Amber Heard and Johnny Depp's turbulent marriage may have been shockingly brutal to watch unfold, but it seems to have concluded with an inspiring move on Amber's part. After the relationship ended with Amber alleging she was physically and verbally abused, Johnny's team fought to discredit her allegations at every turn. Now, her $7 million settlement - acquired just two days ago - will go towards helping make sure this kind of abuse doesn't happen again. "The donation will be divided equally between the ACLU, with a particular focus to stop violence against women, and the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, where I have worked as a volunteer for the past 10 years."As TMZ reports, according to Amber's statement.
The disturbing back and forth also caused many to take sides, often against the actress, who is queer and was previously in a relationship with artist Tasya Van Ree. Her allegations that she was abused in her relationship with Johnny Depp were elaborately challenged by commentators, many of whom alleged she was falsifying the claims for fame and money. These disgusting attacks playing out in such a public forum particularly brought to light the horrifying nature of victim blaming, and Amber's unwavering dedication to seeking justice has been incredibly inspiring. And while she has every right to do whatever she pleases with the money she's gotten from the settlement, her explanation of exactly why she's made the choices she has is powerful:
"Money played no role for me personally and never has, except to the extent that I could donate it to charity and, in doing so, hopefully help those less able to defend themselves," Amber stated. According to a statement obtained by People, Amber concluded, ""I know these organizations will put the funds to good use and look forward to continuing to support them in the future. Hopefully, this experience results in a positive change in the lives of people who need it the most."
We continue to stand by Amber and are confident her money will be put to important and necessary use.