After a widely publicized seven-week trial, a jury found Aquaman actress Amber Heard is guilty of defamation against her ex-husband, actor Johnny Depp, on Wednesday for one Washington Post op-ed in which she discusses her experiences with domestic abuse. Depp was awarded $15 million in punitive damages ($10.35 million under the state punitive damages limit), and Heard received $2 million.
Depp had previously lost a defamation lawsuit in the UK against Sun after the tabloids labeled him a “wife beater”, with the judge concluding that Depp had committed 12 of the 14 alleged incidents of violence against Heard. While she did not name Depp in Washington Post article, But the pirate of the Caribbean The star and his defense argue that Heard’s tacit accusations have hindered his career. At the same time, the jury sided with Heard over one of her claims that Depp’s attorney, Adam Waldman, smeared her when he called her abuse allegations a “hoax.” sends a rather confusing and sad message to victims of violence and intimate partner contexts. a troubling precedent for upcoming domestic abuse cases. (Waldman was also kicked out of the trial for leaking information to the press.)
Much of the online speeches during the trial (and most likely in the following days) focused on Depp’s feverish army of online supporters and the #JusticeForJohnnyDepp social media campaign. almost inevitable include propaganda sponsored by conservative media Daily rope. Depp also had many major allies in Hollywood throughout the legal process, including former partners Winona Ryder and Kate Moss, who later testified on his behalf in the trial, and close friend Paul Bettany. The Daily Beast more discover a handful of famous peoplesuch as Jennifer Aniston, Florence Pugh, Bella Hadid, Taika Waititi and Emma Roberts, liked Depp’s post-trial celebratory statements and other pro-Depp sentiments on Instagram.
The level of cruelty and ignorance displayed by Depp fans and supporters throughout the proceedings speaks volumes about the state of #MeToo and the limited understanding of our culture. about domestic abuse. But the silence that surrounds Heard, especially from her own industry, teaches an equally valuable lesson about the fickleness of celebrity-led social movements and the class solidarity among the rich and famous.
Besides Uncut Gems star Julia Fox, comedian Kathy Griffin and veteran actress (and former Depp) Ellen Barkin, who testified on Heard’s behalf, you’d be hard-pressed to find any celebrities currently speaking for Heard. Comedian Amy Schumer, an outspoken feminist, alluding to the outcome of the Depp/Heard hearing and the spectacle surrounding it, posted a Gloria Steinem quote on Instagram. However, for whatever reason, Schumer was uncomfortable calling Johnny Depp or explicitly referring to the incident the way she called it, such as Will Smith, because of his Oscars incident. . Heard of Aquaman co-star Jason Momoa love her statement on Instagram but weirdly Depp double tap too.
In particular, Heard’s lack of support from industry colleagues is telling that it was only five years ago when Hollywood rallied survivors of sexual assault and harassment following allegations against. Harvey Weinstein producer. A-list actors, filmmakers and entertainers – mostly women, but also some men – seem relaxed and even eager to discuss the abuses they have been subjected to suffer while working in Hollywood and encourage other survivors in career fields to share their stories. Some even apologized for working with predators in the past, like Woody Allen, Roman Polanski, and Weinstein. Their most notable collective effort was the founding of Time’s Up, a nonprofit that was originally established as a legitimate fund for victims of workplace harassment but took on a much more puzzling task in the following years.
“In particular, it is said that Heard’s lack of support from industry colleagues, given that it was only five years ago when Hollywood rallied survivors of sexual assault and harassment following allegations against producer Harvey Weinstein.”
From the outset, celebrity participation in Time’s Up was met with fierce criticism, as for the most part, the film and television stars representing the nonprofit were not activists and No organizational experience. Celebrity board members include Schumer, Brie Larson, Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Chastain, Kerry Washington, Laura Dern, Alyssa Milano, America Ferrera, and Julianne Moore, among others. Over time, their efforts also seem to be limited to increasing diversity and representation in Hollywood with little access to women across the economic sectors.
Since its launch in 2018, Time’s Up has also been criticized for the amount of the fundraiser allocated to employee salaries and disclosures by the group’s former CEO and co-founder. Tina Tchen advised the administration of former New York governor Andrew Cuomo after he was accused of sexual harassment in 2020. That was also the year that one of Time’s Up’s attorneys, Roberta Kaplan, who initially represented Time’s Up. representing Heard in defamation lawsuit Depp, withdrew from her lawsuit due to COVID “travel and logistics” issues. However, the organization has yet to comment on the virus smear campaign Heard has endured and the impact it may have on victims, such as other organizations since testing.
Amber Heard waits before the jury announces a split verdict in favor of both Johnny Depp and Amber Heard on their claim and counterclaim in Depp v. Heard civil libel trial at Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, on June 1, 2022.
Evelyn Hockstein / AFP / Getty
Regarding the famous women (and some men) who have become affiliated with Time’s Up and its mission, it seems that their social justice batteries have also been exhausted, even before Heard is accused. forcing abuse into fodder for the public. The last time we saw actors and directors like Ava DuVernay, Tracee Ellis Ross, Ellen Pompeo, Jennifer Aniston, Rashida Jones and Judd Apatow working publicly with the organization, they posted the hashtag #TimesUpGlobes in response to the details. revealed that Hollywood Foreign Press Association There were no Black members at the time. Ultimately, it’s a trivial, conservative initiative amid nationwide police brutality protests that have little or no effect on the majority of the Black population. But it’s a perfect encapsulation of the organization’s apologetic — and Hollywood’s — contributions to pressing social issues.
Likewise, it’s no surprise that prominent feminists have used Time’s Up and the #MeToo movement to develop a more socially recognized brand and launch “side-by-side” projects. their female-centered” seems to have turned a blind eye to the injustices committed by Heard. must face the world, and will continue to suffer after Wednesday’s ruling. Many people spoke at the start of #MeToo about celebrities’ activism efforts that only extended to their own. But it also seems unlikely that they will be able to support their colleagues in the face of the risk of an internet backlash. Heard’s social ratings as an actress are not particularly well known beyond her contributions to Aquaman franchises — and especially compared to movie star ex-husbands — can also be a factor.
The media circus around Heard would be a great opportunity to reintroduce some of Hollywood’s smarter, more politically active voices in its mission to combat violence against women and even have could make up for some of the negative press Time’s Up has accumulated over the past three years. But unlike when gender equality and sexual abuse became hot topics in the Trump years, there is nothing tangible to support Heard. For now, at least, Hollywood’s self-described feminists seem as content as the rest of the world watching #MeToo fall.
