Winona Ryder has spoken out in defence of her ex-boyfriend Johnny Depp amid allegations that he was physically abusive towards estranged wife Amber Heard. Ryder told Time that Depp was never abusive towards her and although their relationship was decades ago she finds the allegations “unimaginable”.

Winona RyderWinona Ryder has defended ex-boyfriend Johnny Depp.

"I can only speak from my own experience, which was wildly different than what is being said," Ryder told said. ”He was never, never that way towards me. Never abusive at all towards me. I only know him as a really good, loving, caring guy who is very, very protective of the people that he loves."

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“I wasn’t there. I don’t know what happened. I’m not calling anyone a liar. I’m just saying, it’s difficult and upsetting for me to wrap my head around it. Look, it was a long time ago, but we were together for four years, and it was a big relationship for me.

“Imagine if someone you dated when you were—I was 17 when I met him—was accused of that. It’s just shocking. I have never seen him be violent toward a person before.” Ryder added that the thought Depp could be physically abusive was “unimaginable” to her.

Ryder and Depp began dating in 1990, after meeting at a film premiere and were engaged five months later. During their relationship Depp famously had "Winona Forever" tattooed on his right arm, but later altered it to "Wino Forever" after they split in 1993.

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Depp’s estranged wife Amber Heard accused the actor of physical abuse in May and was granted a temporary restraining order. Lawyers for Depp have denied all claims of abuse and have accused Heard of fabricating them for monetary gain.