Elon Musk donated $1 million to charity in “honor” of girlfriend Amber Heard: “because Johnny sued me for $50m in 2019”
Elon Musk donated $1 million honor Amber Heard (Image Credit: Getty Images)
Amber Heard has said in court that billionaire Elon Musk donated $1m to two charities in her honor while they were dating, following her split from Johnny Depp.
Following Amber Heard’s split from Johnny Depp, Elon Musk donated $1 million to two charities in her “honor” she told a courtroom.
As the US defamation trial between the ex-couple continues, the Aquaman star, 36, finished giving her evidence to her legal team today and began being cross-examined by Depp’s side.
Today, Amber explained how, following allegations of sexual and physical abuse by Depp, she filed for divorce from the Pirates of the Caribbean star in May 2016, saying she did so because “I knew I wouldn’t survive it if I didn’t”, as per Irish Mirror reports.
Depp denies ever assaulting Heard physically or sexually.
Amber received $7 million in the divorce settlement, according to the jury.
She told her lawyer: “I didn’t care about the money, I was told if I didn’t agree to a number it would be overturned… I took far less than what they were offering and what I was entitled to.”
She explained that she promised to donate the entire settlement to charity because she didn’t want Depp’s money.
She stated that she had pledged $3.5 million to a children’s hospital in Los Angeles where she had volunteered, as well as the same amount to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), of which she was a supporter.
She had agreed to pay the money in installments because that was how she received her divorce settlement and received the tax benefit.
Her lawyer then asked if anyone made charitable contributions on her behalf, to which Heard responded, “Yes Elon, Elon who was my boyfriend at the time had his own charitable contributions that he made.”
“He made $500,000 to both in my honor, in my name, in 2017.” She explained she had not fulfilled her pledges to charities yet, “because Johnny sued me for $50m in 2019″.
During the cross-examination, Depp’s lawyer Camille Vasquez accused Heard of convincing Musk to pay for part of what she promised to the two charities because she wanted to keep a part of the settlement for herself.
Heard responded: “You’re very wrong about that.”
She previously stated that Musk’s donations were not included in her pledge.
A spokesperson for Heard stated ahead of the cross-examination that the truth “is not on Depp’s side”
In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, a spokesperson said: “There’s an old saying by trial lawyers: When the facts are on your side, argue the facts; when the facts are not on your side, pound away on the podium.
“Today, we expect Depp’s attorneys will instead pound away on the victim.
“We fear it will be equal parts shameful and desperate,” the statement went on.
“And, the overwhelming evidence — the truth — is not on Depp’s side.”
On the second day of Heard’s testimony, Depp’s team released their own statement, accusing Heard of delivering the “performance of her life”.
The statement said: “While Ms. Heard’s stories have continued to grow new and convenient details, Mr. Depp’s recollections have remained exactly the same throughout the six painful years since her first allegations were made. His truth — the truth — is the same no matter the environment in which it is has been presented.”
Depp is suing Heard for alleged defamation in connection with an op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in 2018, in which she claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse.
The Aquaman star has filed a lawsuit for $100 million (£81 million).
The trial is still ongoing.
