'It's not going well': Johnny Depp's bid to salvage reputation descends into media circus

Johnny Depp's attempt to salvage his career has become a bizarre spectacle which has included a witness vaping in a car, alpacas stationed outside court, and fellow celebrities accusing him of narcissism.

The case in which the actor is suing his ex-wife for defamation, officially listed as "John C. Depp, II v. Amber Laura Heard," has now been going on for three weeks, and Depp's argument is nearing completion.

He is seeking $50 million in damages over a 2018 op-ed by Heard in the Washington Post, in which she referred to herself as "a public figure representing domestic abuse".

Depp, 58, claims he lost his lucrative role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" film series as a result.

The case has been playing out live on television, veering between drama, farce and the outright surreal, while exposing the alcohol-fueled excesses of Depp's Hollywood lifestyle.

This week Alejandro Romero, a doorman at the exclusive building where the former couple lived in Los Angeles, gave evidence about the final fight of the marriage while he puffed on an e-cigarette in his stationary car.

"I am so stressed out, I don't want to deal with this anymore," he said. And then he started driving the vehicle.

Judge Penney Azcarate told the jury: "I've seen a lot of things, but I've never seen that. I'm sorry."

On Friday, Depp started laughing as his Scottish bodyguard of 23 years, Malcolm Connolly, was asked if the actor had urinated in a hallway during a row with Heard.

"Mr Depp had his penis out, didn’t he?" Heard's lawyer asked. "I think I would've remembered seeing Mr Depp’s penis," said Mr Connolly.

Amid the evidence of angry rows between Depp and Heard, one friend of both told the court he no longer had a relationship with either of them.

Hollywood has been glued to the unfolding drama, which is being broadcast live "gavel-to-gavel" on Court TV, and the court of public opinion is divided.

Howard Stern, the "shock jock" radio host, said this week: "I think Johnny Depp is a huge narcissist. He’s so overacting because he’s writing his own material as he goes along. But that’s what narcissists do. 'I will charm the pants off of America at the trial'. No you won’t. This will not go well.

"It’s not going well for you, it’s not going well for her, it’s not going well for anybody. You sound like two battling children. It’s just coming off really badly."

However, Joe Rogan, the popular US podcaster, said: "Big loss for 'Pirates of the Caribbean'. You got rid of the best f---ing pirate you ever had. For a crazy lady."

Most of the people who queue outside the court each morning, including the odd one dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow, are Depp fans, perhaps reflecting his greater fame.

On Thursday Depp, leaving through a back door, noticed the two "emotional support" alpacas, which have been stationed outside court. He smiled and said: "It's alpaca day!"

Depp fan Andrea Diaz, the owner of the alpacas, said: "He waved and we all got very excited."

Heard, 36, has not so far said anything in court, sitting about 15ft from Depp and avoiding eye contact.

The actress, who starred in Aquaman, is expected to take the stand next week.

"It’s hard to see how Amber won’t prove to be a highly effective weapon against Depp," one industry insider told Deadline.

"Regardless of how they have tried to characterise her, she has been nothing but well composed and pretty conservative in court, without having said a word."