Jennifer Howell
Jennifer Howell is the founder and CEO of Art of Elysium, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit arts charity she established in 1997–1998. She knew both Amber Heard and Whitney Henriquez, having first met them at the 2008 Pineapple Express premiere. Whitney Henriquez worked at Art of Elysium in 2014–2015 and subsequently lived with Howell from May 2015 through April 2016.
Testimony Impact
Howell was called by Depp's team and testified via video deposition. She confirmed that Whitney Henriquez's belongings left her home in April 2016, anchoring the residency timeline during a period relevant to disputed incidents. She flatly denied ever witnessing Depp use drugs or appear intoxicated, and stated that Heard never disclosed abuse or showed her injury photos. An email Howell sent to Whitney in July 2020 urging her to "tell the truth" was introduced as Exhibit 4, implicitly challenging Whitney's credibility as a Heard witness. On redirect, Howell denied that Adam Waldman helped draft the email or coordinated her outreach, reinforcing her claimed independence. The testimony closed on an unusual note when Howell objected to time constraints, asserting she had been promised 20 minutes after three and a half hours of prior examination by Heard's team.
Notable Quotes From The Record
“I run the Art of Elysium. I'm CEO of Art of Elysium,”
Establishes Howell's identity and role, grounding her credibility as a witness regarding Whitney Henriquez's living arrangements.
“I'm certain, yes. She came and went at different periods, but all of her stuff moved out of my house April 2016.”
Howell's direct assertion of certainty about the dates and the definitive end of Whitney's residence, the central fact elicited in this examination.
“Never.”
Howell's one-word denial of ever witnessing Depp use illicit drugs — unequivocal and unreserved.
“He is not.”
Howell confirms Depp is not funding her legal costs, pre-empting any bias argument about financial dependency.
“None at all.”
Howell declares no loyalty to Depp, establishing herself as a disinterested witness despite being called on his behalf.
“I'm just trying to get her to wake up and do the right thing, which is tell the truth.”
Howell's stated motivation for the email to Whitney Henriquez — implies Howell believed Whitney was withholding or distorting the truth about the abuse allegations.
“About writing an email? No. I did that on my own accord.”
Directly rebuts any suggestion that Waldman orchestrated her email to Whitney, asserting full independence.
“I do not recall having a conversation with him about that.”
Howell's response to whether she discussed ACLU contact with Waldman — a non-denial denial that stops short of an outright "no."
“I don't know if I said the date, but, yes, I received an anonymous donation from that check that was submitted, whatever is on there. I don't know the date off the top of my head.”
Confirms receipt of the Fidelity Charitable donation while hedging on specific details, consistent with a witness recalling an event without having documentation at hand.
“I was guaranteed 20 minutes with him after being attacked for three and a half hours by your side last time, so I'm going to stick by what I was told before entering this, and what your side agreed to.”
Howell's candid complaint about examination time creates an unusual closing moment, revealing the witness's frustration with the scope of prior cross-examination.
Key Moments
Howell confirms via video deposition that Whitney Henriquez's belongings moved out of her home in April 2016, anchoring the residency timeline during the period of disputed incidents.
Day 21 · Direct of Jennifer Howell
Bredehoft presses Howell to confirm she is 'a hundred percent certain' of the dates, testing the precision of her recollection under cross-examination.
Day 21 · Direct of Jennifer Howell
Howell states she never once saw Depp use illicit drugs, consume excessive alcohol, or appear intoxicated across all her interactions with him — an unqualified, one-word denial.
Day 21 · Cross of Jennifer Howell
Howell testifies that Heard never showed her photographs of injuries or disclosed that Depp was abusive toward her, directly contradicting Heard's narrative about confiding in friends.
Day 21 · Cross of Jennifer Howell
Vasquez establishes Howell's independence: she is paying her own legal fees and declares no loyalty to either party, preempting bias arguments.
Day 21 · Cross of Jennifer Howell
A $250,000 anonymous Fidelity Charitable donation to Art of Elysium — identified as coming from Elon Musk on Heard's behalf — is introduced, complicating the independence framing.
Day 21 · Cross of Jennifer Howell
Howell's July 2020 email to Whitney Henriquez urging her to 'tell the truth' is introduced as Exhibit 4, implicitly challenging Whitney's credibility as a Heard witness.
Day 21 · Cross of Jennifer Howell
Howell flatly denies Waldman assisted in drafting her email to Whitney or discussed her ACLU outreach with her, and closes the examination by objecting to time constraints — claiming she was promised 20 minutes after three and a half hours of prior examination by Heard's side.
Day 21 · Redirect of Jennifer Howell
Evidence From Their Proceedings (4)
Jennifer Howell Email to Whitney Henriquez (July 2020)
An email from Jennifer Howell to Whitney Henriquez dated July 28, 2020, forwarded to Marcel Pariseau, in which Howell expressed belief that Whitney was being dishonest about the…
Catalog entry →Check for $250,000 anonymous donation to Art of Elysium on behalf of Amber Heard
Check for $250,000 anonymous donation to Art of Elysium on behalf of Amber Heard
Catalog entry →Fidelity Donation to Art of Elysium in Heard's Name
A Fidelity Charitable donation received by Art of Elysium, attributed to Amber Heard via an anonymous donor-advised fund and accompanied by a letter attributing it to Heard.
Catalog entry →Jennifer Howell UK Witness Statement (Jan. 13, 2021)
Jennifer Howell's witness statement from the UK Sun libel proceedings, dated January 13, 2021.
Catalog entry →