Johnny Depp receives social media support amid defamation case against Amber Heard
The defamation case introduced by actor Johnny Depp towards his ex-wife Amber Heard continues to be ongoing, however the courtroom of social media appears to have already declared a winner.
Posters on Twitter and TikTok have overwhelmingly backed Depp, with hashtags like “JusticeForJohnnyDepp” racking up almost 3 billion views on TikTok. Related hashtags have been tweeted hundreds of instances. A seek for “JusticeForAmberHeard” on Twitter displayed tweets calling for justice for Depp.
Creators and consultants defined why they suppose social media dialogue across the subject appears to be overwhelmingly favorable of Depp.
Depp is suing Heard for defamation over an essay she wrote for The Washington Submit in 2018, by which she mentioned she had grow to be the “public determine representing home abuse.” Though the article by no means mentions Depp by identify, his attorneys mentioned it not directly refers to abuse allegations she made towards him throughout their 2016 divorce. Heard is countersuing Depp in search of $100 million in damages.
The trial in Fairfax County, Virginia, is predicted to take weeks.
Each Depp and Heard have testified that the opposite had been bodily violent with them throughout the course of their relationship.
Heard’s authorized group introduced proof, together with 2013 textual content messages by which he appeared to say he would topic her to a violent demise, arguing that Depp had been bodily violent with and had made threats towards her. Depp appeared to put in writing in a distinct 2013 change that he would “smack” her round earlier than letting her in, referring to her utilizing a vulgar insult, in accordance with Heard’s authorized group. Throughout the trial, Heard’s authorized group repeatedly introduced up Depp’s prior drug use, together with his use of cocaine, alcohol and opiates.
In Might 2016, Heard was granted a protecting order after she claimed Depp hit her within the face with a cellphone. Depp denied getting bodily violent with Heard.
Depp lobbed allegations towards Heard in courtroom as nicely, claiming that she would decide fights and escalate them with demeaning language. He additionally mentioned she would typically “strike out,” saying that she would slap or a shove him, or toss stuff at him.
Depp’s legal professional’s offered pictures of Depp after alleged altercations and audio of Heard making statements, corresponding to, “I used to be hitting you. I used to be not punching you.”
Some on social media again Depp
On platforms like TikTok, movies of the trial, sympathetically edited clips of Depp and audio recordings of the couple, which seem to indicate Heard because the aggressor and Depp because the sufferer, all seem below the “JusticeForJohnnyDepp” hashtag.
Some TikTokers will give play-by-plays of the day in courtroom, recounting the newest testimony or proof introduced. Others counsel unproven conspiracy theories, together with one by which customers say Heard is deliberately mimicking Depp’s outfits as a option to psychologically intimidate him.
On Twitter, some who again Depp have instructed that Heard isn’t being held to the identical normal as male home abusers and criticized her conduct throughout the couple’s marriage.
In courtroom filings earlier than the trial, Heard mentioned she hit Depp solely in self-defense or in protection of her youthful sister, in accordance with The New York Instances.
“Amber Heard received a free go for her lies and violence for six years. This gender bias should finish now. Make her accountable for her actions, Virginia, we belief you,” Twitter consumer and Depp supporter Ayca Gurelman wrote.
Why has the courtroom of social media sided with Depp?
Specialists mentioned there could also be many explanation why so many individuals have used social media to declare their assist for Depp, together with recognizing him because the characters he’s portrayed in movies corresponding to Captain Jack Sparrow from Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise and the titular “Edward Scissorhands” from the 1990 Tim Burton movie.
“Amber, in my view, wasn’t identified too nicely till she began relationship Johnny,” mentioned Becca Catherall, a TikToker who has posted movies concerning the case. “She grew to become well-known when she made the allegations towards Johnny and since the world is aware of Johnny and loves him, I imagine that everybody goes to be offended and upset that such allegations have been made in direction of him.”
Different elements consultants have theorized would possibly play a task within the web’s devotion to Depp embrace internalized misogyny and the reside spectacle of the courtroom, which some have claimed makes Depp look weak.
Seth Lewis, the Shirley Papé chair in rising media and director of journalism on the Faculty of Journalism and Communication on the College of Oregon, mentioned it may be arduous to pinpoint one purpose specifically because the web’s dominating attractor to Depp.
“Typically issues grow to be in style as a result of they’re already in style at a baseline stage,” Lewis mentioned, including, “I believe we’re on this second the place persons are fascinated by authenticity. It’s the explanation individuals will discover higher belief in what appears to be uncooked video footage on social media or on YouTube.”
Lewis credit this want for authenticity with why so many have been fascinated by the Depp case — and Depp’s seeming vulnerability on the stand as a purpose so many may be backing him.
Some have mentioned Depp’s quiet and calm responses whereas speaking about earlier drug use and different private issues is an indication of his vulnerability throughout the case.
Lewis added {that a} platform like TikTok is benefiting from this obsession with authenticity, and it makes for an ideal venue to hash out the Depp-Heard case.
Nonetheless, he emphasised that for every individual, there might a distinct purpose why they latch on to Depp because the case performs out.
“For different individuals, it’s perhaps a sense that someway males haven’t been listened to adequately within the Me Too period, and for different individuals it could possibly be completely completely different causes,” he mentioned.
Whereas Lewis instructed that some could also be backing Depp as a result of they fear that the Me Too motion didn’t signify male victims as a lot because it did feminine victims, others instructed that Depp would possibly really be benefiting from deeply ingrained societal misogyny.
David Schmid, popular culture skilled and affiliate professor of English on the College at Buffalo Faculty, State College of New York, mentioned he feels that some individuals would possibly “have a look at the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard state of affairs for proof” that misogyny is a factor of the previous as a result of the case has a person accusing a lady of home violence.
Schmid added that folks, who would possibly really feel “cancel tradition” has gone too far, can also discover themselves rooting for Depp.
“I believe lots of people have a look at what’s occurred to Johnny Depp’s profession on account of this example and say that is exhibit A of cancel tradition … lots of people who suppose cancel tradition will get unfairly utilized to males greater than girls will likely be following this very carefully,” Schmid mentioned.
Regardless of the explanation, TikTokers like Catherall mentioned they really feel the web’s thoughts has lengthy been made up about with regards to this case.
“I do imagine that majority of the general public have already sided with Johnny,” she mentioned.
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