Amber Heard allegedly donated just $1.3m of promised $3.5m from $7m divorce settlement

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Amber Heard allegedly only donated $1.3 million of the $3.5 million she promised to hand over to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) following her $7 million divorce settlement with Johnny Depp.

The jury was given the alleged figures by Terence Dougherty - the chief operating officer and general counsel of the ACLU - as part of a pre-taped deposition for the $50 million trial, The Independent reports.

During the deposition, which was played for the court on Thursday and recorded last December, Dougherty said that $350,000 was paid directly by Heard, $100,000 was paid via Depp, $500,000 was paid through a donor-advised fund, and $350,000 was also paid via a donor-advised fund - which comes to a total of $1.3 million.

He said Heard had been put forward as an ambassador for the ACLU following her pledge to donate the huge sum. However, by the time of the deposition, the full amount had not been sent.

“Ms. Heard spoke with such clarity and expertise on issues of gender-based violence, that [ACLU representatives] decided she would be an appropriate person to ask to become an ACLU ambassador,” he said.

It was at this point in time that the idea of penning an op-ed arose, which ultimately led to the current court case.

In her 2018 Washington Post op-ed, Heard wrote that "like many women, I had been harassed and sexually assaulted by the time I was of college age. But I kept quiet - I did not expect filing complaints to bring justice. And I didn’t see myself as a victim".

"Then two years ago, I became a public figure representing domestic abuse, and I felt the full force of our culture’s wrath for women who speak out," she added.

Depp is not named in the article, however, his attorneys argue that it contains a "clear implication that Mr. Depp is a domestic abuser", which they say is "categorically and demonstrably false". Depp, 58, is seeking damages of at least $50 million, with his 36-year-old ex-wife countersuing for twice as much.

The Pirates of the Caribbean star testified at the stand for much of last week and concluded his testimony at the start of this week. Heard is expected to take the stand later on in the trial.

Featured image credit: UPI / Alamy