Actress Amber Heard, aged 36, took to her Instagram account on Monday to announce a resolution in the ongoing multimillion-dollar defamation case initiated by her ex-husband, Johnny Depp, aged 59.
Although the specific terms of the agreement remain undisclosed, various media outlets, including The Daily Mail, estimate the settlement at one million dollars. This development follows a prior verdict in June 2022, where a Virginia jury ordered Depp to pay $10 million to Heard in a defamation suit, while Depp was also mandated to pay Heard $2 million for her defamation claims.
In a post on Instagram, Heard revealed, "After much deliberation, I have made the difficult decision to settle the defamation case brought against me by my ex-husband." She emphasized that she never sought the situation but defended her truth, acknowledging that the legal battle had taken a toll on her life.
Since the trial, ongoing negotiations between legal teams aimed to avoid a third trial. Reports from The Mirror and The Daily Mail suggest a settlement of one million dollars, to be paid by Heard's insurance company to Depp. The Virginia trial, which was broadcast live, became a media spectacle, revealing details of the couple's relationship. Ultimately, the jury sided with Depp, ordering Heard to pay $10 million in compensatory damages and an additional $5 million in punitive damages, later reduced to $350,000. Heard appealed the decision, citing numerous errors during the legal proceedings.
Amidst the social media backlash she faced, Heard stated, "The smear I've faced on social media is an amplified version of the ways women are revictimized." She expressed relief at the opportunity to move on from a situation she attempted to leave behind over six years ago, citing the financial, psychological, physical, and emotional toll of the protracted legal battle.
Sources close to Heard, cited by The Daily Mail, indicate her desire to focus on her life's passions, including her career, family, and causes. Following the publicized verdict, Heard relocated from the United States to a secluded mansion in Costitx, Mallorca, with her daughter Oonagh. A local resident described her as fitting into the community, engaging in everyday activities and expressing politeness by greeting locals with a "good morning."
