Amber announced that she had reached a settlement with Johnny Depp: I made a very difficult decision

Amber Heard was sued for defamation by her ex-husband Johnny Depp. After the US court ruled in favor of Depp in June this year, the unconvinced Amber had filed an appeal to prove her innocence, but recently she suddenly posted a statement on Instagram that she had reached a settlement with Depp, officially putting an end to this years-long court battle.

Amber said in a statement: "After much consideration, I have made the very difficult decision to reach a settlement with my ex-husband Johnny Depp. This was not my choice - and it is important for me to speak out. I stood up for my truth, but my life was destroyed and I was vilified online, which is a symbol of the current situation where women are victimized again when they decide to speak out. Now I finally have the opportunity to escape the shackles of this lawsuit."

"I have not pleaded guilty or compromised. No one can restrict or gag me. I will continue to speak out in the future. I made this decision because I was disappointed with the American judicial system. My unprotected testimony has become entertainment material for people and social media. When I stood in front of a British judge, I was proven innocent by a strong and fair system, and the court found that I had suffered domestic and sexual violence. However, in the United States, many direct evidences that could confirm my testimony were not used. Reputation and power are obviously more important than reason and due process in the United States."

“My time is valuable and I want to spend it well. For years, I have been entangled in a difficult and expensive legal process that has proven to be incapable of protecting me and my right to free speech. I cannot afford the staggering costs — and I don’t just mean financially, but also mentally, physically, and emotionally. Women should not be abused and bankrupted for speaking their truth, but unfortunately this is not the norm.”

"Finally, I want to thank my outstanding appeals team and the original trial team for their hard work. I also want to thank everyone who supported me. Thank you!"

Johnny Depp's team issued a statement in response to the settlement of his defamation lawsuit with Amber Heard. According to the agreement between the two parties, Heard's insurance company will pay Depp $1 million, and Depp's side said it would donate it to charity: "We are pleased that this painful chapter in Mr. Depp's life has officially ended. During this process, he has always made it clear that his first priority is to reveal the truth. The jury's unanimous decision and the judgment in favor of Mr. Depp are fully reserved. This $1 million payment - which Mr. Depp once again promised and will (really) donate to charity - reinforces Ms. Heard's recognition of the legal system's meticulous pursuit of justice."