Last year in April, the world was glued to its screens. The frenzy was insane, so much so that many reports suggested that the courtroom live-streaming broadcast of the case clocked a whopping 200 million hours of streaming! That’s the kind of math that can’t be comprehended easily.
netflix
The infamous Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation case trial ran from April 11 to June 1, 2022. For the unversed, trouble started brewing in the year 2015 when the couple tied the knot. On May 23, 2016, Heard filed for divorce and got a restraining order against her then-husband Johnny Depp. Soon after, she accused him of domestic violence.
twitter
Over a year has passed since the lawsuit concluded but fresh debates have kickstarted online post the release of a three-part documentary series Depp V. Heard.
This series delves into the legal battle that took place between Pirates Of The Caribbean actor Johnny Depp and his former wife Amber Heard.
It’s just been a day or two since the series premiered on Netflix but it has managed to captivate the public once again as fresh details of this star couple’s allegations of defamation, domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment have emerged. This crazy pop culture lawsuit became a sensation courtesy the social media presence which has aggressively taken over our lives.
Helmed by director Emma Cooper, Depp vs Heard tries to take audiences beneath the surface, dissecting not only the legal confrontation but also the repercussions that followed the case thanks to public perception and social media.
Netflix
Check out some of the revelations from the series Depp V. Heard:
The curious case of defecation aka poop on Depp’s bed
Among several allegations, the one that was the most talked about has to be Amber Heard allegedly defecating on her husband’s side of the bed as an act of vengeance for an argument which took place on the night of Heard’s 30th birthday party. It was Depp’s housekeeper who discovered the horrifying remains. She sent him a photo of it which eventually found its way on the internet. Depp claimed that Heard performed the vile act before leaving for the Coachella Music Festival.
Agencies
During episode 1, a social media presenter revealed a couple of text messages that were brought up in the trial which had Heard speaking about Depp’s dog’s health issues. She said that the feces was that of his dog Boo, who had bowel control issues.
In court, a security guard testified he overheard Heard referring to the incident as “a horrible practical joke.”
Depp v. Heard then revealed that while Depp was certain that the fecal matter was that of his former wife. Parallely, it was Depp who thought that a human pooping in the bedroom would be a good joke. During a libel trial that took place in the U.K., it was revealed that Depp sent a text to one of his friends that read, “Will you squat in front of the door of the master bedroom and leave a giant coil of dookie so that Amber steps in it and think that it’s one of the dogs, primarily Boo has a major problem. It’ll be funny.”
The truth behind these allegations is still to be ascertained.
Amber testified in court that Johnny Depp assaulted her with a glass bottle
Another one of the shocking moments of the trial, Amber took to the stand and testified that her former husband Johnny Depp had sexually assaulted her with a glass bottle. The scene then pans to a placecard that reads, “This is the first time live U.S. courtroom footage showed a victim alleging sexual assault in full vision.”
This part of the docuseries stunned even the most pro-Depp supporters, especially some of the renowned Youtubers and tik tokers.
Theory around pro-Depp social media accounts being mostly bots
Netflix
A fascinating theory can be seen being discussed in one of the episodes, where podcaster Michael Hobbes discussed how it’s not certain that Depp’s vocal supporters on the internet were real people or merely bots.
Cut to Depp’s lawyer Ben Chew, who denied the idea that there was an online campaign in Depp’s favor, telling NBC, “That was absolutely absurd and baseless.”
Unsealed documents revealed that Depp kicked Heard on a private plane
Over 6,000 documents related to this case were unsealed due to campaigning and requests from criminal defense attorney Andrea Burkhart and viewers of this trial. Many assumed that the sealed documents contained more ammo that would support Depp. However, what was found inside those were unsettling messages about a private plane incident that shook many.
NEtflix
Depp’s assistant Stephen Deuters reportedly wrote to Heard about the Boston to L.A. flight: “He was appalled. When I told him he kicked you he cried.”
This revelation definitely widened the perspectives of Depp’s blind supporters. However, Deuters has since claimed the texts were “heavily doctored” and that he never saw Depp beat Heard.
The social media conversations did tip the scales in one party’s favour which somehow influenced the case’s outcome
Back in December of 2022, Heard settled with Depp to the tune of 1 million dollars. Amber took to instagram to explain how the online vitriol she faced compelled her towards the decision of settlement. She wrote,
“It’s important for me to say that I never chose this. I defended my truth and in doing so my life as I knew it was destroyed. The vilification I have faced on social media is an amplified version of the ways in which women are re-victimised when they come forward,”
HDQwalls
The seven jurors agreed that Heard had malicious intent behind the 2018 op-ed published for The Washington Post.
Following the verdict, a lot of chatter ensued that ‘lopsided’ social media views and posts about Johnny Depp’s defamation trial “influenced” the verdict which turned the courtroom into a zoo. Come to think of it, the jurors could not have managed to completely cut off from coming in contact with all that was floating around.
