Amber Heard has stated that she intends to follow through on her promise to give $7 million of her divorce settlement with Johnny Depp.
As the 36-year-old actress explained to Savannah Guthrie in an exclusive interview with NBC News that will appear on the Today show throughout this week, “I made a vow, and that pledge is made over time by its nature.”
Guthrie broadcast a program on Wednesday in which she said she still intends to keep her promise. In response to a question from Guthrie, Heard stated: “As part of your divorce settlement, you agreed to donate $7 million to a charity of your choice.
During the trial, it was revealed that you hadn't done so yet, but they played a tape you claimed to have. Do you believe this caused concerns about your trustworthiness in the eyes of the jury?”
Insisting, “You realize that everybody thinks you've donated, not that you've pledged,” the journalist persisted. Does that mean the jury thought you were being found out for telling a lie?
According to Heard, “I have no idea since I feel like so much of the trial was aimed to cast doubt on who I am as a person and my character.”
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Her testimony during the trial parallels what Heard said when she indicated how legal fees for Depp's case impacted her capacity to continue with the donations, as she explained. In her testimony on following through on the promised charitable payments, she stated, “I would love for him to quit suing me so I can.”
In August of 2016, Depp and Heard, both 59, agreed to a $7 million divorce settlement. She also indicated she would continue to donate money in the future, saying, “This is above and above anything I have given away in the past or will continue to give away.”
“A specific focus on stopping violence against women” will receive a portion of the donation, as Heard said in her statement, and the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, where she had volunteered for the previous decade, will also receive a portion.
“Knowing these groups will make good use of my monies, I'm excited to continue my financial support. Hopefully, this experience will have a beneficial impact on the lives of those who most need it, “the actress said in her final words in a statement.
An American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) official, Terence Dougherty, testified in a pre-recorded deposition played in court during Heard and Depp's defamation trial in April that the actress had agreed to donate half of her settlement to ACLU, with the remainder going to Children's Hospital Los Angeles, in a testimony played in April.
As of December 2021, when the deposition was recorded, only $1.3 million had been donated in her name to the ACLU (a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving individual rights and liberties).
According to Dougherty, the ACLU contacted Heard in 2019 to inquire about future installments after payments halted in 2018. All three defamation charges launched against his ex-wife by the Pirates of the Caribbean actor earlier this month were successful, resulting in a dismissal of the case.
The jury awarded Johnny Depp $15 million, but due to a Virginia rule capping punitive damages, the Aquaman 2 actress only had to pay $10.35 million (the judge reduced the amount). One of three accusations against his ex-countersuit wife's said that Depp defamed her. Two million dollars in damages were granted to her.
On the Today show on June 2, Heard's lawyer Elaine Bredehoft stated, “Oh, no, certainly not,” when asked if her client could afford to pay the fine. Bredehoft also said that Heard “definitely” intends to appeal the verdict in the same conversation he had with him.
Six days later, Depp's attorneys appeared on Good Morning America with Benjamin Chew when Chew told George Stephanopoulos that his client was simply interested in “restoring his name” during the trial.
“You stated that the purpose is not to deprive Ms. Heard of her resources. Is it possible that a settlement may be reached where she waives her right to appeal in exchange for Mr. Depp agreeing to waive any monetary damages? “said the 61-year-old Stephanopoulos.
“We obviously can't divulge any attorney-client correspondence, but as Mr. Depp testified and as we both made plain in our closings, this was never about money for Mr. Depp,” Chew replied. His reputation must be restored, and that's what he accomplished.
Peacock will broadcast a portion of Heard's interview with Guthrie, which airs Friday at 8 p.m. EDT on NBC before the full episode airs on Peacock. Finally, an entire episode of Dateline will be made available on Peacock and today.com.
