Johnny Depp's alters Amber Heard tattoo with gruesome results

Embattled actor Johnny Depp has changed a tattoo tribute to his ex-wife Amber Heard. Photo / AP

It's no secret that Johnny Depp remains bitter about his violent, headline-grabbing split with actor Amber Heard.

When the pair were still enjoying their honeymoon period, the Pirates Of The Caribbean star got his knuckles inked with the word "SLIM", which was reportedly his nickname for his ex-wife.

But as their relationship broke down and the pair became embroiled in a bitter divorce dispute amid domestic violence allegations by Heard, Depp altered the tattoo to say "SCUM".

The knuckle tattoo tribute 'SLIM' was a nickname he called ex-wife Amber Heard. Photo / File

Now it appears he has altered it for a second time, changing "SCUM" to "SCAM", inking over the "U" using the anarchy symbol for the "A".

Depp's Hollywood Vampires bandmate Tommy Henriksen posted a photograph of the result on Instagram last week with the caption: "You wanted it … you got it."

It's not the first time the actor has had to modify his body art following a relationship breakdown.

During his four-year relationship with actress Winona Ryder in the early 1990s, Depp had the words "Winona Forever" tattooed on his upper right arm.

After their split he had it amended to "Wino Forever".

Last month the 55-year-old spoke out about his breakup with Heard, who is more than 20 years his junior, in a bombshell interview with Rolling Stone.

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp filed for divorce after just 15 months of marriage amid allegations of domestic violence. Photo / Getty Images

The article, written after a marathon three-day interview with the actor in a rented London mansion earlier this year, detailed his mind-boggling spending habits and revealed he had blown most of his $A880 million fortune on his lavish lifestyle.

Depp and Heard met on the set of 2011 movie The Rum Diary and married in February 2015.

The union fell apart just over a year later, with the actor accusing him of physically assaulting her.

As their divorce proceedings became increasingly acrimonious, photographs of Heard's bruised face were made public, injuries she claimed occurred when Depp allegedly threw a mobile phone at her.

Depp has strenuously denied the allegations.