Amber Heard, the Aquaman actress, has announced on Instagram that she is ending the defamation case against her ex-husband Johnny Depp. This comes just weeks after her team of lawyers appealed the Virginia Court’s verdict, which ordered Heard to pay Depp $10 million.
Heard and Depp have been locked in a legal battle for years, with each side accusing the other of verbal and physical abuse and defamation. The case has been a highly publicized and contentious one, with both parties garnering significant support from fans and the media.
Despite the appeal, Heard has decided to bring an end to the case and move on with her life. In her Instagram post, she stated that she wanted to put the past behind her and focus on her future. She also expressed her hope that Depp would do the same, and that both parties could find some peace and closure.
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On Monday, Heard announced in a lengthy Instagram post that she had made the difficult decision to settle the defamation case against Depp after much contemplation. She also criticized the US justice system and stated that the humiliation she faced during the six-week trial was too much for her to handle.
Heard emphasized that she never wanted this legal battle and that her truth was destroyed in the process. She mentioned the negative comments and backlash she faced on social media and how it was similar to how women are revictimized when they speak out. Heard also mentioned her 2016 divorce from Depp and the accusations of abuse that she made at the time. She also expressed her contentment that she was finally getting rid of something she wanted to get over six years ago.
Amber Heard explained that she is ending the case so she can focus on work that helps her heal and make a positive impact. She emphasized that she will not be silenced or discouraged from speaking the truth and that her voice is her most valuable asset. She also expressed her thankfulness toward her lawyers.
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Johnny Depp’s lawyers, Benjamin Chew and Camille Vasquez, stated that Johnny’s main goal throughout the case was to reveal the truth, not to seek monetary damages. They expressed their satisfaction that the case has come to a close and that Depp can move on. Depp has pledged to donate the entire $1 million payout to charity.
The defamation case between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp, which received widespread media attention, concluded in June with a jury awarding Depp $15 million in damages for defamation. However, Judge Penney Azcarate later reduced this amount to $10.35 million. Despite winning $2 million in her countersuit, the verdict was widely perceived as a significant victory for Depp.
The lawsuit was centered around a 2018 op-ed article written by Heard for the Washington Post, in which Heard described her experience as a victim of physical and sexual violence, although she did not mention Depp by name. However, the jury believed it was reasonable to infer that Depp was the person mentioned in the article.
