Amber Heard has been a vocal activist for women in abusive relationships since splitting with Johnny Depp, whom she alleged physically abused her, but the series of statements she has made on the issue have put the $6.8 million divorce settlement she hammered out with the actor in jeopardy, according to reports.
There has been much speculation in recent weeks that Heard’s public comments about domestic abuse, in which she repeatedly refers to herself as a victim, could put the deal with Depp in peril, as, despite not identifying Depp by name in her remarks, there is little doubt as to whom she is referring.
And now, according to a filing by Heard seeking to expedite the payment, Depp is indeed refusing to pay the money, with Heard alleging that Depp is claiming “breaches” of their confidentiality agreement, according to documents seen by the Daily Mail.
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Heard has in recent months referred to her personal experience of domestic violence when writing for fashion magazine Porter and while recording a public service announcement on domestic abuse for the GirlGaze Project.
In the clip for GirlGaze, Heard says of domestic abuse, “As a woman having gone through this in the public stage, in the public arena that I did it, I have a unique opportunity to remind other women this doesn’t have to be the way it is, you don’t have to do it alone, you’re not alone. We can change this.”
Heard has promised to divide the money she was promised in the divorce settlement in its entirety between the American Civil Liberties Union and the Children's Hospital Los Angeles, but Depp is stalling on making payments.
Legal paperwork obtained by the Daily Mail reveals that Heard’s team is hitting back with a formal Request for Order (RFO) to try to force Depp to pay up.
But Depp is, according to the paperwork, arguing that Heard has broken the terms of the settlement.
The RFO states that a payment due Nov. 1 was not made, and, Heard says, “I understand Johnny’s excuse for this default is… alleged breaches by me.”
In her declaration attached to the filing, Heard also attacks Depp for leaking stories about the divorce settlement, claiming she’s a “gold-digger” and “bragging” that she had settled for less than a previously reported sum.
In late May, Heard filed for divorce from her movie-star husband of 18 months, citing irreconcilable differences. Shortly after the news went public, People magazine published photos of a bruised Heard—injuries she claimed were a result of Depp’s physical abuse. An alarming video of Depp fighting with Heard was also leaked to the press, with Depp’s team arguing that the footage was “heavily edited.”
In court documents, Heard alleged: “I endured excessive emotional, verbal, and physical abuse from Johnny, which has included angry, hostile, humiliating, and threatening assaults to me whenever I questioned his authority or disagreed with him.”
Depp’s representatives, meanwhile, issued the following statement about the abuse allegations: “Given the brevity of this marriage and the most recent and tragic loss of his mother, Johnny will not respond to any of the salacious false stories, gossip, misinformation, and lies about his personal life.”
