And he happens to be a victim of domestic violence," the behavior analyst said, calling Depp an "internal processor" based on the movement of his eyes and other body language while he is recounting past events on the witness stand. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Already, the singer Marilyn Manson has filed a defamation suit against his ex-fiance Evan Rachel Wood, one of several women who have accused him of sexual violence. Ahouraian was a little more skeptical about Depps marketability going forward. The panel awarded Heard $2 million in damages. First Amendment scholars say the battle between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard is unlikely to have any deep significance for the law. Here are some tips. Still one can find fault with the tactics applied by one of the combatants. Steve Helber/Pool/AFP via Getty Images To find out more about Froma Harrop and read features by other Creators writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators webpage at www.creators.com. View more opinion articles on CNN. Yes, Bedera responded. Lau said the timeline of events leading to Heard's accusations and inconsistencies in her story may be swaying the public to sympathize with Depp. After . It wants a hero and a villain, and it wants to drive that villain into the ground. And if Depp joked about killing her Lets burn Amber!! And the answer to that question matters, because the reality is that abuse is very much a gendered issue: Women face much higher rates of intimate partner violence and are much more likely to be injured or killed by an intimate partner. So far were experiencing a textbook case of what philosopher Kate Manne has labelled himpathy the tendency to extend undue empathy to men, and make excuses for certain behaviours. On Weekend Edition Sunday, sociologist Nicole Bedera, who specializes in sexual violence, spoke to NPR about the trial and its implications for discussions about intimate partner violence and why social media seems to have far more sympathy for the former Pirates of the Caribbean star than for his ex-wife. Conversely, Heard is countersuing for $100 million for nuisance with her attorneys set to argue that the essay in question was a matter of public interest and she should therefore be protected from a defamation suit. And the testimonies from the two of them went into a lot of lurid details about their really turbulent relationship, which, you know, I should say, a lot of this information came out in 2020 when Depp sued the English paper The Sun for libel for calling him a, quote, "wife beater." twitter. The trial of Depp's defamation case against Heard entered its 15th day on Thursday. In November 2020, after a salacious three-week trial in Londons Royal Courts of Justice, a judge determined that Depp had not been libeled and referred to 12 separate incidents that justified the Suns headline. The actors completed their whirlwind divorce years ago but. Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, Its really bad up here. Stranded residents in San Bernardino Mountains brace for more snow, Column: Supreme Court conservatives may want to block student loan forgiveness. The publication had described him as a "wife-beater.". Johnny Depp set out on a complicated legal path when he sued Amber Heard for defamation. the behavioral analyst said. By Jessica Winter May 23, 2022 Update: On June 1st, the jury awarded. Heard is a much less well-known and less successful entity. But he did occasionally smirk in response to her testimony or lean over to his lawyer, Ben Chew, to whisper in his ear. Follow Elizabeth Renzetti on Twitter: @lizrenzettiOpens in a new window. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Who's the one that's wearing the pants in the family?" John C. Depp v. Amber Laura Heard (Depp v Heard) is an ongoing defamation trial in Fairfax County, Virginia that began on April 11, 2022. The trial of Depp's defamation case against Heard entered its 15th day on Thursday. Robin Abcarian is an opinion columnist at the Los Angeles Times. The "Aquaman" actress, 36, took the witness stand in a Fairfax, Virginia, courtroom for the first time Wednesday after the "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor, 58, completed his testimony on Tuesday. Fifty-eight-year-old Johnny Depp brought the defamation action against 35-year-old Amber Heard (to whom he was married between 2015 and 2017) following an article in the Washington Post in which . Pool photo by Jim Lo Scalzo. The trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard shows how bias impacts moral judgement. But its also something much more valuable: an insight into the way we think about and, much more often, ignore intimate partner violence. Or security. Heard countersued Depp after his lawyer said her claims were false in statements to the press. Proving libel is much easier in Britain than in the United States, because there the burden of proof rests with the defendant. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Last Thursday, Depp's former agent testified that studios were less willing to work with him because of his "unprofessional behavior" and rumored substance abuse. Depp and Heard were married between 2015 and 2017. Now the question is, these fans who are rallying behind him, do they have more sway than a potential financier or investor who is still putting the risk up? Ahouraian said. . This story has been shared 156,414 times. Depp is suing Heard for $50 million over a 2018 op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in which she described herself as a "public figure representing domestic abuse." Though Depp was not. I was angry, he testified in London when asked about his history of eruptions, but that does not mean I have an anger problem.. A psychologist hired by Mr. Depps team diagnosed her with borderline personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder. When [Johnny Depp] stepped off the stand, I think he already won based on his definition of winning, said Texas civil attorney Katherine Lizardo. Plaintiff Johnny Depp is making claim for. Then in 2020, Heard countersued Depp, claiming his former attorney defamed her when he said her abuse allegations were a sexual violence hoax, ginned up to attract attention for her movie Aquaman, which premiered three days after her essay ran in the Post. No matter the outcome of this trial, he testified Wednesday, the second those accusations were made against me, and they metastasized as fodder for the media, I lost and Ill carry that for the rest of my life.. "He rips my underwear off and then he proceeds to do a cavity search. Market data provided by Factset. She described the disorders as "two sides of the same coin" that feature "dramatic, erratic and emotional" behavior. She will hit the wall hard!! All rights reserved. Amber Heard attends trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, on April 19, 2022. "[W]e do talk about her dress code. If Heard wanted out of such a marriage, she certainly had good reason. Actor Johnny Depp waves to the gallery as he leaves for a break Monday during his defamation trial in Fairfax, Va. against his ex-wife, Amber Heard. Were supposed to believe that the trial is a grotesque celebrity sideshow, a media circus, a distraction from the ongoing crises of war and climate change. