Summary
The Netflix docuseries Depp v. Heard sheds light on the infamous trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, revealing shocking details and the public's reactions.
The trial's outcome was greatly shaped by the powerful impact of social media, as platforms like TikTok and various posts played a significant role in shaping opinions and spreading misunderstandings. This brought into question the impartiality of the jury. Moreover, the trial garnered a higher level of attention on social media compared to major global events, effectively overshadowing critical subjects such as the war in Ukraine and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This phenomenon serves as a stark reminder of society's fascination with celebrity scandals.
The Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamation trial captivated the public in the spring of 2022. The docuseries Depp v. Heard, available on Netflix, sheds even more light on the shocking revelations. Depp and Heard, who first met during the filming of The Rum Diary in 2009, acknowledged the immediate spark between them. They quickly became a couple and exchanged vows on Depp's private island in the Bahamas in February 2015. However, their marriage was short-lived, with divorce papers filed just over a year later in May 2016.
Trouble began when The Sun published an article labeling Depp a "wife beater." This unleashed a flood of abuse allegations from both parties. The situation escalated after Heard wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post, sharing her experience with speaking out against sexual violence. Though Depp was not mentioned directly, the implications were clear. This op-ed became the focal point of Depp's defamation lawsuit against Heard, turning the whole ordeal into a media circus. The documentary Depp v. Heard not only documents the infamous trial but also explores the public's wide range of reactions to the case.
12 Amber Heard's Defecation Mystery Was Never Solved
One of the most notorious aspects of the trial was the claim made by Johnny Depp that, in an act of retaliation, Amber Heard had defecated on his side of the bed before heading off to Coachella with her friends to celebrate her birthday. This accusation gained widespread attention on social media, but the mystery surrounding the unidentified defecator remained unresolved during the courtroom proceedings, as detailed in the Depp v. Heard documentary. Heard countered by alleging that Depp's dog, Boo, a small teacup Yorkie with a history of bowel issues caused by accidental marijuana ingestion, was actually responsible for the incident. However, since no one was present at the time of the alleged act, its true origin was never definitively established in court.
11 Some Of Johnny Depp's Supporters Were Bots
The support for Johnny Depp on social media platforms like TikTok was undoubtedly louder than that for Amber Heard. However, the docuseries Depp v. Heard reveals that some of his supporters were actually bots. These fan accounts on TikTok, which shared trial footage, were often not connected to real individuals but rather linked to other bot accounts with similar leanings. While it is unclear how many pro-Depp TikTok videos during the trial were created by bots or real people, Depp's lawyer, Ben Chew, dismissed any claims of an orchestrated online campaign in support of Depp as "absurd and baseless," according to NBC (via The Wrap).
10 Makeup Company Milani Was Involved
As explained in Depp v. Heard, Milani, a cosmetics company, unnecessarily became involved in the trial when Amber Heard's defense team accused her of using one of their makeup palettes to conceal signs of abuse by Johnny Depp. In order to present their case, Heard's team presented a Milani palette in court for the jury to see. However, the Milani TikTok account released a video refuting this claim by stating that the specific palette in question was not released until 2017, while Heard had filed for divorce in 2016. This discrepancy became a significant piece of evidence for those who opposed Heard on social media, even though it was never stated that she used that particular palette. Subsequently, the Milani TikTok video has been deleted.
9 Paul Bettany's Texts With Johnny Depp Played Into The Trial
One of the most shocking revelations from the Depp v. Heard docuseries was the disclosure of exchanges between Paul Bettany and Johnny Depp in 2013, which were presented by Amber Heard's defense team. A series of text messages featured Depp saying, "Let’s burn Amber!!!" and "Let’s drown her before we burn her!!! I will f**k her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she is dead." During his testimony, Depp honestly admitted to sending the texts to Bettany and expressed remorse for his behavior, attributing it to a challenging period in his life when he struggled with alcohol addiction.
8 Confusion Surrounding Amber Heard's Divorce Settlement Money
One aspect that added to the confusion in the Depp v. Heard case was the usage of the terms "pledged" and "donated" in relation to Amber Heard's divorce settlement money. To counter accusations of her being motivated by financial gain, Heard publicly declared that she had given her $7 million settlement to two charitable organizations, namely the ACLU and Children's Hospital Los Angeles. However, Johnny Depp's attorney criticized Heard during cross-examination, arguing that she had only "pledged" the money rather than fully "donated" it, since only a portion of the funds had been transferred to the charities at that point. Although Heard claimed she used the terms interchangeably, the ensuing social media controversy over this choice of words overshadowed all other discussions.
