Celebrity

Johnny Depp – Amber Heard lawsuit: Who is the public siding with?

The lawsuit between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard is still ongoing, but it seems that the public already deemed one side “innocent”.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard have been going in and out of court since April 11, but new details still pop up every day, attracting the attention of the public. At the moment, there has been no decision from the judge, but the public seems to have already made up their minds. As a result, Johnny Depp is being defended by people all over the world. 

Win or Lose, the public is on Johnny Depp’s side

Johnny Depp Amber Heard

On social platforms Twitter and Tiktok, the number of Johnny Depp supporters completely overwhelm those who lean toward Amber Heard. The hashtag #JusticeForJohnnyDepp has recorded almost 3 billion views, and many other similar tags defending Johnny Depp are being searched and trended across the world. In addition, people on the internet also constantly dissect Amber Heard’s testaments and dismiss her groundless accusations. Even the hashtag #JusticeForAmberHeard is filled with numerous posts that jump to Johnny Depp’s defense. 

Netizens also analyze footage of the lawsuit and point out details that prove Amber is a liar and Depp is her victim. They also look into the two’s choices of clothes, claiming that Amber Heard is intentionally matching her outfits with Johnny Depp as a form of psychological threat. 

Johnny Depp Amber Heard
The public noticed strong resemblances between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s outfits. 

It seems that the tide has completely changed compared to 6 years ago, when Amber Heard first accused Depp of domestic abuse. Talking about this, a Depp supporter tweeted: “Amber Heard got a free pass for her lies and violence for 6 years. This gender bias must end now. Make her accountable for her actions.” 

Why is the public defending Johnny Depp?

To understand the reason behind the wave of support that Depp has been receiving, several experts have made their own dissections.  According to them, among the many causes that lead to SNS users defending Johnny Depp, fame is an important factor. 

They point out that Amber Heard’s popularity is nowhere near her ex-husband, and she has made no lasting mark to the public. Compared to Johnny Depp who has stolen hearts via various iconic projects like “Pirates of the Caribbean”, “Fantastic Beasts”, “Alice in Wonderland”, “Charlie and The Chocolate Factory”,Amber Heard only has “Aquaman”.   

“Amber, in my opinion, wasn’t known too well until she started dating Johnny. She became well known when she made the allegations against Johnny and because the world knows Johnny and loves him”, an audience member tweeted. 

Johnny Depp Amber Heard
Amber Heard at court. 

Another factor discussed by the experts is “the role of the Internet”. In particular, fans are spreading videos and pictures of Johnny Depp in court, which draws empathy from the public. To them, he looks hurt and betrayed, his heart torn when up against someone he used to love. Johnny Depp’s composed manner while speaking of his previous drug addiction and other personal issues also creates a victim image. All of these have effects on our hearts and make us pity the actor, the experts say. 

Of course, these are not the only reasons, and Seth Lewis, Professor and Shirley Papé Chair in Emerging Media at Oregon University, recently added his own two cents: “Sometimes things become popular because they’re already popular at a baseline level. I think we’re in this moment where people are fascinated by authenticity. It’s the reason people will find greater trust in what seems to be raw video footage on social media or on YouTube.”

Johnny Depp Amber Heard

He also added that: “For other people, it’s maybe a feeling that somehow men haven’t been listened to adequately in the Me Too era, and for other people it could be totally different reasons.”

Back in August 2021, Johnny Depp shared in an interview with The Times that he was being “boycotted by Hollywood”, following the delay of his movie “Minamata”. According to the actor, the boycott severely affected both the movie and the crew, and Amber Heard’s accusation got him into a lot of trouble. However, the actor also concluded that he needed to preserve and bring the truth to light and that he couldn’t do anything to change the past. 

And “Minamata” was not the only time Johnny Depp took a hit to his career either. Previously, the actor was fired from the third installment of “Fantastic Beasts” due to Warner Bros not wanting to work with an alleged “wife-beater”. In addition, the actor was supposed to be an ambassador for Dior’s Sauvage perfume, but the contract slipped right out of his hands due to the controversy. Finally, Depp was also kicked out of the franchise “Pirates of The Caribbean”, where he played the iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow. 

Johnny Depp Amber Heard

With rising support from the public, however, it seems that Johnny Depp will soon revive his position in Hollywood. While there is no final judgment just yet, it is obvious that win or lose, Johnny is innocent in the public’s eyes. He is finally released from the “wife-beater” title of the past 6 years. 

Source
NBC NewsThe TimesVTV News
Back to top button