Johnny Depp Might Not Make Amber Heard Pay for $10 Million Damages Claim

Johnny Depp was awarded $15 million dollars after he won the recent defamation case against his ex-wife, Amber Heard. But will he actually see money from Heard?

The total amount owed to Depp was reduced by the judge to $10.35 million to comply with Virginia state limits on punitive damages. And Depp was also ordered to pay Heard $2 million, thus bringing his actual total amount to $8.35 million.

But it now looks as if Heard may not be able to pay the full amount. And Depp may not actually push for it.

So Why Would Johnny Depp Let Amber Heard Off the Hook?

Depp’s lawyers, Benjamin Chew and Camille Vasquez, have made several appearances on nationally syndicated television shows, including Good Morning America, since the case was finalized, and they’ve further discussed the issue of Heard’s payment.

“We obviously can’t disclose attorney-client communications, but, as Depp testified, and as we both made clear in our respective closings, this was never about money for Depp,” Chew said. “This is about restoring his reputation and he’s done that.”

“It was like the weight of the world had been taken off his shoulders and I feel that finally after six years he’s gotten his life back.” Chew continued.

Vasquez also spoke on the topic, explaining that Depp was incredibly happy to tell the story of his side of the relationship. “He had an opportunity to speak the truth for the first time,” Vasquez said. “It was six years in the making. And I think he was able to connect with the jury and the general public and tell what really happened in this relationship.”

“The facts in this case were overwhelmingly positive for Johnny and the verdict speaks for itself,” Vasquez continued. “The facts are what they were. The jury made a unanimous decision based on those facts.”

The Response from Amber Heard’s Legal Team

Team Heard on the other hand doesn’t share the positivity that Chew and Vasquez have voiced on their morning show appearances.

In a statement released from Heard’s legal team, “It is as unseemly as it is unprofessional that Johnny Depp’s legal team has chosen to do a victory lap for setting back decades of how women can be treated in the courtroom. What’s next? A movie deal and merchandising?”

On June 2nd, Elaine Charlson Bredehoft, Heard’s attorney, made an appearance on Today. And she was asked by host Savannah Guthrie whether or not Heard would be able to pay the judgment. She responded, “Oh, no, absolutely not.”

Furthermore, according to Bredehoft, Heard does plan to appeal the jury’s verdict. So the legal woes for these two may not be over yet. 

“She has some excellent grounds for it,” Bredehoft commented, “There was so much evidence that did not come in.”

What’s Next for Depp and Heard?

Social chatter has already begun about what could be next for the two actors. Depp could possibly regain his role in Pirates of the Caribbean. Whereas the petition to remove Amber Heard from the upcoming Aquaman 2 has surpassed 4.5 million signatures.

Reports have been surfacing on Twitter this week that recent screen tests of the new Aquaman film have roughly 20 to 25 minutes of screentime for Amber Heard. But it sounds like WB is still testing the waters (pun intended) since the public trial is now officially over.

We’ll keep you posted as more news on “what’s next” for these two continues to surface. In the meantime, what are your thoughts on the Depp Heard court case?

Sound off in our comment section below.