The Shadow of Johnny Depp's Adversary.
This blockbuster case is highlighting a wider issue.
"If you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."
With a deep breath and a thrum of courage, Johnny Depp steps into no man's land. As the first sole lands on the unforgiving terrain, observers shoot out of the undergrowth. Between them, there are wry smiles, suspicious eyes and aloof stances.
He is broaching a cultural taboo; breaking his silence as a male victim and daring to seek justice.
The ensuing trial in Virginia has been a revelation, allowing people to watch the dark, intimate and magnificently large portrait of their relationship take shape in real-time. Those who have been following the trial—even those who have previously given Amber the benefit of the doubt—can see one clear thing; her side of the story doesn't add up. Glaring inconsistencies exist between her testimony and of those supporting her, namely her friends and sister. Audio evidence and photographs refute her. Independent witnesses, that is to say, doctors, nurses and the police, refute her. Kinesicists spot red flags. All the while, Ms. Heard's account shapeshifts and when presented with irrefutable evidence, refuses to give straight answers.
On the other hand, Depp has provided a slew of evidence that, alongside the witnesses, construct a damning picture of his former partner. The steadfast red flag thrust into the heart of their relationship is one that any abuse victim, of any sort, recognises. That is, her behaviour directly contradicts the implicit, sacred rule that victims adhere to in order to survive:
Don't poke the bear.
On the contrary, we irrefutably hear her laughing at him, mocking him, admitting to starting fights, hitting and harassing him. Even as he made repeated attempts to escape, to diffuse the situation, Ms. Heard pursued him with a mind to escalate situations as much as possible. She jeers at him for trying to escape.
If only abuse victims had that kind of power.
Unfortunately, Johnny Depp's battle isn't just with Amber Heard. Looming large behind her is a shadow of the wider issue, an anthropomorphic representation of our world's draconian attitude towards male victims. This issue remains little talked about and the world is only just starting to generate change. Hell, it wasn't until 2013 that the FBI accounted for male rape victims. 2013.
As a result, much of the media has casually avoided the large body of evidence and insists on pushing a pro-Amber angle to the death. In a sensational disconnect from reality, The Guardian described Amber as an "imperfect victim". Vogue declared "It’s time to believe women – all women. It’s time to believe Heard." Several outlets have gone as far as lying to paint a more damning picture of Johnny Depp. The New York Post and Daily Mail ran with headlines stating that Depp had thrown a bottle at former flame, Ellen Barkin. In truth, she had said that Depp had generally tossed a bottle, not at her, and that it hit nobody.
Of course, a slew of hit pieces aren't complete without an attempt to tear down anyone who expresses doubt about her side of the story. The Telegraph demeaned such people by dubbing them mere "Gen Z Johnny Depp stans" and the New York Times implied them to be "pirates", also referring to them as "Depp stans" and stating in clear terms that such people are viewing Johnny Depp as perfect, and that they customise facts. We also witness another insidious strawman pop up here and there; attempts to twist the narrative, to turn the trial into an example of rampant misogyny. Attempts to persuade us that this is the doing of powerful, sexist men, that Amber is to receive uncritical endorsement because she is a woman, are pushed with fervour.
This is what happens when a person takes up a noble cause but begins to spin out of control. In this case, that noble cause is feminism. In the passionate pursuit of women's rights, for equality, some lose themselves in the abyss. Their slice of the cause begins to eat itself. Women themselves become targets of these attacks. Funny, isn't it? We can trust Amber, but we cannot trust the masses of women—spanning generations—who dare to think for themselves and come to their own conclusions. They must be derided, along with the equivalent men, as starry-eyed crackpots. We also cannot trust the female nurses involved, the professional and confident testimony of Dr. Curry or any of the other women whose version of events don't align with Ms. Heard.
The truth is that people supporting Johnny Depp are not doe-eyed stans. Nobody thinks Johnny Depp is perfect. Countless supporters have openly acknowledged his addiction issues. What they are doing is following the trail of evidence, listening to the testimonies and forming solid conclusions.
