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GoFundMe is cracking down on fake fundraisers claiming to be raising money for Amber Heard's damages to ex-husband Johnny Depp.
A quick recap just in case you've been living under a rock for the past few days - the Pirates of the Caribbean actor proved that the 2018 article written by his ex-wife, Amber Heard, was defamatory and, in return, was awarded $15 million ($AUD 20.7 million, £12 million) by a jury, which later capped at $10.35 million ($AUD 14.2 million, £8.2 million) by Judge Penny Azcarate.
In a separate verdict, Heard was awarded $2 million ($AUD 2.7 million, £1.5 million) in damages in a counterclaim against her ex over defamatory comments made by his lawyer Adam Waldman, who referred to her abuse claims as a 'hoax'.
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An account using the name Kimberley Moore started the ‘Justice for Amber Heard’ page shortly after the jury reached its verdict in the highly-publicised trial.
It claimed to be in contact with Heard’s legal team.
"I believe Amber, and social media protected the abuser," the now-defunct fundraiser page read.
"The judgment exceeds her net worth. It’s so sad that he was able to get away with the abuse."
The page added: "The judgment furthers that abuse. If you can please help her."
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GoFundMe has since determined that the fundraiser had no ties to the Aquaman star and has since shut it down.
"Our top priority is to keep our community safe and protect the generosity of our donors," they said in a statement to BuzzFeed.
"GoFundMe will remove any fundraisers unless there's a direct connection and the fundraiser has been authorised by the recipient of the funds."
A second fake campaign was also removed that aimed to help Heard pay off Depp.
The fundraiser had a goal of $15 million ($AUD 20.7 million, £12 million).
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During the trial, multiple fake campaigns were created in favour of Johnny Depp or to mock the Aquaman star, BuzzFeed reports.
'Save Amber Heard's career' was asking for $50 million ($AUD 69 million, £40 million). 'Don't support Amber Heard, support me' was asking for $200,000 ($AUD 270,000, £160,000), and 'Raising awareness to Stop women Like Amber Heard' asked for $100,000 ($AUD $138,000, £80,000).
Heard's team have since revealed she will appeal the verdict.
Depp launched the lawsuit after Heard claimed she was a survivor of domestic abuse in a 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post.
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The two actors started dating after meeting on the set of 2011 film The Rum Diary and were married in 2015.
Things soon fell apart and Heard obtained a restraining order against Depp the following year and they finalised their divorce in 2017.
In 2020, Depp lost a libel case brought against The Sun over an article in which he was labelled a 'wife beater'.
Topics: Johnny Depp, Celebrity, US News, Crime
Rachel Lang