Depp Vs Heard

image credits : SkyNews

By Yasmin Elgamal

I’m sure basically everyone in the country has heard of the recent events with Johnny Depp and ex-wife Amber Heard; whether you’ve been following the case exclusively or you merely heard snippets here and there, it’s impossible to ignore the media spectacle that has taken the internet by storm. The case was brought by Depp, who sued for $50 million, and Heard who countersued for $100 million. While various jokes were made about clips of the case that were circulating, it was no laughing matter; many disturbing allegations of abuse were brought to light.

Depp claimed Heard was abusive, while Heard said the only time she got physical was in self defense. There was an audio recording of Heard saying she hit Depp, and there was an incident in which Depp’s finger was sliced by a broken bottle that Heard used. Heard’s allegations started long before the case.

Without getting into too much detail, the case was long, chaotic, and brutal. To the media, the main focus was not so much on the abuse allegations; many turned this high profile court case into a laughing stock. More specifically, making a spectacle of Heard’s often surprising testimonies and moments caught on tape.

The jury ruled in Depp’s favor, which was a relief to many fans, and an outpour of support from people that tuned in. Depp had lost his role in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise because of the allegations Heard made. But most people seem to be on Depp’s side. Although the case is over, it is still questionable to be making jokes about a domestic abuse case. On one hand, many think Depp was dropped from Pirates of the Caribbean because male victims are not taken seriously.

So is making jokes, regardless of who you think is right or wrong, appropriate? And does it make even more of a spectacle of something that shouldn’t be? Social media definitely plays into dramatizing the case, as it often does.

Regardless of what side people are on, and what side the media paints as the right one, the question remains about the ethics of publicized cases, and an up-close look on people’s lives.