7 Depp Allegedly Kicked Heard On A Private Plane
Amber Heard alleged in the Depp v. Heard case that Johnny Depp assaulted her by kicking her in front of multiple witnesses during a private plane flight from Los Angeles to Boston. Depp vehemently denied these accusations, and a member of his team who was also on the flight refuted them as well. While the texts exchanged between Heard and Depp's assistant, Stephen Deuters, were submitted as evidence, they were ultimately deemed irrelevant to the trial. However, once these texts became public, it became apparent that Deuters' messages supported Heard's account of the incident. Deuters, however, has since come forward stating that the texts were heavily altered and that he never actually witnessed any abuse.
6 Social Media Influenced The Depp V. Heard Trial
One of the main focal points of the Depp v. Heard case was the examination of social media's influence on the defamation trial, and there is no doubt that it could have affected the final verdict. The Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial garnered significant attention in 2022, with almost everyone expressing their opinions online. TikToks and other social media posts proclaiming innocence for both sides flooded social media platforms throughout the trial, making it nearly impossible for users to avoid. Although the jury was supposedly prohibited from following any trial-related coverage, there are valid concerns regarding the extent of their seclusion. The trial gained historical significance primarily due to its profound impact on online platforms.
5 Johnny Depp Coined the Phrase "Megapint"
An interesting fact that arises from the Depp v. Heard case is that Johnny Depp, rather than Amber Heard's lawyer Ben Rottenborn, was the one who came up with the term "megapint." This peculiar phrase gained significant attention during the trial, but it was initially uttered by Depp himself during his trial in the UK. The expression refers to a video captured by Heard, which showcases an unaware Depp in a disgruntled mood, forcefully shutting cabinets in their kitchen and pouring himself a "megapint" of wine for breakfast. However, Rottenborn faced criticism from online communities for employing the phrase in the trial, despite Depp being its original user.
4 Johnny Depp Wanted The Cameras At Trial
Depp v. Heard's contention is that the trial was never centered around defamation but rather disguised as a well-executed PR campaign.
3 Why Depp V. Heard Was Tried In Virginia
It appears that Depp himself desired the presence of cameras in the courtroom, thereby transforming the entire proceedings into a highly publicized event. Consequently, this not only fueled a social media frenzy of misinformation and propelled fervent campaigns from both sets of fans, but it also attracted substantial crowds eagerly anticipating the entrance and exit of Depp and Heard. These individuals were divided into two camps, either offering unwavering support or spewing vitriol, depending on their loyalties.
It was surprising that the trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard took place in Fairfax County, Virginia, considering that neither of them had any connections to the state. However, Depp v. Heard reveals that Virginia was chosen as the location for the trial due to its strong defamation laws and the presence of The Washington Post's printing press and online server in Fairfax County. This strategic decision worked in Depp's favor as he emerged victorious in most of the counts, while Heard only managed to secure one win.
2 Depp V. Heard Received More Attention Than Coverage On The Ukraine War
1 Johnny Depp's Injured Finger
The impact of the Depp v. Heard docuseries on the public and its reciprocal effect were brought to the forefront. Astonishingly, the trial generated six times more social media interactions than the war in Ukraine, revealing the sheer significance it had. This revelation is quite astounding considering that the war in Ukraine has resulted in over 9,400 civilian deaths, with one-third of these casualties occurring in just one month (via Statista). Furthermore, the Depp v. Heard trial managed to overshadow other major events, garnering more social media engagement than inflation, COVID-19, and the war in Ukraine combined.
One of the allegations put forth by Johnny Depp in the case of Depp v. Heard was that Amber Heard tossed a glass bottle at him, causing it to shatter and sever the tip of his finger. According to Heard's testimony, she claims to have thrown the bottle onto the ground, resulting in debris that ultimately caused Depp's finger to be injured. Without any prior indication, Depp v. Heard presents a distressing image of Depp's finger being severed, along with several photographs of him recuperating in the hospital. Although the court never established the veracity of either account, the image of Depp's finger is bound to leave a lasting impression on viewers long after they have finished watching the Netflix docuseries.