The libel lawsuit between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard stirred the web last spring, sparking a massive smear campaign against the actress.
The revelation of 6,000 pages of unpublished documents showed evidence of physical, psychological and sexual violence by Johnny Depp towards his ex-wife.
On social networks, the hashtag #AmberHeardDeservesAnApology is heard, calling to support the actress.
It was the trial that had agitated the spring: actor Johnny Depp accused his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, of defamation on the domestic and sexual violence she allegedly experienced.
Six weeks of American trial, broadcast live on YouTube, where the two actors each testified to their version of the story.
Outside the courtroom, actress Amber Heard suffered a violent smear campaign on social networks: the trial, massively commented on with YouTube videos with spectacular titles, memes on Tik Tok or tweets, gave Johnny Depp “winning”.
The hashtags #AmberHeardIsALiar (Amber Heard is a liar), #AmberTurd (Amber Shit) or #AmberHeardIsAPsycho (Amber Heard is a lunatic) exploded online, exposing massive cyberbullying of the actress,
In the United States, many feminist activists have denounced the media and digital treatment of the trial, describing the hatred mobilized towards Amber Heard as a "backlash" of the MeToo movement: after the massive denunciations denouncing the aggressors and harassers, many anti-feminist Internet users have seized the Depp/Heard trial as a pretext for unlimited misogyny.
Even before entering the courtroom, it's as if Amber Heard has already lost in the eyes of the public.
Especially since in recent years, defamation lawsuits have multiplied against women who have testified to sexist and sexual violence;
a way of silencing the victims and making them fear reprisals.
The trial concluded on June 1,
condemning Amber Heard to pay more than 10 million dollars to her ex-husband, making a triumphant Johnny Depp all smiles, who would be cleared of all suspicion.
That was reckoning without the revelation of new documents.
Evidence of sexual violence, alcoholism, revenge porn and hidden texting
It all starts with Andrea Burkhart, lawyer and youtuber.
On her YouTube channel, she carefully follows the Depp/Heard trial, and analyzes it.
If her angle is legal, the lawyer lets her opinion shine through.
According to her, Amber Heard's story was an "abuse hoax" (a hoax, in short).
So when she learns, on July 20, that more than 6,000 pages of declassified documents (and not used at the hearing) are accessible, she organizes a fundraiser on Twitter to finance obtaining a copy of these documents. .
Within an hour, pro-Depp netizens blew up the donation goal, and a few weeks later, Andrea Burkhart received the documents.
Guys we are already over $3,100 in less than an hour.
This community is amazing!
Thank you all so much for pitching in to help.
I can't wait to get all this new info out for you!
https://t.co/jaNRw9iI9Y
— Andrea Burkhart 🐟🐟🐟🐟🏴☠️ (@aburkhartlaw) July 19, 2022
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The lawyer (and the rest of the internet, once the documents are posted online) uncovers ample evidence, not presented to the court, of Johnny Depp's abuse and manipulation of Amber Heard.
Several doctors attest to the sexual violence experienced and testify to the post-traumatic stress from which the actress suffers, text messages between Johnny Depp and his friends (including the singer Marilyn Manson, accused by a dozen women of sexual violence) where he affirms the having “struck” during a plane flight… Johnny Depp would also have tried to present naked photos of his ex-wife, or to mention the fact that she was an “exotic dancer” before their meeting, which would discredit her in the eyes of the jury.
Finally,
Johnny Depp fans paid $3k to unseal the court documents just to get dirt on Amber, but ended up unintentionally exposing Depp and information he tried to keep private instead.
A thread 🧵🪡 pic.twitter.com/NzH8eD1yJI
— chateau bunny (@cocainecross) July 30, 2022
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Between "unlike" and public apologies, the backpedaling of Johnny Depp's supporters
We also discover that Amber Heard refused “tens of millions of dollars” in her divorce from the actor.
For her, this divorce "is not a question of money", which thwarts the accusations of greed towards the actress.
Finally, an exchange of text messages between Johnny Depp and actor Paul Bettany particularly reacted online: the two men suggested that Amber Heard take the “float test” to determine if she is a “witch”.
During witchcraft trials in the 16th century, women accused of being witches were thrown into a river, bound hand and foot.
If they floated, they were declared witches: in any case, the women would die from this "test".
In this exchange of messages, Depp replied "Let's drown there before we burn it!!!
AMBER HEARD RENAISSANCE IS COMING 🤍#AmberHeardDeservesAnApology#IBelieveAmberHeard https://t.co/YPeLjvXZ02 pic.twitter.com/Ni25BUhYRn
—ℛ.
(@iiirr99_) August 27, 2022
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Following these revelations, the tide seems to be turning.
Web sleuths have shown that many celebrities have removed their likes from Johnny Depp's posts, including the post announcing his "victory" at his trial.
Among the celebrities mentioned, the model Bella Hadid or the actress Halle Bailey.
On the social media side, the hashtag #AmberHeardDeservesAnApology (Amber Heard deserves an apology) appeared on Twitter.
Celebrities like model Emily Ratajkowski have expressed their support for Amber Heard, and thousands of internet users have come to the actress's defence, denouncing the manipulation strategies of Johnny Depp's legal team in order to put in his pocket public opinion.
Do the charges really destroy the abusers' careers?
Especially since a few days ago, the MTV Video Music Awards, or VMA for short, surprised to receive a real-fake Johnny Depp disguised as an astronaut.
If he wasn't there in the flesh, his face was digitally inserted into an astronaut helmet.
In addition to the staging, it is especially the "jokes" of the actor who did not make you laugh: "I just want you to know that I am available for birthdays, Bar Mitzvahs, weddings, alarm clocks – whatever you need,” he chuckled.
Discomfort in the assembly.
Here's the compilation video of all #JohnnyDepp's part during the MTV VMA's, incase anyone missed out of any parts of it ☺️👍🏼 (including the ending part ☺️) #JusticeForJohnnyDepp #JohnnyDeppRisesVMA #JohnnyDeppRisesMTV #NeverFearTruth #MoonManDepp pic.twitter.com/1WfrWXegVD
— Jerrie Depp (@JerrieDepp) August 29, 2022
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Especially since Johnny Depp's career does not seem to be going so badly: he is the hero of Maïwenn's next historical film where he will play King Louis XV, and is currently on tour with musician Jeff Beck to promote their joint album.
On the brand side, her contract with Dior as the face of the Sauvage perfume would have been renewed, for a seven-figure sum.
Moreover, he joined Tik Tok and has over 16 million subscribers, a sign that fans haven't abandoned him.
However, there could be a new Depp/Heard defamation lawsuit: the actress had appealed her libel conviction.
The actor went further by asking him to cancel his three defamation convictions, notably in the United Kingdom.
It remains to be seen how public opinion will react in the light of these new revelations.
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