Vanessa Paradis defends Johnny Depp against domestic abuse allegations

Johnny Depp's ex Vanessa Paradis is apparently coming to his defense in the wake of the domestic abuse claims leveled against him by estranged spouse Amber Heard

The handwritten letter, signed by Paradis in Los Angeles and dated on Friday, calls Depp a "sensitive, loving and loved person." Adding that "these recent allegations being made are outrageous."

Paradis writes, "In all these 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."

 Paradis, 43, and Depp, 52, were together from 1998 to 2012, and have two children: daughter Lily-Rose Depp, 17, and son Jack, 14. Soon after splitting with Paradis, Depp began a relationship with Heard and the couple got hitched in 2015.

Paradis, a French actress and singer, connected with Depp while he was filming The Ninth Gate in France – four years after initially meeting at a party.

Heard petitioned for separation a week ago. She was granted a temporary restraining order against Depp at a Los Angeles courthouse on Friday, and submitted photographs of wounds all over that she said came about because of the actor hitting her amid an episode on May 21. (The LAPD beforehand told PEOPLE that they explored the occurrence in the wake of getting a 911 call yet they didn't see "any proof of a wrongdoing" and Heard declined to document a report against Depp. The actor had left the apartment by the time the cops had arrived.)

In response to Heard's request for a restraining order on Friday, Depp's lawyer said that Heard is "attempting to secure a premature financial resolution by alleging abuse."

photo credit:

people.com