With the ongoing defamation case of Johnny Depp against his ex-wife Amber Heard still being broadcast, it seems that the court of public opinion has ruled in favor of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” actor. People on platforms such as TikTok and Twitter are siding with Depp in an overwhelming majority.
The lawsuit is over an essay that Heard submitted to The Washington Post where she implies that she was a victim of domestic abuse by her former husband. The allegations carry on previous allegations Heard made during her 2016 divorce with Johnny. Depp is suing Heard for $50 million while Heard is countersuing for $100 million.
The trend of public opinion seems to stem from the fact that current evidence in the form of audio recordings that have been widely publicized shows Heard as the aggressor in their marital altercations while Depp seems to be a victim who is attempting to deescalate the situation. Content creators on TikTok have expressed their support for Depp by editing clips and pointing out key moments that they believe support the idea that Depp is the victim in the domestic abuse patterns.
Some platform users have posed theories that Heard is employing psychological manipulation in court with the clothes that she is wearing and other subtle tactics. Others point to the abusive actions of heard during the marriage that include drinking regularly in the home when Depp was battling his alcoholism problem. Many posters also argue that heard has an unfair advantage as a female, theorizing that women are often assumed to be the victim in domestic abuse cases.
Some experts have theorized that Depp’s popularity as the Jack Sparrow character in his movies has created a loyal fan base that is speaking out on social media to help sway public opinion in his favor. Users express opinions that Heard has gained most of her celebrity status due to legal actions in the past with her husband, and they suggest that her recent article follows a pattern of trying to gain approval and exposure to the public with inflammatory and perhaps false accusations.
Hashtags on social media that include “JusticeForJohnnyDepp” have been tweeted thousands of times and viewed more than 3 billion times. A number of theories by content creators and experts are circulating that provide some insights about the public’s favoritism toward Depp; however, the trial is far from over, expected to go on for weeks in the Fairfax County, Virginia courtroom.
