• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Psychologist Who Examined Amber Heard Explains Why Some Women Stay In Abusive Relationships

Home> Entertainment

Published 01:32 4 May 2022 GMT+1

Psychologist Who Examined Amber Heard Explains Why Some Women Stay In Abusive Relationships

Dr Hughes compared victims experiencing domestic abuse to ‘sucking the oxygen out of the room and before you know it you're suffocating’.

Charisa Bossinakis

Charisa Bossinakis

A psychologist and expert on domestic violence has explained why some women stay in abusive relationships while testifying at Johnny Depp’s $50 million defamation lawsuit.

Dr Dawn Hughes was the first witness to be called by Amber Heard’s lawyers when she said that acts of ‘sexual violence’ like Depp's make it hard for victims to know the right time to leave a relationship.

Advert

She also compared the experience to ‘sucking the oxygen out of the room and before you know it you're suffocating’.

Dr Hughes added that victims feel immense shame due to the abuse, which has a 'compounding effect' on them.

The psychologist also said that abusive relationships are a 'vicious cycle of trying to figure out how can I be with this man who hurts me and yet I love him so much'.

Dr Hughes said: “For the loving man, stay for the man who is kind, (the man she) had hoped and promised for their future. 

Michael Reynolds/Pool via REUTER/Alamy

Advert

“Some people stay because they have economic reasons, some people have children in common and don't want to deprive their children of a father.

“The most dangerous time for a woman is when she's leaving - her likelihood of being killed increases substantially. Staying keeps her safe.”

Despite not being her client, Dr Hughes revealed to Fairfax County Court that she interviewed Heard for 22 hours back in 2021.

After conducting a forensic evaluation of Heard, her findings were 'consistent about what we know about Intimate Partner Violence’ and that the actress had PTSD.

She told the court: “[My] main opinion is that Ms. Heard’s report of intimate partner violence and the records I reviewed is consistent with what we know in the field about intimate partner violence, characterised by physical violence, psychological aggression, sexual violence, coercive control and surveillance behaviours.”

Dr Hughes also told the court a horrific story where the Pirates of the Caribbean actor thought it was 'acceptable to rip off her nightgown and stick his fingers up her vagina, looking for cocaine'.

Advert

Dr Hughes said Depp’s abuse was 'alcohol fuelled', which would sometimes lead the actor to throw Heard on a bed demanding sex.

"If he was not able to perform he would get more angry at her and blame her," she said.

Depp is currently suing his ex-wife over a 2018 op-ed she wrote in The Washington Post, which claimed she was a survivor of physical and emotional abuse.

Although Heard never mentioned the actor by name, Depp says the article tarnished his reputation, which ultimately led to the demise of his career.

Featured Image Credit: Youtube/Law&Crime Network. Michael Reynolds/Pool via REUTERS/Alamy

Topics: News, Crime, Johnny Depp, US News, Celebrity

Charisa Bossinakis
Charisa Bossinakis

Charisa Bossinakis is an Associative Journalist at LADbible. Charisa has worked across various media platforms including, print, digital, radio and podcasting while maintaining the highest regard for quality work and integrity. She also covered everything from breaking news, to pop culture, entertainment and politics and is part of the editorial team for LADbible.

X

@CBossinakis

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

10 hours ago
13 hours ago
14 hours ago
  • 10 hours ago

    Blair Witch Project movie ‘actually showed’ the witch and everyone missed it

    What are your thoughts about this take on the 1999 classic?

    Entertainment
  • 13 hours ago

    Netflix fans make realisation about 'diabolical update' that sees your favourite shows leave without you knowing

    The feature could see your favourite shows and movies leave without you realising

    Entertainment
  • 14 hours ago

    Danny Boyle reveals why 28 Years Later used ‘disturbing’ sound used by army to torture soldiers

    The recording is used by the US Army to psychologically test soldiers

    Entertainment
  • 14 hours ago

    Interstellar fan has mind-blowing theory about 'simple mistake' fans can't unsee 10 years later

    Fans on the 2014 film have been dreaming theories up for years

    Entertainment
  • Johnny Depp explains why he took Amber Heard to trial in rare interview
  • Amber Heard speaks out on Blake Lively lawsuit against Justin Baldoni and says 'I saw this firsthand'
  • Cassie explains why she chose to take ketamine during Diddy 'freak offs' in testimony
  • Psychologist Says Johnny Depp Kicked Amber Heard In Argument About James Franco