Social media trial of Amber Heard by Johnny Depp fans devastating for those facing domestic violence

The defamation trial involving the two actors triggered a social media firestorm which will have a profound impact on whether survivors of domestic abuse come forward with their stories in the future

Salomé Grouard

Published: 11:30am, 3 Jun 2022

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Are we tired of hearing about the Heard vs Depp lawsuit? Yes, we are. The defamation suit American actor Johnny Depp filed against his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, has been everywhere – in the news, on social media and in everyday conversation for at least six weeks.

A Virginia jury ruled this week that Heard defamed Depp when she called herself “a public figure representing domestic abuse” in a Washington Post opinion piece published in 2018. The jury awarded Depp US$15 million in damages, while awarding Heard US$2 million in damages in her countersuit.

As the trial progressed, the case, which involved allegations of domestic violence, took on a disturbing form on social media, which will have a profound impact on whether survivors of domestic abuse come forward with their stories in the future.

Saying that social media shaped public opinion of this trial would be an understatement. Social media algorithms ensured our feeds were filled with fan-made compilations of the trial, which was live-streamed after the judge in Virginia allowed cameras in the courtroom.

Initially, many of these clips were about how “funny and entertaining” Depp’s responses to Heard’s lawyer were. “You would sometimes drink whiskey in the mornings too, right?” the lawyer is heard asking in one clip. “Isn’t it happy hour anytime?” Depp answers.

Then, the “Jack Sparrow run” challenge – in which people recreated the comical sprint of the character Depp played in the Pirates of the Caribbean film – appeared on TikTok. Pictures of Depp in his 20s began to make the rounds on the internet again, with some describing him as “ageing like fine wine”.

In contrast, videos of Heard largely involved her testimony being mocked and ridiculed. Language-learning app Duolingo made a quip about Heard’s testimony on TikTok and Singapore’s National Crime Prevention Council used an image of her from the trial in a meme.

The views on the #justiceforamberheard hashtag on TikTok represent less than 1 per cent of the views the #justiceforjohnnydepp hashtag garnered. The deluge of abusive content targeting Heard isn’t “public opinion” but was part of a larger misinformation campaign.

Cyabra, an Israeli firm that tracks online disinformation, became interested in the level of pro-Depp online traffic. They found that nearly 11 per cent of the conversation around the trial was driven by fake accounts, compared to around 3 to 5 per cent for average conversations. The proportion of fake accounts posting about the trial was akin to that during a big election campaign, the company’s spokesperson said.

In some quarters, Heard’s loss is seen as a win for male victims of domestic abuse. While this issue definitely deserves more visibility and support, many are trying to use the verdict as part of a long-awaited backlash against the MeToo movement.

We must remember that the trial was a defamation lawsuit, not a criminal one. Heard was never sued for or convicted of “abusing” Depp, but for writing a sentence that didn’t mention him by name in an opinion piece. This, we are told, hurt his career.

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Finding both were defamed, jury awards Johnny Depp US$15m and Amber Heard US$2m

Critics of the #MeToo movement have long said that women have “gone too far”. This trial is, for them, a chance to show that “men are the real victims”.

Depp’s fans are now rallying around his friend, singer Marilyn Manson, who has filed a defamation lawsuit against his ex-partner, actor Evan Rachel Wood. Since Wood accused Manson of sexual abuse early last year, more than 16 women have accused him of sexual assault and battery.

Every year in the United States, 10 million people are abused by an intimate partner. What’s terrifying about Heard being silenced is that she had more evidence of domestic violence than most survivors do. She presented photos, videos, text messages, audio recordings and eyewitnesses. Despite this, she was still not believed because she didn’t act like a “perfect victim”.

Despite texts where Depp said he wanted to “burn” Heard and that he would “f***k her burnt corpse” to “make sure she is dead”, many preferred to criticise the actress’ body language and facial expressions, with one Twitter user saying that the trial “was the best role of her life”.

This case should prompt reflection on how we perceive survivors of domestic abuse and their portrayal on social media. If Heard’s reams of evidence and lawyers weren’t enough to convince the jury and the court of public opinion, what hope do women of more humble financial means, with less support or a smaller platform, have?

Salomé Grouard is production editor, social media, at the Post