Amber Heard has finally paid her ex-husband, Johnny Depp, the $1 million settlement money she owed him after their legal battle that ended last year.
The Pirates of the Caribbean star and his ex-wife, Amber Heard, settled their defamation claims in December 2022 after five years of multiple legal fights.
As reported by TMZ, Depp, 60, has finally received his $1 million from Amber’s insurance company, and he will donate the money to his five favorite charities.
“A source close to Depp says the actor, 60, will divvy up the payment to five charities of his choosing, with $200,000 going to each. The organizations are: Make-A-Film Foundation, The Painted Turtle, Red Feather, Tetiaroa Society, and Amazonia Fund Alliance,” wrote PEOPLE.
“The non-profits range from organizations helping sick children with life-threatening illnesses to providing housing for deprived communities,” per Daily Mail.
In December 2022, Johnny Depp was pleased to close the painful chapter of his life as his ex-wife, Amber Heard, finally agreed to pay $1 million in a settlement.
On Monday, December 19, Heard announced on her Instagram that she had made the ‘difficult’ decision of finally settling the defamation case brought against her by her ex-husband in Virginia.
“It’s important for me to say that I never chose this. I defended my truth and in doing so my life as a I knew it was destroyed. The vilification I have faced on social media is an amplified version of the ways in which women are re-victimised when they come forward,” Heard wrote in her latest Instagram update.
Adding that her decision is not an act of concession, she continued, “Now I finally have an opportunity to emancipate myself from something I attempted to leave over six years ago and on terms, I can agree to. I have made no admission. This is not an act of concession. There are no restrictions or gags with respect to my voice moving forward.”
The Rum Diary actress said that she believes her time is precious, and she must not waste any more of it by continuing to engage in the arduous and expensive legal process.
“Time is precious and I want to spend my time productively and purposefully. For too many years I have been caged in an arduous and expensive legal process, which has shown itself unable to protect me and my right to free speech. I cannot afford to risk an impossible bill – one that is not just financial, but also psychological, physical and emotional. Women shouldn’t have to face abuse or bankruptcy for speaking her truth, but unfortunately it not uncommon.”
Amber also said that she has lost faith in the American legal system, which failed to provide her with justice and made fun of her throughout the trial.
The actress noted that she had been busy doing work that helped her heal after her painful divorce from the Pirates of the Caribbean actor.
At the end of her lengthy statement, Heard, 36, thanked her supporters and said she felt seen and heard because of them.
“Any survivor knows that the ability to tell their story often feels like the only relief, and I cannot find enough words to tell you the hope your belief in me inspires, not just for me, but for all of you.”
She concluded, “Thank you. See you soon.”
Following her announcement, Depp’s attorneys released a statement on the actor’s behalf on Monday and said he is relieved this whole thing is ending.
“We are pleased to formally close the door on this painful chapter for Mr. Depp,” they wrote.
“We are pleased to formally close the door on this painful chapter for Mr. Depp, who made clear throughout this process that his priority was about bringing the truth to light,” Johnny’s lawyers Benjamin Chew and Camille Vazquez wrote in a statement shortly after Heard announcement.
“The jury’s unanimous decision and the resulting judgement in Mr. Depp’s favor against Ms. Heard remain fully in place,” the legal team added.
“The payment of $1M – which Mr. Depp is pledging and will (actually) donate to charities – reinforces Ms. Heard’s acknowledgement of the conclusion of the legal system’s rigorous pursuit for justice.”
The former couple has settled their lawsuit almost six months after the jury’s decision in Virginia Court, where they ruled in favor of the Pirates of the Caribbean actor.
The seven-member jury unanimously announced its verdict, stating that the actress had defamed her ex-husband through her 2018 op-ed and wrongfully accused him.
The Aquaman actress wrote in the Washington Post that she was domestically mistreated. Although she didn’t explicitly name Johnny Depp in her op-ed, it was pretty evident she was blaming him.
In response, Johnny sued her for fifty million dollars for wrongly accusing him of being a horrible husband.
Heard then countersued him for a hundred million dollars by accusing him of setting up a “dirty campaign” against her and calling her claims” A blatant lie.”
According to the verdict, Amber was supposed to pay 10 million dollars in damages to Johnny Depp.
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Sources: TMZ – PEOPLE – Daily Mail
