This is a 3-episode summary of Johnny Depp's defamation suit against ex-wife Amber Heard plus a peek into the state of public opinion during the trial. It was a he-said-she-said circus that tried to paint the other party as abusive and dishonest as much as possible. The trial ignited TV/internet spectators around the world, many of whom suddenly became law and psychology experts who could tell with confidence whether somebody on the witness stand was lying or not.
Depp's side wanted the trial to be made public. I'm baffled why Heard's side allowed it, considering her inferior fame compared to his. Goaded by public opinion that was mostly one-sided in favor of the much more famous Depp, his attempt to reclaim his reputation looked like a heartless attack against his ex-wife who was battered and bullied by his supporters not only online but in person outside the courthouse. No matter how bad she might have been, I could not help feeling distraught at this cruelty. I was a neutral viewer but could not deny that this was a stark display of abuse even more severe than those cited during the trial. This time, Depp's side let his fandom join in the abuse.
The trial showed how truth is immaterial in the court of public opinion where people tend to believe what they want to believe in, to side with the party they sympathize with. And Depp's much more massive and zealous fanbase did not disappoint.
The trial also showcased how women's tendency to be more emotional can doom the female side of he-said-she-said tussles. Depp was shown to be much cooler than his ex-wife, sometimes even smiling or chuckling, making him appear likeable and believable. Heard, on the other hand, sported a facial expression that sometimes bordered on antagonistic and sometimes looked like an attempt to play the victim. And her unusual asymmetrical hairstyles only made it harder to empathize with her. In short, she did not look likeable and believable.
Depp might have won in the court of public opinion that might have influenced the verdict despite the jury being continuously warned against it, but in the end, unbiased viewers would more likely feel that the truth had escaped their grasp. With the reputation of both sides shred into pieces, this airing of dirty laundry was lamentable, if not devastating, for both parties. But what was most disturbing was witnessing mobbing or group bullying in action.
Depp's side wanted the trial to be made public. I'm baffled why Heard's side allowed it, considering her inferior fame compared to his. Goaded by public opinion that was mostly one-sided in favor of the much more famous Depp, his attempt to reclaim his reputation looked like a heartless attack against his ex-wife who was battered and bullied by his supporters not only online but in person outside the courthouse. No matter how bad she might have been, I could not help feeling distraught at this cruelty. I was a neutral viewer but could not deny that this was a stark display of abuse even more severe than those cited during the trial. This time, Depp's side let his fandom join in the abuse.
The trial showed how truth is immaterial in the court of public opinion where people tend to believe what they want to believe in, to side with the party they sympathize with. And Depp's much more massive and zealous fanbase did not disappoint.
The trial also showcased how women's tendency to be more emotional can doom the female side of he-said-she-said tussles. Depp was shown to be much cooler than his ex-wife, sometimes even smiling or chuckling, making him appear likeable and believable. Heard, on the other hand, sported a facial expression that sometimes bordered on antagonistic and sometimes looked like an attempt to play the victim. And her unusual asymmetrical hairstyles only made it harder to empathize with her. In short, she did not look likeable and believable.
Depp might have won in the court of public opinion that might have influenced the verdict despite the jury being continuously warned against it, but in the end, unbiased viewers would more likely feel that the truth had escaped their grasp. With the reputation of both sides shred into pieces, this airing of dirty laundry was lamentable, if not devastating, for both parties. But what was most disturbing was witnessing mobbing or group bullying in action.