Johnny Depp has begun the process of paying out Amber Heard's $7 million divorce settlement to charities, per her request.
The ACLU confirmed to E! News they've received the first installment in Heard's name; Children's Hospital of Los Angeles also received a check in Heard's name Wednesday, telling E! News in a statement, "Children's Hospital Los Angeles has received the first installment and we are grateful." Per TMZ, who was first to report Depp honored the payments, both checks were received Wednesday.
A spokesperson for Depp confirmed the settlement payments as well, telling E! News in a statement: "Following Amber Heard's announcement that her divorce settlement was to be divided equally and gifted to Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and the American Civil Liberties Union, two exceptionally deserving and important charities, Johnny Depp has sent the first of multiple installments of those monies to each charity in the name of Amber Heard, which when completed will honor the full amount of Ms. Heard's pledge. Ms. Heard's generosity in giving to these wonderful causes is deeply respected."
Heard announced her intent for the divorce settlement to be donated to charities just days after she and Depp reached an agreement. After Depp's payments to ACLU and Children's Hospital were confirmed Thursday, a member of Heard's team told E! News the actress "appreciates Johnny Depp's novel interest in supporting two of her favorite charities," calling it, "great and unexpected news."
"However, if Johnny wishes to change the settlement agreement, we must insist that he honor the full amount by donating $14M to charity, which, after accounting for his tax deduction, is equal to his $7M payment obligation to Amber," the member of Heard's team continued. "We would also insist that the full amount be paid immediately and not drawn out over many years."
The member of Heard's team concluded: "Anything less would be a transparent attempt by Johnny's counsel, Laura Wasser and Patti Glaser, to reduce their client's true payment by half under the guise of newfound concern for charities that he has never previously supported."
—Reporting by Roxana Salcedo
(Originally published Aug. 25, 2016 at 9:46 a.m PT)