The 48-year-old British model stresses it's important to speak 'the truth' after she spoke up to deny claims that the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' actor had pushed her down the stairs when they were on holiday in Jamaica.

• Jul 25, 2022

AceShowbiz - Kate Moss "had to say [the] truth" about Johnny Depp. Briefly giving evidence in her former partner's libel trial against ex-wife Amber Heard in May, the 48-year-old supermodel insisted it was important she spoke up to deny claims that the "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor had pushed her down the stairs when they were on holiday in Jamaica.

"I know the truth about Johnny. I know he never kicked me down the stairs. I had to say that truth," she said when speaking to Lauren Laverne on BBC Radio 4's "Desert Island Discs".

Kate also defended John Galliano, who was given a suspended £5,000 fine in 2011 for racial abuse in a Paris Bar, insisting the fashion designer is "not a bad person" but was struggling with alcohol abuse at the time. She said, "I believe in the truth and I believe in fairness and justice."

"I know that John Galliano is not a bad person - he had an alcohol problem and people turn," she added. "People aren't themselves when they drink and they say things that they would never say if they were sober."

During the libel trial, which ultimately saw Johnny being awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, reduced to $350,000 due to a statutory cap, and Amber given $2 million in compensation, Amber had alleged Johnny lashed out at Kate during their three-year relationship, which ended in 1997.

The 36-year-old actress had been talking about an alleged altercation between her ex-husband and her sister, Whitney Henriquez, when she said, "[Whitney"s] back was to the staircase, and Johnny swings at her. I don't hesitate, I don't wait - I just, in my head, instantly think of Kate Moss and stairs."

Kate later appeared at the hearing by video link. When asked in court by Benjamin Chew, a member of the "Edward Scissorhands" star's legal team, if the 58-year-old Hollywood actor had ever pushed her down the stairs while they were dating, she replied, "No, he never pushed me, kicked me or pushed me down any stairs."

The model told the court how during their vacation, her then-boyfriend had picked her up and "got [her] medical attention" after she had fallen down some stairs. She explained, "We were leaving the room and Johnny left the room before I did. There had been a rainstorm and as I left the room I slid down the stairs."

"I hurt my back. And I screamed because I didn't know what had happened to me and I was in pain," she continued. "He came running back to help me, carried me to my room and got me medical attention."

Kate, who gave evidence in less than five minutes, was not cross-examined by Amber's team.