.
Cover photo from UK trail, by Elizabeth Cook
Words by Rosalind Thacker
There’s nothing remotely funny about the Depp v Heard trial – and it’s about time social media stopped treating it as a soap opera.
No, this isn’t a fever dream. You haven’t woken up in a dystopian reality. This is real life, where the internet is drowning in fan edits, memes, live streams, and conspiracy theories about someone’s sexual assault and abuse claims. The Johnny Depp and Amber Heard case is perhaps one of the ugliest celebrity defamation trials in recent memory. The reason? Social media.
For those unaware of the proceedings (how?), I’ll give you a quick rundown. Actress Amber Heard is being sued for $50m in a defamation case brought against her by her ex-husband, also actor, Johnny Depp. The subject of their dispute is a 2018 Washington Post op-ed, written by Heard, in which she spoke about being a survivor of domestic violence. And although she didn’t name Depp as the abuser, he claims the allegations impacted his ability to work. In response, Heard filed a counterclaim of her own: she’s suing for $100m.
The Depp v Heard trail’s nearly over – but judging by the reaction of society, a foregone conclusion had already been made. From the get-go, Depp’s fanbase has rallied around him, using every platform on the internet to raise their man on a pedestal. To them, he’s innocent – and anyone who thinks otherwise is plain stupid.
I have no agenda in this trial. And although I have a good – but not perfect – understanding of the accusations, I’m in no position to comment on who’s right or wrong, honest or dishonest. That job, funnily enough, belongs to the jury. You know, the people *actually* charged with reaching a well-informed, impartial opinion. But in the age of the internet, legal norms mean nothing – and given the trial’s being live-streamed to the world, the seven-person jury has company in a global audience.
It’s kind of ironic, when you think about it, that a defamation trial can produce so much… well, defamation. If you honestly, genuinely believe that Heard sniffed a line of cocaine from her tissue while on the stand, then fair enough. Believe what you like. Good luck convincing a jury of that, though.
As with nearly all high-profile televised court proceedings, things are bound to look more like Keeping Up with the Kardashians than serious legal proceedings. The age-old accusation that cameras in court can be harmful has some truth in it – especially in high-profile, celebrity cases. The Depp v Heard is the very manifestation of everything that’s bad about televised trials. It’s become a trail by TikTok, where fans are emboldened to make up any ol’ conspiracy – as long as it suits their side. It has seriously bad consequences, especially when people actually start believing it.
The lying and making things up are just one part of it. What’s even more disturbing is our ability to find ‘comedy’ in anything. Some things aren’t sources of comedic material. Descriptions of abuse (both Depp and Heard have accused each other of abuse) shouldn’t be turned into amusing TikToks or memeable content. By encouraging the casual commentary and memefication of a serious trial and issue, we’re playing a dangerous game, allowing people with hidden agendas to latch on, seeking our opinions that confirm their own biases. Without realising, the trial’s quickly becoming ammunition for those with extremist views against women and domestic violence. The mockery of Heard’s allegations – whatever your opinions of the legal merits of her case – will make vulnerable women hesitate over-reporting their own stories of abuse.
I am not saying Heard is innocent and right – and nor am I saying Depp is guilty. Both parties have a history of being arrested for assault. This clearly isn’t a trail of good and evil. What I am saying is this: stop treating it – and all trials that come after – as the latest soap opera. And before you shop around for your Team Depp or Heard t-shirt, why not just wait and see what the judge and jury have to say. You know, the rule of law and all?
For now, grow up, put the popcorn away, do your research, and have some human empathy.
Meet Jules Breach – a presenter leading the charge for women in football.