Thank you for this. I never took sides either, but the Johnny stans have been creepy, culty, and disturbing. And Heard has been disproportionately crucified a thousand times harder than legitimate celebrity criminals who did horrible, proven things. It has made me sick to my stomach to watch.
I have to share that this case validates my logic for not coming out against a public figure for assault over 20 years ago. He straight out and asked me, "And what are you gonna do about it'? And what I am most livid about is that he was right. I will take it to my grave because I will not be dragged through the mud for responding to what he did. The worst part is when they know they can do things and get away with them. They are the absolute most heinous. The power. The existing reality. On that note, I have experience in social work, Mental health, time as a probation officer and now in law school. I watched both cases and will follow the appeal. This is still largely a woman's issue. Something being a woman's issue doesn't mean that men are never hurt. le sigh.
I'm not a "stan" of Johnny Depp (WTF does "stan" even mean?). I'm more of a music guy than a movie guy at any rate. I saw one of my favorite Law Nerd lawyers streaming it with commentary so I actually watched the trial (no, I don't work thankyouverymuch) and listened to the evidence and have a brain with which to evaluate said evidence and was able to tell who was lying. It was overwhelmingly AH. She admitted to abusing him on her recordings AND on the stand. She admitted that her op-ed was about Johnny, thereby proving defamation. It was a fascinating glimpse in how our court system works, what strategies lawyers use, and how the law is applied. Anyone who cares to can go find all the evidence and stream it for themselves. Or they can find clips with commentary from actual lawyers (my favorite is Emily D Baker). I'm fucking furious with AH trying to gaslight people into believing she is the victim when she is actually the aggressor. I grew up with domestic abuse and SA happening. I know what that looks like. This idea that we should Believe All Women is what is harming the Metoo movement. All victims deserve to have their claims of DA/SA investigated and the perpetrators should be tried in a court of law IF that investigation supports the claims of the victim. Men. Are. Victims. Too. and it is woefully under-reported because men are taught that they are supposed to Be Strong and Be Tough and Show No Weakness.
Thank you, and I respect your opinion and I also did not watch any of the hearings. BUT I have another take due to my own family's experiences; my father abused my mother, but my brother was abused by his second wife. Neither abuse was visible to outsiders but I could hear the yelling and the hitting, my mother showed me the big hole in the drywall where my father once punched it next to her head. I could see the signs of my brother being abused as his wife slowly isolated him from his friends and family, even openly treating his daughter from his first wife more like a maid than a guest in their home (she refused to visit him again). Both my mom and my brother eventually freed themselves from their abusers, mom never remarried but my brother did and now has a wonderful wife and two kids graduating from high school.
We can't really form opinions on who abused who in the HearDepp relationship despite any evidence presented, we can only delude ourselves into thinking we should support one or the other based on already formed opinions. IMHO it's not entirely outlandish to believe Depp because I've seen it before, and not entirely outlandish to believe Heard because I've seen THAT too.
I also think that the circus was appalling, especially the cruelty displayed towards Heard. What little snippets I saw made me think her legal team was incompetent while Depp's team was extremely effective. This of course doesn't mean he's entirely innocent either, he has a well known history of being a "bad boy" due to his drug use. I don't know much about her, but some of her costars have said good things about her.
He won in the US, she won in the UK, and neither really won at all.
I also tried not to follow the case, though it was nearly impossible not to. And I am truly disgusted by the comments made by female friends on my FB feed about Amber. Depp lost a defamation case in the UK in 2020 in which a gossip mag called him a "wife beater", and the mag brought forward enough compelling evidence that a judge ruled against Depp. FWIW, because of the laws in the UK it is generally very easy for plaintiffs to win defamation cases there, making it a draw for that kind of lawsuit, so it's significant that Depp lost. I learned a long time ago that popular figures are often not good people, so I usually try not to know too much about anyone in particular in order to continue to enjoy their work. Maybe Amber was abusive, but that does not mean Depp was innocent. https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2022/06/01/johnny-depp-libel-law-uk-us/
As a woman, I too have been the victim of several types of abuse. But the most painful thing I’ve seen is a woman using her gifts to purposely hurt another. In the Heard case, she doesn’t even lie/act well, which is another assault on the senses.
I ask that you do more homework on this one, otherwise it’s…
I am deeply disturbed by the depth of depraved behaviour on display in regards to this case. I haven’t even seen child sex offenders or men who kill their wives and children, receive the level of condemnation that Ms Heard is receiving. It is hateful, vicious, and deeply immoral.
It also hasn’t escaped my attention that not one single person I know personally, who has pledged their support for Mr Depp under the banner of #menarevictimstoo, has ever to my knowledge posted anything to show their outrage at the level of violence being directed at women and children (not even when they die).
Even if I were of the view that Ms Heard & Mr Depp were mutual combatants (which I’m not), the fact that Ms Heard is more deeply hated than men who rape children (Roman Polanski, Jeffrey Epstein & Woody Allen, for example) is REALLY BIZARRE and profoundly disturbing.
