Amber Heard has agreed to pay ex-husband Johnny Depp $1 million to settle her defamation lawsuit — seemingly ending the warring couple’s high-profile legal battle.
The 36-year-old actress announced in a statement on Instagram on Monday that it was a “very difficult decision” to take the plea deal, and that she was withdrawing her appeal against the verdict because she could not bear the “humiliation” of a new trial. said
“It is important for me to say that I never chose to do this,” Hurd wrote. “I stood up for my truth and knew that my life was ruined by it.”
The more than $10 million in damages owed to Depp will come from his insurance company, not from his own funds.
The seven-figure calculation heard – It was reported by TMZ – was not a guilty plea to the wild allegations made by Depp, 59, during a sensational six-week televised appearance earlier this year.
A jury in Fairfax, Virginia, found in June that Heard had defamed Depp by writing a Washington Post op-ed about him as a domestic abuse survivor. Heard did not mention Depp by name in the piece.
The Pirates of the Caribbean star is suing Heard for $50 million, saying he was the victim of abuse in their relationship, accusing his ex-wife of littering her bed and losing part of a finger in a drunken fight. .
Heard, who was awarded $2 million after a jury found one of Depp’s lawyers defamed her, continued to deny defaming the actor and said Monday that her plight was a step backwards for victims of abuse.
“I stood up for my truth and knew that my life was ruined by it. The abuse I have encountered on social media is an amplified version of the ways women are re-victimized. [sic] when they come forward,” wrote the “Aquaman” actress.
“I now have the opportunity to free myself from what I tried to leave six years ago and on terms I can agree to,” the lengthy statement continued.
“This is not an act of privilege. There are no restrictions or jams on my voice going forward.
Amber Heard released a statement on Monday about her decision
Amber Heard released a statement on Monday about her decision
Amber Heard released a statement on Monday about her decision
Amber Heard released a statement on Monday about her decision
The harrowing trial comes two years after Depp lost a defamation case against The Sun in the UK, after Heard gave evidence to the paper to support her claims that he beat her.
Hard said the court was “robust, impartial and fair” but insisted that “popularity and power are more important than reason and due process” in the US courtroom.
“What happened does not scare me, discourage me, or stop me from speaking the truth,” he said in a statement. “No one can and will not take that away from me. My voice will forever be the most valuable asset I have.”
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