Johnny Depp is dating a lawyer and it’s not who you think it is. Multiple sources reported that the 59-year-old actor is dating Joelle Rich, an attorney based in London who represented him in libel lawsuit against The Sun.
In 2018, the Pirates of the Caribbean star filed a libel lawsuit against the outlet for labeling him a “wife-beater.” However, the lawyer was no longer a part of his counsel in his famous defamation trial against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, a few months ago.
However, the London-based attorney did show her support for the actor despite not being part of his latest legal team. She appeared several times in court during his trial. In fact, she was photographed hugging Depp’s lawyer, Camille Vasquez, outside the Virginia courthouse. Two weeks later, Rich was also seen inside the courtroom.
Depp’s budding romance comes three months after dating rumors, claiming he was dating Vasquez, spread on social media.
It didn’t take long before Vasquez shut down the rumors by telling People, “I guess it comes with the territory of being a woman just doing her job.”
She continues, “It’s disappointing that certain outlets kind of ran with it or said that my interactions with Johnny — who is a friend and I’ve known and represented for four-and-a-half years now — that my interactions in any way were inappropriate or unprofessional. That’s disappointing to hear.”
The lawyer also claimed that the rumors are “sexist. She explained, “It’s also an unethical charge being made. It’s unfortunate and it’s disappointing, but at the same time it kind of comes with the territory. I can’t say I was all that surprised.”
“I care very deeply about my clients, and we have obviously become close. But when I say we, I mean the entire team, and of course that includes Johnny,” she continued. “And, I’m Cuban and Colombian. I’m tactile. What do you want me to say? I hug everyone. And I’m not ashamed about that.”
She added, “my work is my love” and “when I love, I love really deeply.”
Vasquez also has a boyfriend. She said about Depp, “This man was fighting for his life and it broke my heart to see him day in and day out have to sit there and listen to the most horrific allegations being made against him. And if I could provide any bit of comfort, then of course I would do that, whether it’s holding his hand or letting him know that we were there and we were going to fight for him because he deserved it.”
