Johnny Depp is denying the sexual assault allegations his ex-wife Amber Heard's lawyer made against him on the first day of his $50 million defamation trial. The former couple is squaring off in the Fairfax County Courthouse in Virginia after Depp sued Heard over a 2018 op-ed she wrote for the Washington Post about surviving domestic violence. Her attorney Ben Rottenborn now claims it was Depp who was the alleged abuser. "Tragically, it's true," Rottenborn told the courtroom during his opening arguments. "Amber did suffer sexual violence at the hands of Depp." He also said the actress suffered domestic abuse by Depp that "took many forms," including physical, emotional, verbal and psychological abuse. A spokesperson for Depp denied the allegations, saying the actor believes it is no coincidence that they are just now coming to light. During the trial's opening statements, which broadcast live, Depp's attorney Camille Vasquez accused of Heard of manufacturing the "false allegations" to boost her career in the light of the #MeToo movement at the time.