Doug Stanhope, a close friend and confidant of Johnny Depp, has made shocking accusations about his friend's ex-wife Amber Heard, calling her a "relentlessly scheming and insulting opportunist."

The comedian, 55, has previously spoken out in favor of Johnny, and in 2016 Amber sued him but eventually abandoned the case after he said that she had made up her abuse claims.

Doug has now provided more descriptions of his interactions with the couple, alleging that Amber appeared to 'manipulate' the actor by taking advantage of his vulnerable times.

Doug wrote this about Depp's wife Amber Heard in his book No Encore for the Donkey: " Amber Heard, seemed to be f***ing with his head again, I assume using this opportunity of his weakness to manipulate him even more, and harder."

"Amber seemed to have played the part of Johnny's ever-doting placater. The cruel dysfunction in this marriage was nothing that you haven't seen up close with your own friends, it you haven't suffered through it yourself," writes the comedian,

Stanhope also wrote: "Someone close to you, stuck in an abusive relationship, who will never concede that they are actually being abused or if they do, they will blame it on any other circumstance, or themselves, and keep deeper and for worse."

"It was almost inconceivable to think that Johnny Depp, or anyone that famous, could be trapped in this kind of abyss of the heart," the author continued.

He ends by writing: "That someone of his stature would have to be tap dancing on the hour to avoid the s**t and vitriol of a relentlessly scheming and belittling opportunist - was at minimum disheartening."

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp's messy divorce

Early on in their divorce proceedings, in May 2016, Amber said that Johnny had physically abused her; Johnny denied this.

Amber filed a lawsuit against Doug for defamation after Doug wrote an opinion piece in which he claimed the actress had blackmailed the actor with bogus allegations of domestic abuse.

Three months later, however, she decided not to pursue the case, according to the star's rep, who told TMZ that "Amber is moving on, getting back to work, and live a normal, happy life."

The dismissal of the complaint was related to a deal that the Black Mass actor and Amber had reached, which included the elimination of any lawsuits resulting from the domestic abuse claims she had made against him during their breakup.

In a piece that appeared on The Wrap, Doug described how Johnny had been visibly upset by Amber's desire to end their relationship and how the actress had threatened to publicly fabricate lies about him if he didn't comply to her requirements.