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Anyone can read what you share. Its worth noting that in 2020, Bot Sentinel, a group that tracks online disinformation and harassment, was hired by Heards lawyers to analyze the social media campaign against her. It's been something of a catalyst for men's rights groups to rally around Depp. "In our society," Bedera said, "we expect that victims fit a specific mold. He says he didnt come close to hitting her, nor have I ever struck any woman in my life. He further accuses her of having thrown a vodka bottle his way that smashed and severed a finger. Ironically or perhaps predictably the protestations of Depps total innocence have turned into online mobs swarming anyone who disagrees and believes that Heard is the victim. Teachers understand that when they discuss healthy relationships its useful to incorporate cultural hot topics to engage kids attention and get them to examine their beliefs. Opinion: Guns are the biggest public health threat kids face. Depp, meanwhile, has well-documented and admitted issues with drug and alcohol abuse that dont seem to factor into his defenders case. Ever, ever, ever. 2. Depp is suing Heard for defamation over a Washington Post op-ed in which she declared she was a victim of domestic violence. She is losing in the court of public opinion. Johnny Depp seen pacing in an elevator after a fight with Amber Heard, John Travolta's daughter Ella reveals 'biggest gift' from 'Saturday Night Fever' legend, Jay Leno shows off 'new face' after suffering third-degree burns, Kylie Jenners ex Travis Scott nightclub incident: New York police investigating alleged bar brawl, Ricou Browning, 'Creature from the Black Lagoon' star, dead at 93, 'Wheel of Fortune' contestant scolded by Pat Sajak, ripped apart by fans, Jillian Michaels suffered a spinal injury in secret that left her crawling due to pain. The six-week-long trial is meant to decide whether statements made in the media by both actors have cost them their public image and potential earnings. This is also not unusual. Based on Depps testimony and graphic, violent text messages that he sent about Heard, which were presented at the trial, he also seems to revel in misogynist violent fantasies. The problem with the Depp-Heard case, though, is that while the evidence doesnt make either party look particularly honorable, the social media commentariat doesnt do complexity. Johnny Depp attempted to sue the British tabloid newspaper The Sun for labeling him as a wife-beater in 2018. Ms. Heards lawyers say she will outline the physical, sexual and emotional abuse he inflicted on her when she testifies (she had not yet taken the stand as I wrote this). On Monday, actor Johnny Depp is scheduled to return to the stand in the defamation trial between him and his former wife, Amber Heard, that is taking place in Fairfax County, Va. Depp. Column: 15 minutes of fame flies by. A jury in Fairfax, Va., on Wednesday ruled in Johnny Depp's favor, and he will be awarded more than $10 million in his defamation case against his ex-wife Amber Heard. Depp sued his ex-wife Amber Heard for libel in Fairfax County Circuit Court after she wrote an op-ed piece in The Washington . Mr. Depp has accused his ex-wife of revenge defecation in their marital bed, and of throwing a vodka bottle at him, which severed the tip of his finger. And that's the fight we're having in public right now.". She writes about news, politics and culture. Who can help student-athletes cash in? This did happen. Heard wrote that Depps alleged use of drugs and alcohol periodically led to violence, after which he would sober up and apologize. (Samuel Corum/AFP), She added that attorneys often advise women not to wear "black in the courtroom. Now, Heard denied that and testified that Depp was routinely, like, jealous and angry and abusive and even sexually assaulted her. Johnny Depp had sued his ex-wife Amber Heard for $50 million, arguing that she defamed him when she called herself "a public figure representing domestic abuse" in a newspaper opinion. And people who work alongside him have a bit clearer of a picture than somebody who's watching it on TikTok and doesn't know any of the people involved in this case. So what's this all about? Her columns appear on Wednesday and Sunday. Could it be possible also that the public might be more sympathetic toward Depp because he is such a big movie star, and so well-liked on screen for decades? "[T]he question is, was he abusive with Amber? There's a real history between the parties and their entire marriage will be on display in this case; the good, bad and ugly," Lau told Newsweek. Amber Heard on April 13 and Johnny Depp on April 11. Depp is suing Heard for defamation after she stated in a 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post that she had become a public figure representing domestic abuse. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Both could be right, but then again, careers in Hollywood can go up or down for various other reasons age, changing tastes, good or bad reviews. Men can be victims of abuse, too, and sometimes relationships involve two people who physically hurt each other. Millions more will see the short, fan-made clips . If it were me, I would want to do drug checks. Depp's reputation in Hollywood has already taken a hit. "If he was going to leave she would strike him to keep him there. This is the real deal. We can all agree that the trial of Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard is a unique and cultural moment. After a man burst in with a gun, a San Francisco synagogue confronts hate, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, Im visiting all 600 L.A. spots on the National Register. 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