Amber Heard has called on Johnny Depp to double the $7 million (£5.3 million) he plans to donate to charity in her name to avoid claims his lawyers are seeking to reduce his divorce payment.
Johnny agreed to pay his estranged wife $7m as part of their divorce settlement, which she pledged to donate to a domestic violence charity and the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.
The Pirates of the Caribbean star released a statement on Thursday saying he had paid the first instalments to the charities himself “in the name of Amber Heard”.
Amber Heard and Johnny Depp (Rich Fury/AP/PA)
Amber’s legal team responded by claiming Johnny’s decision to pay the charities directly meant he must donate $14m (£10.6m) to account for tax deductions.
A spokeswoman for Amber said: “Amber Heard appreciates Johnny Depp’s novel interest in supporting two of her favourite charities, the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) for domestic violence and the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. This is great and unexpected news.
“However, if Johnny wishes to change the settlement agreement, we must insist that he honour the full amount by donating $14m to charity, which, after accounting for his tax deduction, is equal to his seven million dollar payment obligation to Amber.
Amber Heard was sporting a bruise on her face when she arrived for a court hearing in Los Angeles (Richard Vogel/AP)
“We would also insist that the full amount be paid immediately and not drawn out over many years.
“Anything less would be a transparent attempt by Johnny’s counsel, Laura Wasser and Patti Glaser, to reduce their client’s true payment by half under the guise of newfound concern for charities that he has never previously supported.”
A spokesman for Johnny had earlier confirmed that the actor had sent “the first of multiple instalments” of money to the two charities.
Johnny Depp (Richard Shotwell/AP)
In a statement released to a number of news outlets, the spokesman said: “Following Amber Heard’s announcement that her divorce settlement was to be divided equally and gifted to Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and the American Civil Liberties Union, two exceptionally deserving and important charities, Johnny Depp has sent the first of multiple instalments of those monies to each charity in the name of Amber Heard, which when completed will honour the full amount of Ms Heard’s pledge.
“Ms Heard’s generosity in giving to these wonderful causes is deeply respected.”
Johnny 53, and Amber, 30, resolved their acrimonious divorce earlier this month, just a day before a high-profile court hearing was due to take place in Los Angeles. A temporary restraining order issued against Johnny following allegations of physical abuse was withdrawn.
The couple met in 2011 (Marc Andrew Deley/AP)
Johnny vehemently denied claims he abused Heard after she alleged he had a “history of drug and alcohol abuse” and been “verbally and physically abusive” for the entirety of their four-year-relationship.
A joint statement released by the former couple confirming their divorce agreement said there was “never any intent of physical or emotional harm”.
“Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love,” they said. “Neither party has made false accusations for financial gain.”
Johnny and Amber married in February 2015 after meeting on the set of 2011 film The Rum Diary.
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