An emotional Amber Heard has shared her experience with domestic violence, and encouraged others to speak up in a new public service announcement posted by the #GirlGaze Project.
“It happens to so many women. When it happens in your home, behind close doors with someone you love, it’s not as straightforward,” says Amber, who filed for divorce from Johnny Depp in May.
“If a stranger did this, it would be a no brainer.”
During her bitter split she initially accused Johnny of physical abuse. The two settled the case in August after she withdrew her allegations and her request for a restraining order.
“As a woman having gone through this in the public arena that I did, I have a unique opportunity to remind other women that this doesn’t have to be the way it is, you don’t have to do it alone, you’re not alone and also we can change this,” she says in the video.
Amber doesn’t mention her former husband’s name in the clip, but still speaks from experience.
“We need to take responsibility for how we talk about these things,” she says.
“It’s the only way that people are going to feel comfortable coming forward.”
Amber said she is grateful to have had good friends by her side, telling the camera: “If I hadn’t had them around me, how different my life would be.’
Amber and Johnny reached a settlement in August, with the actress reportedly receiving $7 million and dismissing her restraining order against the Pirates Of The Caribbean star.
Amber donated all of the money to charity, splitting it evenly between the American Civil Liberties Union for their work to stop violence against women, and the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Girlgaze is a multi-media project across four different platforms which aims to “generate visibility and support for the next generation of female-identifying photographers”.