Thank you for this post. For some good perspective on how gender biases, patriarchal culture and psychology play into this, here are 3 very good reads:
Dunno if you ever find time to read this but as an impartial observer I could shed some light. I never stanned or was a fan of any artist. I never saw the point of idolizing an actor/artist. This trial caught my attention because of the implications the verdict may have at first, then I just got curious and started watching, from an impartial view.
''Both are fucked'' if you take it from the avarage joes view, just because they did drugs etc. But taking drugs in reality doesn't make you a wife better, violent or a bad person by itself. It may get the bad side of you out with some drugs that lower the inhibition, but that's it. Many people use drugs and are functioning people, addiction is a mental disease and different fro mdependence.
And that's all Amber's team had. A bunch of people accusing him of doing drugs, to make it up for the lack of evidence of being a wife beater. That, and a bunch of photos, where since Amber always looks like she has purple cheeks, the colours where intensifieid to look a bit like bruises and a Data expert noticed the photos where touched.
On the other hand Johnny had a shitload of evidence, of her being bad to him, and owners who amber said their property was trashed by johny only to turn up later and say it's not true out of their own will, many proving her a liar.
So the combination of lies and lack of evidence and the focus on his drug use to make up for all the lacking will show anyone who is not a fan that Johnny was no wife beater and she ruined his reputation for nothing plus putting bad light on victims of abuse.
Also - they lived with several people most of their relationship in their house, and most of them where Amber's people freeloading of him, so evidence of him beating the shit out of her as she claimed should have been a piece of pie, but all they could get was a video of him punching furniture and clothes. So I kinda understand the Fans getting crazy against her even though I don't understand being a fan in itself.
Well said, though to be fair I expect nothing less. I tried to avoid as much of it as I could as well; it all seems like the entire intent was to drag Heard while glossing over that they both seem to be toxic, abusive people.
Thank you for this. I never took sides either, but the Johnny stans have been creepy, culty, and disturbing. And Heard has been disproportionately crucified a thousand times harder than legitimate celebrity criminals who did horrible, proven things. It has made me sick to my stomach to watch.
*Applause*
Reading about the victims who have asked to withdraw their statements out of fear of being similarly targeted is also heartbreaking AF.
I notice the side takers are out in full force and have entirely missed the point.
I have to share that this case validates my logic for not coming out against a public figure for assault over 20 years ago. He straight out and asked me, "And what are you gonna do about it'? And what I am most livid about is that he was right. I will take it to my grave because I will not be dragged through the mud for responding to what he did. The worst part is when they know they can do things and get away with them. They are the absolute most heinous. The power. The existing reality. On that note, I have experience in social work, Mental health, time as a probation officer and now in law school. I watched both cases and will follow the appeal. This is still largely a woman's issue. Something being a woman's issue doesn't mean that men are never hurt. le sigh.
This domestic violence survivor thanks you for this (and compliments you your writing-style). ✊
I'm not a "stan" of Johnny Depp (WTF does "stan" even mean?). I'm more of a music guy than a movie guy at any rate. I saw one of my favorite Law Nerd lawyers streaming it with commentary so I actually watched the trial (no, I don't work thankyouverymuch) and listened to the evidence and have a brain with which to evaluate said evidence and was able to tell who was lying. It was overwhelmingly AH. She admitted to abusing him on her recordings AND on the stand. She admitted that her op-ed was about Johnny, thereby proving defamation. It was a fascinating glimpse in how our court system works, what strategies lawyers use, and how the law is applied. Anyone who cares to can go find all the evidence and stream it for themselves. Or they can find clips with commentary from actual lawyers (my favorite is Emily D Baker). I'm fucking furious with AH trying to gaslight people into believing she is the victim when she is actually the aggressor. I grew up with domestic abuse and SA happening. I know what that looks like. This idea that we should Believe All Women is what is harming the Metoo movement. All victims deserve to have their claims of DA/SA investigated and the perpetrators should be tried in a court of law IF that investigation supports the claims of the victim. Men. Are. Victims. Too. and it is woefully under-reported because men are taught that they are supposed to Be Strong and Be Tough and Show No Weakness.
Live in Queensland where a certain pirate movie was made.
Friend posted memory of meeting Captain Jack.
I commented that it must have been during the trip where he was found to have violated his wife with a bottle.
Sick of the white-anting (Australian slang for undermining) of Amber on social media.
Well done
Thank you, and I respect your opinion and I also did not watch any of the hearings. BUT I have another take due to my own family's experiences; my father abused my mother, but my brother was abused by his second wife. Neither abuse was visible to outsiders but I could hear the yelling and the hitting, my mother showed me the big hole in the drywall where my father once punched it next to her head. I could see the signs of my brother being abused as his wife slowly isolated him from his friends and family, even openly treating his daughter from his first wife more like a maid than a guest in their home (she refused to visit him again). Both my mom and my brother eventually freed themselves from their abusers, mom never remarried but my brother did and now has a wonderful wife and two kids graduating from high school.
