A year after Amber Heard and Johnny Depp’s Virginia defamation case, the actress has paid the $1 million settlement money. Per People, a source close to Depp says the actor will donate the payment to five charities. Depp, 60, is said to split the settlement money evenly, with $200,000 going to each charity. The organizations are Make-A-Film Foundation, The Painted Turtle, Red Feather, Tetiaroa Society, and Amazonia Fund Alliance.
The Court’s Decision
After both Depp and Heard made appeals following the June 1, 2022 verdict, the former couple decided to drop them and reached a settlement that was announced in December. In a statement at the time, Heard, 37, said the “very difficult decision” to settle was “not an act of concession.”
“It’s important for me to say that I never chose this,” Heard wrote. “I defended my truth, in doing so my life as I knew it was destroyed. The vilification I have faced on social media is an amplified version of the ways women are re-victimized when they come forward.”
Heard’s Terms
“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,” she continued. “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.” She added at the time, “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 is not uncommon.”
Depp recently made a public appearance at the opening day of the Cannes Film Festival last month for his film, Jeanne du Barry. Meanwhile, Heard, who now lives in Spain with her daughter, will attend Italy’s 69th Taormina Film Festival for the world premiere of her movie In the Fire on June 24.
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