Actor Johnny Depp is “satisfied” with the end of his long defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard, thanks to the agreement signed with his ex-wife and announced by the “Aquaman” star this Monday (12/19) on his social networks networks.
In a statement sent to the US press, Depp confirmed that he had received $1 million from Heard to close the trial and that he wanted to donate the amount to various charities.
Depp would have been eligible to receive $10.35 million, according to the Virginia court ruling, but would also have to pay Heard $2 million.
On behalf of their client, the actor’s lawyers, Benjamin Chew and Camille Vasquez, said the priority was not the money but “getting the truth out.”
“We are pleased to formally close the door to this painful chapter for Mr. Depp, who has made it clear throughout this trial that his priority was to get the truth out. The jury’s unanimous decision and subsequent finding in favor of Depp v. Heard remains The $1 million payment — which Depp has promised and (actually) will be donating to charities — solidifies Heard’s acknowledgment of the completion of the legal system’s rigorous pursuit of justice.”
In his earlier statement, Heard said he made the decision to deal with Depp after “much deliberation” and that he now has “the opportunity to emancipate himself from something I tried to leave six years ago and on terms I can accept.”
“It’s important for me to say that I never chose this. I stood up for my truth and in doing so my life as I knew it was destroyed,” she said. “The vilification I’ve faced on social media is a magnified version of the ways women are re-victimized when they come forward.”
Heard also denied that the settlement meant an admission of guilt on her part, reinforcing the fact that circumstances had pushed her to that decision.
To appeal the ruling, Judge Penny Azcarate asked Heard to pay the discounted amount of the ruling, $8.35 million, before the lawsuit could proceed. And she just didn’t have that money.
No details were released about the settlement, or how it affected Depp’s Nov. 3 appeal against his $2 million sentence. But the plaintiff’s lawyers reiterated that the sentence (conviction) is still in force, suggesting that only the amounts have been negotiated between the parties.
The trial took place because Depp felt vilified by an article written by Heard in the Washington Post, in which she claimed to be a victim of domestic violence, without mentioning it. The actor said it hurt his reputation.
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Source: Terra
Jason Root is a writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth coverage of famous people in entertainment, sports, and politics. He has a passion for uncovering the stories behind the headlines and bringing readers an inside look at the lives of the famous. He has been writing for Gossipify for several years and has a degree in Journalism from UC Berkeley.
