Lily Rose-Depp Explained Why She Didn't Comment On Her Father Johnny Depp's Defamation Trial Against Amber Heard

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Warning: This post includes discussion of domestic abuse.

Lily-Rose Depp explained why she chose not to comment on her father Johnny Depp's defamation trial against Amber Heard earlier this year.

A closeup of Lily-Rose at an event
Alexander Tamargo / Getty Images

Lily-Rose did not post on her social media throughout the trial — beyond one post marking her 23rd birthday — but it did not stop her previous posts from being the target of harassment from Johnny Depp's supporters.

Johnny acknowledging someone in court

That being said, Lily-Rose's name did come up in the trial. Amber testified that she comforted a "panicky" 14-year-old Lily-Rose after a "scary" incident where Johnny allegedly drunkenly jumped off a boat. Afterward, Amber alleged that Johnny turned violent and threatened to kill her for "telling on him and calling him a drunk in front of his kids."

Amber and Johnny on opposite sides in court
Steve Helber / POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Then, a week after the trial, Johnny made headlines for selling NFTs of Lily-Rose with the words “Silence. Exile. Cunning" and “Words become feeble" across her face — which some interpreted as referring to Lily-Rose's lack of comment on the trial.

Johnny leaning out of a car window and waving to people

Ahead of her role in the HBO show The Idol, Lily-Rose told Elle why she decided not to address the coverage surrounding her father. "When it’s something that’s so private and so personal that all of a sudden becomes not so personal. … I feel really entitled to my secret garden of thoughts," she said.

  Emma Mcintyre / Getty Images
Emma Mcintyre / Getty Images

"I also think that I’m not here to answer for anybody, and I feel like for a lot of my career, people have really wanted to define me by the men in my life, whether that’s my family members or my boyfriends, whatever."

  Stephane Cardinale - Corbis / Corbis via Getty Images
Stephane Cardinale - Corbis / Corbis via Getty Images

"I’m really ready to be defined for the things that I put out there," she said.

  Taylor Hill / WireImage / Getty Images
Taylor Hill / WireImage / Getty Images

You can read Lily-Rose's full interview with Elle here.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger as a result of domestic violence, call 911. For anonymous, confidential help, you can call the 24/7 National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or chat with an advocate via the website.