Heard v. Depp: Not A Public Spectacle
TW: domestic violence
In 2018, actress Amber Heard wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post regarding the treatment of women in cases of domestic abuse. In the op-ed, she wrote, “I became a public figure representing domestic abuse, and I felt the full force of our culture's wrath for women who speak out” (Heard, 2018). Only a year later, actor Johnny Depp sued Amber Heard over the op-ed, in which she described surviving domestic violence without mentioning Depp by name. At the end of the 2022 trial, the jury unanimously found that Heard defamed Depp, awarding him $5 million in punitive damages and $10 million in compensatory damages. The Jury awarded Heard $2 in compensatory damages in her counterclaim but nothing in punitive damages.
Heard responded to the outcome of the case in a statement posted on social media, “I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. It is a setback. It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously” (Rosenblatt, 2022).
From the beginning of the trial, the public was quick to villainize Heard while framing Depp in a positive light. It is important to note that Heard is a wealthy white woman—she holds a lot of privilege. Yet, even with her privilege, she was invalidated and ripped to shreds by society.
It’s easy to want to pick a side (Team Johnny or Team Amber), to obsess over the case and pick apart every detail. Court appearances were live-streamed for the world to see. Fans and paparazzi stood outside the courthouse. Celebrity gossip magazines covered the case with clickbait titles and unflattering photos. Anyone and everyone has shared their opinion on this case. The reality is that domestic violence is not a public spectacle or celebrity gossip.
The outcome of the trial as well as the media’s coverage shows that the legal system is still stacked against survivors. In the words of Twitter user @Ratatica1, “#AmberHeardDeservesAnApology from the entire world that mocked, ridiculed her and derided her for entertainment purposes. Apologize to Amber Heard. Start believing victims when they speak up. They are not lying, they are not conspiring, they are not crazy, they are survivors” (Ratatica, 2022).
Regardless of the verdict, no one besides Heard or Depp knows the entire truth; they have both claimed to be victims of domestic violence within the relationship—no legal outcomes can take that experience or part of their identity away from them.
Heard, A. (2018, December 18). Opinion | Amber Heard: I spoke up against sexual violence —
and faced our culture's wrath. That has to change. The Washington Post.
Ratatica [@Ratatica1]. (2022, August 1). #AmberHeardDeservesAnApology from the entire
world that mocked, ridiculed her and derided her for entertainment purposes. Apologize
to Amber Heard. Start believing victims when they speak up. They are not lying, they are not conspiring, they are not crazy, they are survivors [Tweet]. Twitter.
Rosenblatt, K. (2022, June 1). Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamation trial: Summary and
timeline. NBC News.
Written by: Spring 2023 Intern Jessica Katz
