Amber Heard makes ‘difficult decision’ to settle US defamation suit with ex-husband Johnny Depp
- Amber Heard agrees to pay her former husband US$1 million over claims he physically abused her
- The Aquaman star said the decision to settle with Johnny Depp was ‘not an act of concession’
Actor Amber Heard said on Monday she would settle defamation claims that were brought against her by ex-husband and fellow actor Johnny Depp, ending years of legal wrangling over duelling claims of abuse during their marriage.
In an Instagram post, Heard said the decision to settle with Depp was “very difficult” and followed “a great deal of deliberation”.
The actress said this was “not an act of concession”. In June, Depp had won a multimillion-dollar jury verdict for his defamation suit against Heard.
Depp’s co-lead trial counsel, Ben Chew and Camille Vasquez, said he would receive a payment from Heard’s insurers of US$1 million and Depp has pledged to donate the funds to charity.
Chew and Vasquez, said: “We are pleased to formally close the door on this painful chapter for Mr Depp, who made clear throughout this process his intent to bring the truth to light”.
Depp and Heard sued each other in 2022 for defamation, each claiming they were abused before and during their roughly two-year marriage.