Johnny Depp makes sizeable donation to children’s hospital foundation after Amber Heard trial victory

Steve Hopkins

Depp follows through on charity pledge

Johnny Depp has made a significant donation to a series of children’s hospitals and foundations.

The 59-year-old actor donated nearly $800,000 (£665K) to various charities through the sale of NFTs (non-fungible tokens) created through his Never Fear Truth art project where he sells artworks to fans.

The project announced the donations to the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, the Footprint Coalition and the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles in a tweet on Tuesday, saying “Johnny Depp’s Never Fear Truth NFT sale was always intended to benefit charities”.

NFT’s are a digital asset that represents a real-world object.

CHARITY UPDATE

Johnny Depp’s Never Fear Truth NFT sale was always intended to benefit charities and we are pleased to be able to confirm that nearly $800,000 in total donations have been contributed to the following organizations:

— Never Fear Truth (@JohnnyDeppNFT) July 5, 2022

Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation thanked the actor’s NFT community for the donation in a tweet on July 7.

“Thank you so much for your generosity in helping support @PCHFWA and WA sick kids. These funds will make a significant impact in helping keep @PerthChildrens world-class for our children and families.”

Thank you so much @JohnnyDeppNFT for your generosity in helping support @PCHFWA and WA sick kids. These funds will make a significant impact in helping keep @PerthChildrens world-class for our children and families #pchfwa https://t.co/ke8tvnTV9v

— Perth Children's Hospital Foundation (@PCHFWA) July 7, 2022

Depp’s donation comes weeks after a jury in Fairfax County, Virginia, found that his ex-wife, Amber Heard, defamed him by publishing a piece about her being a sexual assault survivor in the Washington Post.

The Pirates of the Caribbean star and awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. The punitive damages amount was later reduced to $350,000 in keeping with Virginia law.

Heard, the juror found, was also defamed. She was awarded $2m.

During the trial it emerged that Heard had failed to fulfil a charity pledge to donate $3.5million from her divorce settlement to charity – despite telling the High Court she had.

In 2018, Heard also told Dutch talkshow RTL Late Night that: “$7million in total was donated – I split it between the ACLU and the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. I wanted nothing.”

The ACLU confirmed in evidence during the trial that $1.3m had been donated by Heard or on her behalf and that, of that money, Heard contributed $350,000 directly.