Vanessa Paradis And Johnny Depp: Inside Their 14-Year Relationship And Why She’s Still By Her Ex’s Side

Vanessa Paradis is standing by her man—even though he’s not technically her man anymore. The French model and singer has reportedly penned a letter in defense of her longtime love Johnny Depp, whom she split from in 2012, after Depp’s estranged wife, Amber Heard, accused him of domestic violence. TMZ posted the letter in which Vanessa Paradis describes her ex as “a sensitive, loving and loved person.”

Not only did Paradis call Heard’s allegations “outrageous,” but she wrote that her longtime partner was nothing like the man Heard has described.

“In all the years I have known Johnny, he has never been physically abusive with me and this looks nothing like the man I lived with for 14 wonderful years,” Vanessa wrote.

Vanessa Paradis was Johnny Depp’s partner from 1998 to 2012, and they have two children together: Lily-Rose, 17, and Jack, 14. Even though their breakup was painful, Vanessa is showing that she has Johnny’s back when it comes to his most recent split.

Vanessa and Johnny never married, but their 14-year relationship far outlasted Depp’s 18-month marriage to Heard, whom he met on the set of the movie The Rum Diary. Still, many people wonder why the actor never married Paradis, his longtime partner and the mother of his two children, yet tied the knot with the much-younger Heard after a short time together. In 2010, Johnny told Extra that marriage was just a piece of paper to him.

“I never found myself needing that piece of paper,” he said. “Marriage is really from soul to soul, heart to heart. You don’t need somebody to say, okay you’re married… If Vanessa wanted to get hitched, why not… But the thing is, I’d be so scared of ruining her last name. She’s got such a good last name.”

Neither Depp nor Paradis has talked about the reasons behind their 2012 split, but in 2013, Johnny told Rolling Stone their last few years together had been “a bit bumpy.” Still, Depp admitted he would always care for Vanessa.

“It wasn’t easy on her. It wasn’t easy on me. It wasn’t easy on the kids,” Depp said of his split from Paradis. “So, yeah. The trajectory of that relationship — you play it out until it goes, one thing leads to another. So for whatever reason that ­ceases, it doesn’t stop the fact that you care for that person, and they’re the mother of your kids, and you’ll always know each other, and you’re always gonna be in each other’s lives because of those kids. You might as well make the best of it.”

Vanessa Paradis met Johnny Depp at a friend’s house in 1994. According to Hello magazine, Vanessa once said she and Johnny “tamed each other.” Indeed, the actor has said that he changed his rebellious ways after meeting Paradis and becoming a father. Ten years and two kids later, the A-list couple bought their own private island in the Bahamas.

When Depp and Paradis decided to part ways, they did it after taking an honest look at their relationship. In an interview with Charlie Rose on CBS This Morning, the actor said there is no room for lies in a relationship, especially when you have children. He and Paradis had an honest talk, and then broke the news of their breakup to their kids, whom he said were “incredibly understanding, incredibly accepting.”

After his relationship with Vanessa ended, Johnny became involved with Heard and proposed to her soon after, but even then, Paradis was supportive. According to Us Weekly, Depp personally called Vanessa to tell her the news and she wished him the best and was not at all bitter.

“Vanessa wished him happiness,” an insider told Us. “No drama.”

It sounds like the star’s drama has been reserved for his latest breakup, though. But even still, Vanessa’s got him.

Take a look at the video below to see Johnny Depp talking about what he thought the first time he laid eyes on Vanessa Paradis.

[Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images]