Fantastic Four Actor Ioan Gruffudd Tells Court Ex-Wife Threatened to 'Amber Heard' Him Amid Bitter Divorce Trial

Ioan Gruffudd, best known for his role in Fantastic Four, provided a detailed account in a Los Angeles court, stating that his ex-wife, Alice Evans, threatened to destroy both his professional and personal life.

The actor, aged 52, explained that Evans frequently warned she would 'Amber Heard' him—a reference to the well-publicised defamation trial where Johnny Depp successfully sued Amber Heard for $50 million (£41 million) over false abuse allegations.

Gruffudd, alongside his new wife, Bianca Wallace, is seeking to renew a restraining order, alleging years of harassment, stalking, and online defamation.

How Gruffudd Described the Alleged Threats

In his testimony, Gruffudd recounted a tense confrontation following a visit with their daughters, Ella, 16, and Elsie, 12. He described how Evans publicly berated him, shouting obscenities, and warned: 'You won't be an actor, baby, you'll just be begging for money.'

Page Six detailed the actor's statement that Evans instructed the children to inform her if he ever acted inappropriately.

Gruffudd expressed feeling deeply disturbed by allegations of drug use, sexual misconduct, and other serious accusations. Additionally, he alleged Evans threatened his new wife, proposing she would fabricate a crime leading to deportation and had even engaged a private investigator to monitor her.

The recurrent references to Johnny Depp's trial were meant, according to Gruffudd, to highlight the destructive potential Evans implied she could unleash on his public reputation.

'I was anxious that she would use my public image to create a scandal bigger than Brad and Angelina. I found that to be incredibly threatening,' he said, adding the stress the threats caused him.

The Gruffudd and Evans Divorce

Gruffudd and Evans' marriage ended in divorce in 2023 after a turbulent separation in 2021.

In court documents, Evans accused Gruffudd of maintaining a three-year affair with Wallace, which he denied. Legal confrontations intensified when Gruffudd pursued a restraining order in February 2022, accusing Evans of constant threats to tarnish his reputation and release fabricated stories about him if he left her.

A three-year restraining order was granted in August 2022 but tensions lingered.

In June 2023, their eldest daughter sought a restraining order against Gruffudd and Wallace, which was declined.

The couple's disputes over financial support remain unresolved, adding further complications.

In July 2024, Evans requested increased child and spousal support, citing depleted savings due to legal expenses and basic living necessities while Gruffudd reportedly continues international travel.

Both parties have yet to publicly respond to queries about the current proceedings.

Why Use the 'Amber Heard' Example?

The term 'Amber Heard' in Ioan Gruffudd's testimony refers to the widely publicised defamation case between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. In 2018, Heard wrote a Washington Post op-ed implying she had been a victim of domestic abuse, without naming Depp.

Depp sued her for $50 million (£41m) claiming the article was false and had ruined his career, and he ultimately won. By saying Evans threatened to 'Amber Heard' him, Gruffudd meant she warned she would make similar explosive, false allegations that could seriously damage his reputation and career in the public eye.

It's shorthand for career-threatening defamation. Amber Heard lost the defamation case to Depp.

He was later awarded damages after proving her claims were false. However, it's worth noting that in the 2022 Virginia defamation trial, Amber Heard did win one of her counterclaims. But this is against Depp's attorney, Adam Waldman. The jury found Waldman had slandered Heard by asserting she fabricated abuse claims, awarding her $2 million (£1.65m) in compensatory damages.