Johnny Depp is suing his ex-wife, Amber Heard, in a $US50 million ($A71m) defamation lawsuit, citing a piece she wrote for The Washington Post about domestic abuse.
The actor filed his complaint on Friday in Fairfax, Virginia.
It says that, while Depp was not named in the Post article, it was clear Heard was talking about him.
The lawsuit called her ongoing allegations of domestic abuse "categorically and demonstrably false".
It claims that her allegations were part of an "elaborate hoax to generate positive publicity" for the "Aquaman" star.
"The op-ed depended on the central premise that Ms. Heard was a domestic abuse victim and that Mr Depp perpetrated domestic violence against her," Depp's lawyers allege.
Amber Heard attends the Japan premiere of 'Aquaman' in Tokyo in February 2019. Source: AAP
The suit said Depp has suffered financial losses because of the accusations, including being dropped from his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean films.
In her article, published in the Post in December, Heard also said she lost an acting role and contract with a major fashion brand because she went public with her claims of abuse.
"I became a public figure representing domestic abuse, and I felt the full force of our culture's wrath for women who speak out," Heard wrote in the op-ed.
"This frivolous action is just the latest of Johnny Depp's repeated efforts to silence Amber Heard," said Heard's attorney. "Mr. Depp's actions prove he is unable to accept the truth of his ongoing abusive behaviour.
But while he appears hell-bent on achieving self-destruction, we will prevail in defeating this groundless lawsuit and ending the continued vile harassment of my client by Mr Depp and his legal team."
Happier times: Amber Heard and Johnny Depp together in 2016. Source: AAP
Heard and Depp married in 2015 after meeting in 2011 on the set of "The Rum Diary."
Heard filed for divorce in 2016 after claiming Depp was violent towards her, and donated the $7 million settlement that resulted from the split to charity.
The lawsuit is just the latest of Depp's legal entanglements.
He's sued his former managers, which was settled out of court, as well as his former attorney, which resulted in a win for Depp over the pair's unwritten contract.
