Amber Heard found going public with domestic assault allegations "traumatic".
The 30-year-old actress was granted a temporary restraining order against her husband Johnny Depp last week after accusing him of physically assaulting her and friends say she found speaking out "incredibly upsetting".
A source told E! News: "This has been incredibly upsetting for Amber but she knows she is doing the right thing. It has been very traumatic for her to finally speak out, but she needs to do what she can to protect herself."
Amber, 30, filed for divorce last week, three days after Johnny’s mother Betty Sue Palmer passed away and she claimed in court that her decision to file for divorce was prompted by Johnny, 52, physically attacking her with an iPhone, leaving her with a bruised eye.
In court documents, Amber alleged that, "during the entirety of our relationship, Johnny has been verbally and physically abusive to me. I endured excessive emotional, verbal and physical abuse from Johnny, which has included angry hostile, humiliating and threatening assaults to me whenever I questioned his authority or disagreed with him".
Amber has been praised her for her "courage", with one source saying: "She tried to hide what was really happening in the marriage from most of her friends because she wanted to believe that it would get better. That things would change. But ultimately they didn’t and so she had to do what she did to stop it," our source shared. "What she has done has taken a lot of courage."
However, Johnny’s friends have rushed to defend him, with actor Paul Bettany tweeting: "known Johnny Depp for years and through several relationships. He’s the sweetest, kindest, gentlest man that I’ve ever known. just saying.
"All I’m saying – Domestic violence is a serious allegation. Trial by twitter is unhelpful. Let the facts come out before rushing to judgement (sic)."
Amber Heard found going public ‘traumatic’
