Johnny Depp was successful in his lawsuit against Amber Heard (Picture: Getty)
Johnny Depp’s lawyers have spoken out after he reached a settlement with Amber Heard, following their defamation suit.
The Pirates of the Caribbean actor, 59, launched legal action on his ex-wife after an op-ed she wrote in 2018, in which she discussed being as survivor of domestic abuse.
His lawyers successfully argued that, while he was not named in the Washington Post piece, it implied that he was physically and sexually violent over the course of their relationship – something he fiercely denied.
After a jury found in his favor, the pair both filed separate appeals on the verdict, but have now settled their legal issues – with the mom-of-one paying her former partner $1,000,000.
Following a statement by the Aquaman actress, Depp’s lawyers – Benjamin Chew and Camille Vasquez – issued a message over the news.
‘We are pleased to formally close the door on this painful chapter for Mr Depp, who made clear throughout this process that his priority was about bringing the truth to light,’ it read.
Heard announced their settlement earlier today (Picture: AP)
‘The jury’s unanimous decision and the resulting judgment in Mr Depp’s favour against Ms Heard remain fully in place.
‘The payment of one million dollars – which Mr Depp is pledging and will donate to charities – reinforces Ms Heard’s acknowledgement of the conclusion of the legal system’s rigorous pursuit for justice.’
Depp sued Heard for defamation earlier this year, with their six-week court case streaming live on YouTube.
Throughout the trial, they each appeared on the stand to discuss their relationship and the allegations of abuse in their marriage.
Depp fiercely denied the abuse allegations against him (Picture: Reuters)
The court proceedings ended with the jury finding in the Edward Scissorhand star’s favor and awarding him $8million – while Heard was given $2million in damages after winning one count of her countersuit.
They both requested to appeal the verdict, but have now reached a settlement.
‘It’s important for me to say that I never chose this. I defended my truth and in doing do my life as I knew it was destroyed,’ Heard later shared on Instagram.
‘The vilification I have faced on social media is an amplified version of the ways in which women are re-victimized when they come forward. Now I finally have an opportunity to emancipate myself from something I attempted to leave over six years ago and on terms I can agree to.
‘I have made no admission. This is not an act of concession. There are no restrictions or gags with respect to my voice moving forward.’
‘Time is precious and I want to spend my time productively and purposefully,’ she continued. ‘For too many years I have been caged in an arduous and expensive legal process, which has shown itself unable to protect me and my right to free speech. I cannot afford to risk an impossible bill – one that is not just financial, but also psychological, physical and emotional.
‘Women shouldn’t have to face abuse or bankruptcy for speaking her truth, but unfortunately it is not uncommon. In settling this case I am also choosing the freedom to dictate my time to the work that helped me heal after my divorce; work that exists in realms in which I feel seen, heard and believed, and in which I know I can effect change.
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‘I will not be threatened, disheartened or dissuaded by what happened from speaking the truth. No one can and no one will take that from me. My voice forever remains the most valuable asset I have.’
She added: ‘I’d like to thank my outstanding appellate and original trial teams for their relentless hard work. I want to thank everyone who has supported me and I turn my attention to the growing support that I’ve felt and seen publicly in the months since trial, and the efforts that have been made to show solidarity with my story.
‘Any survivor knows that the ability to tell their story often feels like the only relief, and I cannot find enough words to tell you the hope your belief in me inspires, not just for me, but for all of you.’
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The case was heard earlier this year.