It is, of course, frustrating to see this real smear campaign taking place. However, I can find a kernel of solace in knowing that in the far-flung future, when treatment of victims is not determined by their physical form, those who have casually and willingly turned a blind eye to his abuse will be viewed as shameful relics of the past.
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Comments (2)
The media should probably try to avoid making more libelous statements. Anyone who watched the spectacle knows that Amber Heard is a malicious liar with a double cluster b personality. I was in domestic abuse for 28 years with one of these monsters and recognize so clearly what she did. It was done to me. Men get abused too and I know some who have gone through domestic hell at the hands of a woman. It’s not okay. Not for either sex. It’s infuriating to watch the media continue to pile on, repeating her already exposed lies as truth.
When they were talking in news on youtube about the divorce of Amber Heard and Johnny Depp 6 years ago, I didn´t know who was his wife... I never heard of her, maybe because I am European. And I don't watch Hollywood couple often. But when they said that during the divorce she is suing him for some minor offense, some nonsense, broken nail, or nails.... I was like What? This is the reason that she is blaming him so much, with so much drama? My first thought was that she is probably creating some false minor statement, to gain money because he is rich. I didn't know anything about his personality, but I thought the case is fabricated against him...and others thought too... Some Hollywood celebs have such problems. I wouldn't expect that 6 years later, her stories will be so complicated......... I always disliked when men abuse women or when women are harassing men. There is no difference, both are wrong. I didn't understand why some women harass a good guy, who is not attacking anybody. Many women dislike if guys are abused by other women because the good women understand the psychology of it... So we should not jump to conclusions that a man is guilty...When I see some intelligent nice guy being accused, I don't jump to conclusions, because.....we know that t happened before with other celebrities..... and also we shouldn't jump to conclusion that women are always against men... because many women have sons, fathers, brothers, uncles, that they care about therefore they don't want them to be abused or make them lose their confidence and mental fitness. And sometimes women lose custody of the child if the mother is coaching the child against the father. Such videos were on youtube. So courts are not stupid. If they see that the mother is lying they give the custody to the father. Maybe it depends on which country and whether the lawyers are intelligent enough............. But some psychologists made a video on youtube 2 years ago about the fact that some abused men may not get understanding from the courts, or from authorities (probably it depends on the intelligence of the lawyers) because usually for many years police officers, judges, lawyers, and social workers usually didn´t understand "narcissistic disorder" or what narcissism is and what narcissistic abusers are doing...... so if the judge, the lawyer, and police officers do not understand narcissism and various types of narcissism, they may think that the guy is weak mentally, or the abused guy is afrid to talk bout it, because he feels misunderstood... But today people are more educated about narcissism, therefore they know that any guy may be abused..........But she says this problem is caused mostly by men or male authorities because they created such "rules" in the society.... that men are not supposed to cry or to complain or can not show emotion or that showing emotion is a weakness for men.... that the "macho" guys tught other guys to not show emotions, to be tough and strict and never complain.. ...and that the patriarchs of the country created this dogma that if man shows emotion he is weak person, which is actually not true....because Men who sho emotions are actually very confident, because nobody has right to tell them when and where are they spposed to show emotions... Its just brainwashing nonsense from stupid tv shows, that people shouldn't take seriously, because they make money from people´s weaknesses, and its easier to sell products to broke people, men or women or teenagers, etc........ Therefore guys are afraid to go to court and say that they are abused...The psychologist made probably 600 videos or more...so I am not sure whether I said her message correctly. I saw the video 2 years ago, but her message was that if innocent men or also innocent women are abused in relationship, its hard to prove it because.....men and women created this society, where men are not allowed to show true emotions it means weakness. The guys are afraid to go to court because nobody will believe them or they get humiliated. It worked this way for years.....But its true many good women want men who show emotions because it's healthy.. and also the experts and scientists say that showing emotions is healthy and vulnerability is important for starting a new relationship or new career. Without vulnerability, you can not start a new career or new marriage, because vulnerability makes you more open-minded, and open to possibilities. .....So it seems that today people start to understand that you can not blame men or women for showing some emotions because it is a natural thing.