"The jury gave me my life back. I am truly humbled,” said Johnny Depp Wednesday in a statement after winning a defamation suit against his ex-wife Amber Heard. But what does the trial itself take away from domestic-abuse victims in years to come?
John C. Depp, II v. Amber Laura Heard, one of the most widely publicised, talked about and revolutionary lawsuits in recent history began on April 11 and ended on June 1, 2022. The actor sued his former wife for $50 million in damages over an essay in The Washington Post, where she called herself a “public figure representing domestic abuse.” But what was it ultimately about? Money? ; $10.4 million eventually awarded to Depp in compensatory and punitive damages. Revenge? ; damaged reputation, jokes, targeted mockery. Man as a victim? Or silencing women who fought against silence for so many years? One is for certain: the USA being a common law country where the law is bound by previous cases, this precedent is to change the future of domestic violence victims unquestionably.
"The disappointment I feel today is beyond words,” said Heard, left surely traumatised and embarrassed after a series of taunting days in the court. "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."
Regardless of whoever side you are on, that verdict is undeniably a grievous one for those who are victims; no matter the gender. According to Home Office statistical bulletins and the British Crime Survey, it is as much as more than 1 in 4 women and around 1 in 6 men who are domestically abused. Surprisingly and unacceptably many.
“I’m sad I lost this case,” said Heard. “But I am sadder still that I seem to have lost a right I thought I had as an American — to speak freely and openly.” After all, hasn’t she just called herself a victim of domestic abuse without names dropping or never even mentioning Depp? Well, after proving and showcasing evidence, whether it was real or not that her ex-husband was in fact abusive, the jury - which was astonishingly indeed not secluded from all the gossip and mockery surrounding her image on the Internet - forbade her using that term in regard to herself.
A man victim, finally brave enough to fight against gossip, prejudice, manly man values; to fight for himself. Without a doubt, it was a noteworthy and inspiring move. "Overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and the colossal support and kindness from around the world,” Johnny states in shock, possibly never imagining the impact his suit would have on the media or becoming a hero and an advocate.
Yet, he became one despite of his loathsome text and audio messages to Amber, naming savage scenarios of rape and murder. He became one despite photographs displaying cuts, bruises and marks. He became one despite being an abuser, as well. “If you didn’t take pictures, it didn’t happen; if you did take pictures, they’re fake,” said one of Heard’s attorneys. We could all hearsay and laugh him away; except isn’t there a piece of truth in his words? Decades of silencing victims are back to square one?
Depp v. Heard is not a perfect trial; there is not a perfect victim nor an ideal abuser. Yet, again, is there ever? Is there the right side to vote for? Is there only one face of abuse, one guilty party? It is the spoken lies and untold stories that sting the most. In the end, the truth - the real truth - will stand solely between the two directly interested parties and us, the spectators are left to purely speculate, gossip and get mad at the other side. Nevertheless, this is a doubtlessly remarkable case indicating all the flaws and defects of modern law systems and certainly being a chilling development of domestic-abuse lawsuits.
Klara Anna Gonciarz
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