‘How is Amber Heard going to pay her damages?’ The question on everyone’s lips as the actress LOSES defamation case against ex-husband Johnny Depp

Amber Heard has been ordered to pay her ex-husband Johnny Depp more than $10million after losing her defamation case against the actor on Wednesday.

And Australian radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson are now asking the question on everyone’s mind: how exactly will Heard pay her damages? 

The Aquaman star’s financial situation is not known, but testimony at the trial has raised questions about whether Heard’s pockets are deep enough to fork out such a large sum.

Questions: Sydney radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson discussed on Thursday how exactly Amber Heard will pay her damages after losing her defamation case against ex-husband Johnny Depp. (Heard is pictured in court on Wednesday)

‘I wonder where she’s going to get the money from?’ Sandilands asked his co-host on their KIIS FM breakfast show on Thursday. 

Henderson suggested Heard may avoid having to pay the damages if she wins an appeal against the Virginia court’s ruling.

‘[People] reckon no matter what happened with the verdict – and look, this may not be the case – but it will be appealed again because they hate each other so much,’ Henderson said.

Chat: Discussing the Virginia court’s ruling on their radio show on Thursday, Henderson (right, with Sandilands) said Heard may avoid having to pay the damages if she wins an appeal 

Appeal: ‘[People] reckon no matter what happened with the verdict… it will be appealed again because they hate each other so much,’ Henderson said. (Pictured: Depp in court on May 3)

‘Oh, this could go on forever,’ Sandilands said, to which Henderson replied: ‘It could be appealed. We could be going through this all again.’

It comes amid speculation about Heard’s ability to immediately cover the damages, which includes $10million in compensatory damages and $350,000 in punitive damages.

The latter amount was reduced from $5million due to Virginia’s cap on such awards. 

Payment: It comes amid speculation about Heard’s ability to immediately cover the damages, which includes $10million in compensatory damages and $350,000 in punitive damages 

During the trial, Heard admitted she was unable to donate $7million to charity after her divorce from Depp in 2017, because her ex-husband had filed a $50million lawsuit against her.

‘I still fully intend on honouring all of my pledges,’ Heard said regarding the money she had pledged to donate to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

‘I would love him to stop suing me so I can.’ 

Pledge: During the trial, Heard said she was unable to donate $7million to charity after her divorce from Depp in 2017, because her ex-husband had filed a $50million lawsuit against her 

Heard has been awarded $2million in damages in her countersuit against Depp. 

She will likely have to post bond for the full $10.35million judgment, plus interest, if she decides to appeal Wednesday’s ruling.

If she can’t fulfil her obligation to pay, the court may chose to garnish part of her wages, if it is found Heard has the requisite earning potential.

Countersuit: Heard has been awarded $2 million in damages in her countersuit against Depp

Heard will next appear in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the sequel to Aquaman, which is slated for release in 2023.

It comes after Heard called the ruling a ‘setback for women’ and a loss for freedom of speech.

In a statement following the verdict on Wednesday, she expressed disappointment at a number of consequences from the jury’s ruling. 

Speaking out: It comes after Heard called the ruling a ‘setback for women’ and a loss for freedom of speech. In a statement following the verdict on Wednesday, she expressed disappointment at a number of consequences from the jury’s ruling

‘The disappointment I feel today is beyond words. I’m heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of my ex-husband,’ Heard said.

She added that the verdict was ‘a setback’ for women ‘to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated’.

Heard then blamed star attorney Camille Vasquez and Depp’s other legal experts.

‘I believe Johnny’s attorneys succeeded in getting the jury to overlook the key issue of Freedom of Speech and ignore evidence that was so conclusive that we won in the UK,’ she said, referencing her previous legal victory over Depp in Britain in 2020.

Statement: ‘I believe Johnny’s attorneys succeeded in getting the jury to overlook the key issue of Freedom of Speech and ignore evidence that was so conclusive that we won in the UK,’ Heard said, referencing her previous legal victory over Depp in Britain in 2020 

She ultimately considers the defeat, despite her own ruling for $2million in a countersuit, a loss for her freedom of speech. 

‘I’m sad I lost this case. But I am sadder still that I seem to have lost a right I thought I had as an American – to speak freely and openly,’ she said.

Depp, meanwhile, thanked the ‘outpouring of love and the colossal support and kindness from around the world’ in his own statement, which he said ‘overwhelmed’ him.

‘I hope that my quest to have the truth be told will have helped others, men or women, who have found themselves in my situation, and that those supporting them never give up. I also hope that the position will now return to innocent until proven guilty, both within the courts and in the media,’ he added.

Grateful: Depp thanked the ‘outpouring of love and the colossal support and kindness from around the world’ in his own statement, which he said ‘overwhelmed’ him. (Pictured: Depp and Heard in January 2016)

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