we should burn Amber – she's delightful company and easy on the eye, plus I'm not sure she's a witch. We could of course try the English course of action in these predicaments – we do a drowning test. Thoughts? You have a swimming pool.'
'Let's drown her before we burn her!!! I will f**k her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she's dead,' Depp responded.
Bettany replied: 'My thoughts entirely. Let's be certain before we pronounce her a witch.'
During the 2020 trial, Depp said his 'sense of humor is slightly skewed' as the texts were read out.
In another exchange he quipped with Bettany about 'shaving Amber Heard's beaver' – a reference to a pet beaver they considered buying her.
A graphic text exchange between Bettany, 55, and Depp, 63, who have worked together on three films, was read out in court during the trial
The court heard how Depp told Bettany to buy Heard a pet beaver and record himself shaving the animal so that they could post the clip online titled: 'Johnny Depp shaves Amber Heard's Beaver'.
'First of all we buy Amber a pet beaver and then we take pictures of you shaving the pet beaver. All this is to create a domain name 'Johnny Depp Shaves Amber Heard's Beaver. Clearly there are many spin-offs. You could poke, joke, punch,' Depp suggested.
Depp was asked, 'Do you think that's a respectful way of somebody, here Paul Bettany, talking about your girlfriend?' to which Depp replied: 'It is not a respectful way to talk about Ms Heard.'
Depp ended up losing his lawsuit against The Sun in November 2020.
The judge ruled that Depp assaulted Heard on a dozen occasions and put her in 'fear of her life' three times often while on drink and drugs binges, which he said turned the actor into a 'monster', in one of the most high-profile libel clashes of this century.