Watched "Depp v. Heard"

Last night, while I was working out at the gym, I started watching the Netflix series “Depp v. Heard.” This is a documentary about the defamation lawsuit launched in 2019 by actor Johnny Depp against his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard.

I have only seen one Johnny Depp movie in my life, and don’t know too much about the actor, except that he is a huge star in Hollywood and is particularly famous for his role in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie series. When the trial for this defamation suit was being reported in the media, I didn’t pay too much attention to it. However, in America, the televised trial apparently generated quite a buzz, similar to the O.J. Simpson trial back in the ’90s.

Johnny Depp sued Amber Heard after Heard wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post, claiming that she suffered domestic abuse at the hands of Depp during their two-year marriage. Heard counter-sued Depp in a tit-for-tat fashion. The documentary describes the multiple incidents that occurred throughout their marriage - some of them are literally bloody, like the tip of Depp’s finger that’s been cut off, or literally sordid, involving a piece of fecal matter left on his bed by Heard.

Since none of us were present when these incidents took place, we have no way of ascertaining the veracity of their accusations. However, after watching this docuseries, I got the impression that either side bears part of the blame for this nasty state of affairs. Both Depp and Heard behaved in a barbaric way toward each other, and I ended up feeling little sympathy for either of them.

What I found intriguing was the buzz the trial generated on social media, such as TikTok and YouTube, not to mention network television. In the court of public opinion, the majority of the viewers were supportive of Depp, so the cards were stacked against Heard in that regard from the beginning. It also didn’t help that the jurors were not completely sequestrated like those in the O.J. trial and were allowed to go home each night. Inevitably, some of them must have been influenced by what they saw on social media. It’s certainly lamentable, but it appears that there is no quick fix to this issue.

This is a very sad state of affairs. If there is one thing I’ve learned from the whole saga, it’s that money and fame don’t always guarantee your happiness. Be nice and courteous to those around you, and steer clear of nasty and violent people, however rich and successful they may be.