Photo: AP

In a series of text messages obtained by Entertainment Tonight, Johnny Depp’s assistant seems to confirm allegations made by Depp’s estranged wife, Amber Heard, who has testified under oath that she suffered long-term abuse at the hands of the A-list actor. “When I told him he kicked you, he cried,” the assistant writes on one message. “It was disgusting. And he knows it.”

Though ET doesn’t reference where the screenshots came from, they were almost certainly provided by Heard, who, like many women before her, has been accused of lying about or embellishing the details of the abuse in order to obtain something—in this case, a more favorable divorce settlement.

Heard, who was married to Depp for 15 months and did not sign a prenuptial agreement, stands to collect several million dollars, according to tabloid estimates and Depp’s own lawyer, who has accused her of “attempting to secure a premature financial resolution by alleging abuse.” For some outlets, like TMZ, this is enough reason to bury her, despite the evidence she has provided so far which includes 1) her word, 2) the texts, 3) photographs of her injuries and 4) a prominent bruise on her right cheek. Depp, through a spokesperson, generally denies the allegations.

The leaked texts, which are not dated but were purportedly sent in 2014, also suggest Depp’s assistant, Stephen Deuters, was well aware of the abuse.

“Think he’s just texted you. He’s incredibly apologetic and knows that he has done wrong,” the text reads. “He wants to get better now. He’s been very explicit about that this morning. Feel like we’re at a critical juncture.”

In another message, Deuters suggests Depp was unable to remember attacking Heard: “He was appalled. When I told him he kicked you, he cried. It was disgusting. And he knows it.”

Deuters has not publicly commented on the texts, though TMZ reports—without once providing a direct quote—that he says the messages were “heavily doctored.”

The gossip site is also one of the few to stand behind Depp, who, unlike Heard, is an A-list actor on whose good side is advantageous to remain. According to the site: “Deuters says he knows of no acts of abuse toward Amber at the hands of Johnny and has never made such a claim to anyone. He adds, Johnny has never been violent toward anyone he knows. Deuters says the texts themselves are suspicious because they don’t even show a date.”

As Allie Jones eloquently points out at The Cut, the way the media has been reporting this scandal indicates an encouraging sea change towards giving victims the benefit of the doubt until there is concrete evidence to disbelieve them. TMZ, bless its heart, has missed the boat.