Johnny Depp (58) is according to his ex-wife Amber Heard (35) an alcoholic and a drug addict with a short fuse. She accuses him of physical assault in a lawsuit, and the evidence her lawyers come up with is not good. Text messages have been read in which Depp wrote to his friends that he hoped “Amber’s rotten body will decompose somewhere in the goddamn trunk of a Honda Civic.”
Alle details
The trial between Depp and Heard can be followed via a live stream, which is being done from around the world. Claims run into the millions and the most bizarre and embarrassing details of their relationship are exposed.
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Actor Johnny Depp and model and actress Amber Heard married in 2015. More than a year later, the two divorced. Heard said he was physically and mentally abused by him, Depp denied that. It was quiet for a while between the two, until Heard in 2018 in an opinion piece The Washington Post wrote in which she said she was a victim of domestic violence.
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She didn’t mention a name, but according to Depp, it’s clear she was pointing at him. He sued her for defamation and is demanding 50 million. Heard filed a counter-claim for $100 million.
Lost role
In 2020, Depp already lost a case in England against the British newspaper The Sun, which had called him a ‘woman swatter’. All the commotion has caused him to lose his role in the third Fantastic Beasts film.
The public also initially turned against Depp. But now that the case has been widely reported and the details revealed, public opinion seems to have turned in its favour.
How did that happen? “In the US there are a lot of people who think that the MeToo movement has gone too far, that men are accused of something even the slightest thing,” says America correspondent Erik Mouthaan. “These people are now behind Johnny Depp, because they have now been confirmed.”
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Because according to Depp’s testimonies, he is the victim. He told how he lost the tip of his finger when Heard threw a bottle of vodka at him. And that he regularly locked himself in the bathroom when she had another tantrum.
‘Damage to MeToo movement’
Mouthaan: ”The MeToo movement wants women to be believed more. Because why would a woman make up such a thing? In that sense, this case could harm the MeToo movement. Because now many Americans will say: it can also be that a woman is lying and has her own agenda.”
Depp concluded his testimony with an audio clip in which Heard challenges him to come forward publicly with his claim to be a victim of violence. “Tell the world, Johnny,” we hear her say. “Tell them: I, Johnny Depp – a man – am a victim of domestic violence. And see how many people will believe you.”
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On the Internet, the actor has a large number of people behind him. Twitter and TikTok are full of messages of support using the hashtag #JusticeforJohnny.
Quickly ready our opinion
”Public opinion about people can turn very quickly”, says reputation expert Derk Moor. ”We have our opinion ready very quickly. And that certainly applies to social media.”
According to Moor, his popularity and his successful career work in Depp’s favor: “He was always a bit of a crowd favorite. He played popular roles such as Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean. He was a celebrated actor, people tend to think back to how such a situation used to be than the other way around.”
Although, according to the reputation expert, it can just turn around again. “If he suddenly said something very strange, for example, or if Heard comes up with new intense stories during her testimonials.”
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The trial will last about three weeks. Whatever the verdict, according to Mouthaan, Depp probably won’t come out completely unscathed. “The details on his side are still not pretty. The question is whether people will queue again to hire him.”
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