Amber Heard Announces She Will Be Settling Defamation Case Against Johnny Depp After It 'Destroyed' Her Life

Johnny Depp and ex-wife Amber Heard have finally settled their defamation claims against each other, putting an end to the most bitter Hollywood divorce case of all times. The pair’s lawyers have made a deal which will see Heard’s insurance company pay Depp $1million. 

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But, in an important victory for the actress, there are no restrictions about what she can talk about in regard to the case and she has accepted no guilt.

In the bombshell statement posted on Instagram by Heard, she said ‘my life as I knew it was destroyed’ by the court cases. 

She added she had lost all faith in getting justice in the American legal system, comparing it to her treatment in the UK courts, and claimed that her former husband had won in the Virginia courtroom because of a vote ‘for popularity and power over reason and due process’. 

Instagram/ Amber Heard

Instagram/ Amber Heard

Depp is expected to put out his own statement imminently.

The pair have been stuck in a legal battle on both sides of the Atlantic over the last six years after Heard alleged she was a victim of domestic violence during their 15-month marriage. A courtroom in London found in her favour in 2020, but a second case in Fairfax, Virginia, this year came out on Depp’s side.

Instagram/ Amber Heard

Heard was ordered to pay $10million in compensatory damages and $5million (later reduced to $365,000) in punitive damages following the six-week case, while Depp was told to give her $2million by the same courtroom after Heard countersued for defamation.

The pair’s legal teams have been locked in discussions to avoid the pain of a third trial after Heard filed an appeal. A deal was finally made over the weekend with both sides agreeing to put out a statement. Having already sold her LA home to help fund the legal action, she didn’t want to risk losing even more. This settlement means her home insurance company will take on the payment to Depp. 

PA

‘Amber is now looking forward to moving on with her life as she planned to do six years ago,’ a source close to the actress told.

‘She wants to put this unfortunate episode behind her and turn to what she loves in life: her career, her family and her causes.’

Depp has attempted to restart his career, it is clear that the trial has had a huge effect on it. The actor was fired from the Fantastic Beasts franchise after the London court case.

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Earlier this month, when his name was on a longlist of music which could be Brit Awards winners, there were reports that female musicians would boycott the event if he was on the shortlist.

Heard, meanwhile, has become so worried about her safety that she felt forced to leave America with her daughter Oonagh and is now living in an unknown country. The actress has pledged to continue to be a voice speaking up for women’s rights.

AP

Her career has also taken a huge knock after a vicious social media assault on her, although earlier this year she filmed independent movie The Fire and remains a part of the Aquaman 2 film which is out next year.

The vicious court battle between Heard and Depp stunned the world, drawing back the curtains on the shocking drug taking, alcoholism and violence in one of the most famous and glamorous Hollywood unions.

Metro

The case was viciously debated on social media for six weeks and, by the end, both of their reputations had been shattered among the counter allegations of lies, abhorrent behaviour and violence.