The Johnny Depp and Amber Heard drama was uncomfortable, unnecessary for the public eye, and above all, a power struggle between two public figures trying to taint the other’s reputation while barely salvaging their own. The case was that of an unhealthy and abusive relationship spiraling out of control when a superficially accusatory statement made by Amber Heard in an op-ed resulted in Johnny Depp losing essentially everything. The 4 years that followed have been a sine wave of humiliating public trials and soaring online tempers.
Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard: The Beginning of the 2nd Trial
The Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard trial which began with its surmounting emotional and legal proceedings had warranted an end. The June 1 verdict which ruled in Johnny Depp’s favor of the defamation case had been received with massive online cries of triumph — whether right over wrong is still debatable. However, the celebrity trial of the century did get enough publicity to spark a public message about male victims of abuse and violence now being lent a voice.
The highly publicized and televised courtroom drama between the two Hollywood partisans had been goaded into being not of the jury but the public opinion’s verdict. Johnny Depp’s decimated reputation was being restored while Amber Heard’s was stripped away. The need to satiate the upholding of their public image played as fuel to the already raging fire. So the case would of course not be resolved for the losing party. Amber Heard’s appeal to the June 1 verdict will now pave the way for the second innings of the defamation trial.
Mass Opinions Still Divided Over the Abuser vs Victim Label
One of the major proponents of the Depp vs Heard defamation trial was the labels attached to the actors for being either an abuser or a victim or both. Accusations were often deftly thrown to label both parties as “mutual abusers”. Whatever the case be, it began with a headliner on The Sun that called Depp a “wife beater”. The libel case, which was decided by a judge in 2020 found him guilty of assault, and he lost the suit against News Group and Dan Wootton.
This, later, played into the Twitter discourses and online war of words when the April 2022 trial began. Currently, Amber Heard is gearing up with her appeal of the latest trial’s verdict which has spurred a social media campaign of hatred and hostility against both parties. While a faction claims that a female victim’s voice is being suppressed by the more powerful and socio-economically superior male abuser, another faction is hell-bent on smearing Heard’s name for putting on a show and being the master manipulator.
With the Aquaman actress’ appeal underway, Johnny Depp fans who had mostly receded after the climactic battle, are now returning on Twitter to defend Depp and slash Amber Heard’s supporters.
Supporting Johnny Depp instead of Amber Heard doesn’t mean you’re betraying women.
By supporting Amber Heard you’re reinforcing a system that keeps abusing and ignoring male victims and survivors of domestic violence.
Educate yourself. Do better. Spread awareness.
— mar (@vaersac) September 23, 2022
Thank you! 🙏🏼 This is so true! How does a survivor move on when media outlets keep trying to change the narrative 🤦🏻♀️ Then try to suppress those who took the time to watch, know their complicit in her lies! Then attack our intelligence by speaking out for a victim 🤦🏻♀️
— Riddle Methis (@Christi88764398) September 23, 2022
I agree thank you
— Veronica (@Veronic71925425) September 23, 2022
I don’t think the GP are ignoring domestic violence against men I believe that domestic violence isn’t a gender related it happens to men and women and children the only difference is a adult can walk away a child can’t 🤔children are also caught up in domestic violence at home
— harvey (@hsrvey871479426) September 25, 2022
Well said 👍 they can throw around all this misogyny bs all they want we dont all hate women we just hate women who falsely accuse men! Simple as that
— 🏴☠️LivingD3adGirl🏴☠️ (@HailsLouis3) September 23, 2022
The male vs female discourse in this celebrity trial has taken up the vanguard while debating over the abused vs abuser label. While misogyny has been a rampant theme throughout the presentation of the self-assured defendant, the court simultaneously also needs to be given credit for its extensive sifting through the gathered evidence. The op-ed was indeed defaming and that was what Depp was awarded in favor of, not his or Heard’s alleged abuse.
Source: Twitter