Here’s how the internet is reacting:
People who are saying that social media influenced the outcome of the verdict are delusional. Anybody who watched the #DeppVHeard trial live, the evidence, the testimonies, and especially her testimony, knows it, including the jury. 🤷♀️ pic.twitter.com/b10pRQ8pir
— 🏴☠️Lyra Willow Irani 💚💚🤍🦁☀️🤍❤️❤️ (@LyraWillow) August 17, 2023
I’m still struggling to figure out why it was easier to believe that a 22-year-old plotted an elaborate abuse hoax, involving multiple conspirators & photos & texts & emails etc, rather than believe a man w/ a violent history was violent under the influence sometimes #DeppVHeard https://t.co/HGHALuH9Ho
— Miranda Fitch (@miranda_alls) August 16, 2023
If you really want to understand the dynamics of the trial, take a look at how Johnny Depp fans and supporters behave. The mob, cult like mentality they exhibit isn’t any different than the women who became groupies for serial killers. #DeppVHeard #IStandWithAmberHeard pic.twitter.com/FYXHA41X9p
— Wendy. Mrs. Torrance if you’re Nasty (@WendyTsRevenge) August 17, 2023
#DeppVHeard only 20 mins in and it’s nauseating. Depp is without a doubt just another abusive wealthy white male. Ask any woman who has experienced it herself.
— Jessamy Robblee-Haehn (@JessamyRobblee) August 16, 2023
To all Depp supporters who wouldn’t stop defending him last year, your boy is abusive with has a history of alcohol/substance misuse. #DeppVHeard
— Hina Khan (@sabeen00) August 16, 2023
‘‘We now live in a time where we don’t necessarily believe who’s right, we believe who we like the most because of who they are” – Deep VS Heard .
An inconsistent docuseries but if you are watching carefully, you’ll know why Depp won and Heard lost. 😶 #DeppVHeard pic.twitter.com/4NRmUpi6fK— Nidhie Sharma (@IamNidhieSharma) August 17, 2023
Last year, Amber Heard was treated abysmally by so many people. And misinformation about her still persists. She deserves a huge apology. #IStandWithAmberHeard #JohnnyDeppIsAWifeBeater #DeppVHeard https://t.co/Q5FGslalHv
— stanci (@stancidru) August 17, 2023
I just watched the series and I’m utterly shocked. Just few minutes in, and I could just feel Amber’s pain. That woman, she’s one strong warrior. She stood against a powerful successful man and also against an entire world that was out to ruin her. May she find peace #DeppVHeard
— Ray (@raychogi) August 17, 2023
Feminism has a long way to go. Just in case anyone was uncertain: Johnny Depp is a POS #DeppVHeard
— jessica sher (@jessicasher7) August 17, 2023
What’s always bothered me about Depp v. Heard was how Depp himself completely agreed that he was often wasted & under the influence of drugs. And yet he claimed perfect clarity of all his actions? You’re kidding me right? #DeppVHeard #theybothamess
— Annicia Kendall (@Annicia_Leigh) August 17, 2023
Congratulations, internet. You sided with a psychopath cocaine addict. #DeppVHeard
— AR 🕷 (@Anonymouslybug) August 17, 2023
People who are saying that social media didn’t influence the outcome of that trial are delusional. Anybody with a phone and internet saw a #DeppVHeard post including the jury.
— a dot sales (@well_AngieSays) August 17, 2023
do yall know how scary it is witnessing depp’s behaviour in the video evidences? claiming he is not abusive or violent just because he looked and sounded honest and genuine is pure mad. #DeppVHeard
— すけい (@skeiji_) August 17, 2023
#DeppVHeard
Johnny Depp is a nasty, mean man w multiple addiction issues. No woman in their right mind would have anything to do w such a volatile, cruel, misogynistic person. Every woman he’s ever been involved w has had to call the police for protection from him /1— LCSW (@Envirovegan11) August 17, 2023
#DeppVHeard a very well made documentary. A serious look at domestic violence. An introspection of the times we live in where online opinion can shape a trial to a large extent. It’s amazing that majority of women were strongly supporting #JohnnyDepp! So much for women solidarity
— Santanu (@santanu68) August 16, 2023
Conclusion:
It’s a he-said she-said case where only the two involved in it know the ultimate truth. If you keep aside your personal biases, it’s not hard to notice that in some way both Amber Heard and Johnny Depp showcased similar characteristic traits. It won’t be wrong to say that the duo was violent towards each other and are equally guilty. Depp is not a saint that he was portrayed out to be and Heard isn’t the only villain in this circus.
The bottom line is that two troubled people washed their dirty linen in public and kept the world engrossed in their personal lives. How soon can they and the world put this behind them is a question for another day.
Overall, the docuseries doesn’t have much to offer apart from some new details. Let’s call it a decent watch and get on to other things, shall we?
Depp V. Heard is available to stream on Netflix.
(To read more such stories related to movies and shows released on OTTs, keep reading Indiatimes BINGE)
