Months after a lengthy and highly visible defamation trial that closed with a jury ruling against her, Amber Heard publicly announced her decision to settle in a defamation case filed by her ex-husband, Johnny Depp. But lest there be any confusion — or assumptions — Heard explained that the settlement was not a concession, and shared how she’ll continue to advocate for survivors of domestic abuse in the future.
“After a great deal of deliberation I have made a very difficult decision to settle the defamation case brought against me by my ex-husband in Virginia,” Heard wrote in a Dec. 19 Instagram post. “I defended my truth and in doing so my life as I knew it was destroyed.” During the trial, widespread disdain for Heard could be found across nearly every social media channel, as she gave graphic testimonies about the physical and sexual abuse she allegedly experienced while in a relationship with Depp. The jury ultimately sided with Depp on three counts of defamation against Heard and awarded him $15 million in total damages. Depp and his lawyers continue to deny all allegations of abuse.
