Last Updated on 12/20/2022 by てんしょく飯
Amber Heard, who filed a request for a retrial in her defamation case against her ex-husband Johnny Depp, has turned around and announced that she and Johnny have settled.
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard Settle
Amber Heard, who filed a request for a retrial in the defamation trial with her ex-husband Johnny Depp that ended in a verdict in June of this year, announced that she has settled with Johnny, pending the court’s decision.
In the trial, the jury found that Amber’s Washington Post editorial, in which she made a roundabout accusation of domestic violence by Johnny, was “false and defamatory,” and ordered Amber to pay a total of $15 million (approximately ¥1.95 billion) in damages to Johnny. Amber, on the other hand, also won $2 million in damages in her counterclaim against Johnny.
Amber Heard’s statement
After much deliberation and contemplation, I have made the very difficult decision to settle the defamation lawsuit I brought against my ex-husband in Virginia. The important thing to remember is that (this decision) was not my choice. I defended my truth and my life was destroyed by it. Many women who come forward are secondary victims, and the slander I received on social networking sites amplified that… I finally had the opportunity to be released from something I tried to leave over 6 years ago on terms I was comfortable with. I am not admitting to anything. This is not an act of concession. There will be no restrictions or suppression of my voice in the future.
I made this decision because I have lost faith in the American legal system. My unprotected testimony has become entertainment and the stuff of osocial media. When I stood before a judge in England, I was vindicated by a strong, fair and just system, protected from having to testify the worst in front of the world’s media, and the court found that I had been subjected to domestic violence and sexual assault. But in the United States, I was excluded from the wealth of direct evidence supporting my testimony, subjected to a courtroom that valued popularity and power over reason and due process, and drained almost all of my resources before and during the trial. During this time, I was subjected to humiliation that I would never experience again. Even if the appeal in the U.S. were successful, at best, it would be enough to get a retrial where a new jury would consider the evidence due. I cannot go through that again.”
Time is precious and I want to use it productively and purposefully. I have been trapped in a difficult and costly legal process for far too long and that process has shown itself incapable of protecting me and my free speech rights. I cannot afford to risk being subjected to impossible claims, not only financial, but also psychological, physical, and emotional. Women should not have to face abuse or bankruptcy for telling their truth, but unfortunately that is not uncommon. I choose to let this case be a settlement, freeing me to devote my time to the work that has helped me heal after my divorce. It is work that I know exists in an area where I feel seen, heard, and believed and where I know I can make a difference. I will not be intimidated or disheartened by what has happened or discouraged from telling the truth. No one can take that away from me. My voice will forever be my most precious asset.”
I would like to thank my outstanding appellate and original trial teams for their unrelenting efforts. Thank you to all who have supported me. I would also like to highlight the outpouring of support I have felt and seen publicly in the months since the trial and the efforts made to show solidarity with my story. （Any survivor (of violence) knows that telling your story is often the only thing that feels like a relief. The hope that trust from you brings is beyond words. Not only for myself, but for all of you. Thank you very much. I will see you again.”
Amber has not disclosed the terms of the settlement, but according to People, they have reached an agreement to pay Johnny $1 million in settlement, which will be covered by Amber’s insurance policy from her insurance company.
Statement from Johnny Depp’s lawyer
We are pleased to officially close this painful chapter in the life of Mr. Depp, who has made revealing the truth his top priority through this trial. The jury’s unanimous verdict and the fact that Mr. Depp was ruled more favorable than Mr. Heard will remain. The $1 million settlement that Mr. Depp has pledged to donate to charity represents an acknowledgement by Ms. Heard of the conclusions reached through the rigorous pursuit of the justice system.”
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