We can't really form opinions on who abused who in the HearDepp relationship despite any evidence presented, we can only delude ourselves into thinking we should support one or the other based on already formed opinions. IMHO it's not entirely outlandish to believe Depp because I've seen it before, and not entirely outlandish to believe Heard because I've seen THAT too.
I also think that the circus was appalling, especially the cruelty displayed towards Heard. What little snippets I saw made me think her legal team was incompetent while Depp's team was extremely effective. This of course doesn't mean he's entirely innocent either, he has a well known history of being a "bad boy" due to his drug use. I don't know much about her, but some of her costars have said good things about her.
He won in the US, she won in the UK, and neither really won at all.
I also tried not to follow the case, though it was nearly impossible not to. And I am truly disgusted by the comments made by female friends on my FB feed about Amber. Depp lost a defamation case in the UK in 2020 in which a gossip mag called him a "wife beater", and the mag brought forward enough compelling evidence that a judge ruled against Depp. FWIW, because of the laws in the UK it is generally very easy for plaintiffs to win defamation cases there, making it a draw for that kind of lawsuit, so it's significant that Depp lost. I learned a long time ago that popular figures are often not good people, so I usually try not to know too much about anyone in particular in order to continue to enjoy their work. Maybe Amber was abusive, but that does not mean Depp was innocent. https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2022/06/01/johnny-depp-libel-law-uk-us/
As a woman, I too have been the victim of several types of abuse. But the most painful thing I’ve seen is a woman using her gifts to purposely hurt another. In the Heard case, she doesn’t even lie/act well, which is another assault on the senses.
I ask that you do more homework on this one, otherwise it’s…
Lies, damned lies and statistics. Mark Twain
I am deeply disturbed by the depth of depraved behaviour on display in regards to this case. I haven’t even seen child sex offenders or men who kill their wives and children, receive the level of condemnation that Ms Heard is receiving. It is hateful, vicious, and deeply immoral.
It also hasn’t escaped my attention that not one single person I know personally, who has pledged their support for Mr Depp under the banner of #menarevictimstoo, has ever to my knowledge posted anything to show their outrage at the level of violence being directed at women and children (not even when they die).
Even if I were of the view that Ms Heard & Mr Depp were mutual combatants (which I’m not), the fact that Ms Heard is more deeply hated than men who rape children (Roman Polanski, Jeffrey Epstein & Woody Allen, for example) is REALLY BIZARRE and profoundly disturbing.
Thank you for this post. For some good perspective on how gender biases, patriarchal culture and psychology play into this, here are 3 very good reads:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jun/01/amber-heard-johnny-depp-trial-metoo-backlash
https://www.thenation.com/article/society/amber-heard-johnny-depp-defamation/?fbclid=IwAR1ST_cOPFwPwEwZVrJ5RahSosL1Xw-v44sOlFwA1-KBRhFbhQ5iY99Bz_4
https://medium.com/invisible-illness/cognitive-dissonance-and-narcissistic-abuse-dbeaf83d1d93
Dunno if you ever find time to read this but as an impartial observer I could shed some light. I never stanned or was a fan of any artist. I never saw the point of idolizing an actor/artist. This trial caught my attention because of the implications the verdict may have at first, then I just got curious and started watching, from an impartial view.
''Both are fucked'' if you take it from the avarage joes view, just because they did drugs etc. But taking drugs in reality doesn't make you a wife better, violent or a bad person by itself. It may get the bad side of you out with some drugs that lower the inhibition, but that's it. Many people use drugs and are functioning people, addiction is a mental disease and different fro mdependence.
And that's all Amber's team had. A bunch of people accusing him of doing drugs, to make it up for the lack of evidence of being a wife beater. That, and a bunch of photos, where since Amber always looks like she has purple cheeks, the colours where intensifieid to look a bit like bruises and a Data expert noticed the photos where touched.
On the other hand Johnny had a shitload of evidence, of her being bad to him, and owners who amber said their property was trashed by johny only to turn up later and say it's not true out of their own will, many proving her a liar.
So the combination of lies and lack of evidence and the focus on his drug use to make up for all the lacking will show anyone who is not a fan that Johnny was no wife beater and she ruined his reputation for nothing plus putting bad light on victims of abuse.
Also - they lived with several people most of their relationship in their house, and most of them where Amber's people freeloading of him, so evidence of him beating the shit out of her as she claimed should have been a piece of pie, but all they could get was a video of him punching furniture and clothes. So I kinda understand the Fans getting crazy against her even though I don't understand being a fan in itself.
Not gonna lie, I was worried when I saw you had posted. So happy to breathe a sigh of relief that you see the bigger picture.
Well said, though to be fair I expect nothing less. I tried to avoid as much of it as I could as well; it all seems like the entire intent was to drag Heard while glossing over that they both seem to be toxic, abusive people.