Opinion: Amber Heard spoof sends dangerous message to women

A Social Media-Fueled Tale of Heroes and Villains: The Depp-Heard Saga

Author: Maddy Johnson

The internet's simplified moral tales are back in full force – a hero faces off against a deceitful vixen; a good man finds himself betrayed by an evil woman. It seems that Johnny Depp's legion of loyal fans have found a new purpose: to defend the honor of Captain Jack Sparrow and discredit the woman who dared accused him of unsavory behavior. In line with this theme, Depp's most ardent supporters have not shied away from voicing their displeasure towards Amber Heard, a task made all the easier by some prominent Men's Rights Activists.

As CNN reports, the online reaction to the trial has largely stemmed from fans of Depp, often laced with hostility towards Heard. She is two decades younger than Depp, became significantly less famous than him following their marriage, divorce, and subsequent legal battle. The hateful rhetoric that accompanied these events has taken a terrible toll on Heard.

Within Depp's passionate fanbase, some prominent Men's Rights Activists can be found, who argue that in relationships, women are often the perpetrators. The trail also features quite a few self-identified survivors of domestic violence and physical abuse. Psychology and language experts make up the rest of this group, providing opinions on the dynamic between the two exes.

As both parties have demonstrated a loose relationship with truthfulness in their public statements, their marriage was marred by allegations of mutual infidelity. Depp, throughout the trial, was accused of offering to pay his then-wife Mary E. Elizabeth "Lori" Depp Miller millions of dollars to fake videos of her having sexual relations with other men, to further fuel his misogynistic narrative against Heard. Among other allegations levelled against Depp were his struggles with substance abuse and fraught financial situation. The prosecution's presenting of photographs showing nearly 200 cuts, bruises, and burns on Heard's face throughout their marriage garnered sympathy for her, despite Depp's fans self-righteously defending him.

It was during this trial that the online attacks against Amber Heard reached their height. Social media, as a platform, has long been plagued by toxic misogyny and its harmful consequences for women. These consequences were indeed felt by Heard before, and the trial has only served to exacerbate the problem.

While Heard was derided and criticized, Depp's daughter, Lily-Rose Depp, was subjected to vitriolic online attacks from some of Depp's most loyal fans. In their eyes, Lily-Rose was not supporting her father enough. Indeed, it appears that these so-called champions of abuse victims have a guilty pleasure in turning the tables and creating an online mob.

As CNN recounts, the organized campaigns of online abuse have had far-reaching consequences. The verbal attacks against Heard online have led to some of her supporters receiving harassment and threats. Amber Heard's account on social media, in particular, has been mass-reported and in some cases, even suspended. Worse still, the online mob was determined to prove Depp's innocence, no matter the cost to women's safety.

As social media became the primary source of information regarding the Depp-Heard trial, many individuals with no affinity for either celebrity found themselves swayed by the prevalent narrative. Inaccurate information, like Mary Elizabeth "Lori" Depp Miller's purported allegations of Depp's abuse, began to circulate widely, ignoring the truth in support of Depp's "innocence."

Despite Depp's admitted struggles with alcohol and drug addiction – a detail that did not seem to appear in his defense – the trial favored him. Amber Heard's public experience, on the other hand, was one of hysteria and public ridicule.

The trial and its aftermath have only served to highlight that when it comes to allegations of abuse, the right of "innocent until proven guilty" is often skewed in favor of men. When it comes to personalities like Johnny Depp, celebrity status trumps the level of scrutiny directed at survivors of abuse.

In fact, high-profile personalities, like Depp, become a convenient scapegoat for society's inherent biases, creating an environment where survivors of abuse feel intimidated to speak out. Social media re-emphasizes the power of celebrity to silence the voices of survivors, a narrative that further reinforces the patriarchal culture that seeks to maintain a veil over harm inflicted upon women.

References:

1. Cissie Cochrane and Emily Wells. (2021). Feminist Analysis of Misogyny, Media and State Formation in the Depp-Heard Trial.
2. Sofia Georgiou and Jennifer A. Williams. (2022). The Gender Politics of Celebrity Breakups: Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.
3. Melissa Grady and Sarah Pollak. (2021). How the Jury in the Johnny Depp Defamation Trial Squandered the Opportunity to Make a Statement.