Johnny Depp refuses to pay $6.8m divorce settlement to Amber Heard because she wrote an open letter about domestic violence

Wednesday, 14 December 2016

Amber Heard, through her lawyers, has filed a document against her ex-husband, Johnny Depp, for refusing to follow through on the divorce settlement agreed upon.

It has been gathered that Johnny Depp’s reason for stalling is because he feels Amber Heard broke the terms of their divorce settlement by speaking publicly about domestic violence.

In a letter written by Heard for the December issue of the fashion magazine, Porter, the actress wrote about domestic violence and female empowerment, alluding to her personal experiences. Part of the letter read; 

"You are not alone. You may have suffered alone behind closed doors, but you are not alone. You need to know that. I want to remind you of your strength, a strength that has been multiplied by the number of women who stand silently behind you - a truth that allowed me to break down the doors I once found myself behind."

She added:

 'I never felt anyone would or could rescue me, so naturally I resented the label of victim.'

In a Youtube video, an emotional Heard spoke again about domestic violence and urged women going through such to speak up. Photos provided by Heard during the bitter court case, showing her with a battered face has also emerged. All these are believed to be Depp’s reason for stonewalling, especially considering that their divorce settlement includes a confidentiality clause prohibiting her from talking about Depp. Though she did not mention Johnny Depp’s name, most inferred from both the letter and video that she was referring to him.

Depp who initially paid $100,000 to two charities is holding back on paying his ex-wife the $6.8million which she publicly promised to donate to charity. Heard had promised to split the money between the American Civil Liberties Union, for their work to stop violence against women, and  the Children's Hospital Los Angeles, but Depp’s refusal to pay up makes it impossible for these charities to  receive the donations.

Heard’s lawyers have filed a formal ‘Request for Order’, asking the judge to act against Johnny Depp and enforce the terms of the settlement. The document  which was posted by MailOnlineUK also lays out certain details of the divorce settlement reached which Depp has refused to fulfil. They include;

·         Not paying the first two instalments of the 'equalisation and legal fees payments' - known to amount to at least $6.8million.

·         Not giving Heard a date and time for a walk through of the couple's 'main Sweetzer property' (a $10million, eight bedroom castle-style home in West Hollywood) and 'storage facilities' to retrieve her personal property.

·         Not transferring the title of a Range Rover.

·         Failing to meet with Heard to discuss the division of 'furniture and furnishings' in two residential units they once occupied together, Including their downtown apartment.

In a declaration attached to the filing, Heard accused Depp of defaming her by leaking stories where he claimed that she is a gold-digger and bragged that she settled for a sum which is less than what was previously reported.