The Justice System Failed Johnny Depp

If Johnny Depp, armed with millions of dollars, the best lawyers money can hire, eyewitnesses to his injuries and abuse, tapes of his abuser assaulting him and photographic evidence of his injuries can't get his abuse taken seriously by the court, what hope do regular and normal people who are abuse survivors have in getting their justice? The tables are reverse in this scenario; in this case the abuser is the woman. Does that change anything? Apparently it does. But should it though? No.

Even though Amber Heard admitted to abuse on tapes, the courts decided with The Sun on the trial of the decade. Would this be the case if the roles were reversed? Would the court decision be the same if Depp was the abuser? Is the notion of believing all women toxic? How is this going to affect male abuse survivors coming forward? This is the opposite of what feminism stands for. Feminism isn't about automatically believing women in all the cases and wanting all men charged to go to jail forever. Feminism requires a fair trial where all sides defend their stance and matters are decided based on unbiased facts for the purpose to provide justice. This was not it. A man's abuse was written off and thrown out.

Instances of Heard lying, her witnesses lying, and injuries not being visible simply does not matter in this case apparently. A tape of Heard detailing to the physical assaults she would give to Depp clearly weren't important either to the judge. Articles are already published detailing the image Depp once had and how his reputation will always be ruined now. This case is a slap in the face to male abuse survivors and anyone who has been wronged by the justice system. Even though this ruling is between Depp and The Sun, not Heard, it still applauds the notion for victim blaming and defends defamation of one's character.

Even though the discussion of free speech and press comes to play, defamation becomes the line to not cross. Straightforwardly calling Depp, the survivor in this case, a "wife-beater" because that's the narrative Amber Heard gave to the press is harmful and borderline dangerous. The judge decided to intentionally overlook eyewitnesses, audio recordings, images, and physical evidence that point to Heard as the abuser, and stated that it didn't matter if she abused him or not in this case against The Sun.

How is this going to affect his career, money, and children? Is this going to help Amber Heard in any way? Are people divided on this topic? (I've only seen support for him online) Will Disney ever hire him again? This case might negatively affect the feminist movement and give men more reason to not support it and not claim to be feminists themselves. Men already have a hard time claiming to be feminists even after learning it basically means equality for all; so after this case the argument for "everyone always believes women" will be more of a common rhetoric. The statistics prove that men are more likely to walk away from sexual assault charges as free men, even with evidence. And yet, this "believe all women" rhetoric is beloved by most of the internet. It is a false representation of modern feminism.

The day of the trial against The Sun demonstrated that if you show up with all your evidence, speak your truth, and prove without a shadow of a doubt that you are innocent, you will still be considered guilty because you are a man. This is not what feminism stands for.

Domestic Violence Hotline (US): 1800799SAFE