It might seem like every TikTokker, cable news commentator, and neighbor has an opinion on Johnny Depp’s defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard, which ended Wednesday in Virginia. But one notable absence from the conversation of many survivors of sexual violence: Hollywood. While big stars and industry activist group Time’s Up have mobilized around other high-profile #MeToo cases such as Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby, there has been no such movement around the Depp-Heard lawsuit, which includes allegations of domestic violence. and sexual. robbery. (Depp repeatedly said in the deposition that he would never hit a woman, denied Herd’s sexual harassment allegations, and called himself a victim of domestic violence by Herd, which he denies.)
“For every single person wearing a Time’s Up pin on the Golden Globes red carpet, my question is, where are you and why don’t you support Amber Heard?” Says Alison Turkos, a sexual assault survivor and activist who wrote an open letter to Time’s Up last August when it was revealed that former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo had asked Time’s Up authorities for advice after being sexually harassed. “Why aren’t you ready to risk your power or privilege?” It’s so easy for your stylist to pin your outfit and walk the red carpet for you. Now is the time to show up as a survivor. ”
The Depp-Heard case differs from the Weinstein-Cosby case in important ways: Depp argues that he too is a victim of relationship violence; Herd is a lone victim and not a member of the group that left; And Depp’s fan base took to the internet, creating memes and hashtags criticizing Herd and questioning his testimony. Still, Depp hoped to lose the case.
Time’s Up is no longer as powerful as it used to be during these tests. Its board was dissolved and two chief executives resigned a few months after the Kuomo scandal erupted last year. And while the group victimized pro bono public relations during the Weinstein trial and provided information to the press about sexual assaults, it didn’t tweet as much as it did about Depp and Heard. Nor were the women who were among Time’s Up’s most prominent members, such as Reese Witherspoon and Shonda Rhimes.
The Depp-Herd libel trial began on April 11, and for several weeks, prominent activists remained silent about it. On May 28, #MeToo founder Tarana Burke posted a statement on Instagram saying the cause was pointed out and manipulated during the trial and called the press coverage “one of the biggest smears of the movement we’ve ever seen”. In the caption, Burke said he and her organization were “being harassed incessantly. [the trial] – Mainly by people who want to “pick a page” in the case. A more detailed statement posted on the organization’s website said the Depp-Hurd trial “was not primarily about sexual assault”.
“The stunning silence says it all,” said singer and actress Melissa Schumann, who claimed in 2017 that Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter raped her in 2003 when she was a member of the teen group Dream. Carter denied the allegations, and the Los Angeles District Attorney refused to sue because the statute of limitations had expired and Schumann had become the subject of online criticism for Backstreet Boys fans, just as Depp’s fans leaked to Heard. “[The silence] Used against the Pack, as: “Behold, he does not believe”. Nobody wants to take their life to the limit. “It’s no use speaking in support of a survivor who speaks out against power.”
Another woman in the entertainment industry who came close to pleading guilty to sexual assault against a man who worked in Hollywood says attending the trial stopped her. “What this shows me is that my worst fears are true,” he said. “The reason I never want to go out in public is because I’m afraid of being treated like Amber Heard.”
Depp’s defamation lawsuit against Herd is an increasingly common legal tool in the #MeToo case, replacing the confidentiality agreement, which has been restricted by new laws in states, including California. “Using libel suits has become a fine art in some industries,” said Joseph Dunn, a former California state senator, professor at the University of California, Irvine, and attorney who deals with clients on sexual assault charges. “Frankly, this is just another cover-up.”
Many who work with victims of sexual violence say the Depp Heard trial and the public reaction can have a calming effect on victims’ willingness to talk about violence.
“What I’m seeing is a power imbalance,” said Louise Godbold, a Weinstein defendant and executive director of the nonprofit group Echo, which she trains. “[The power imbalance] Creating conditions for abuse, it led to a defamation lawsuit by threatening and silencing the victim and is now being used to manipulate public opinion and make the world believe that the perpetrator is the victim. It works. “
After a jury ruled Wednesday that Heard and Depp were liable for defamation but received significantly greater damages from Depp, a prominent entertainment industry group released a statement.
“We are deeply concerned that the Depp-Heard decision sets a precedent that exacerbates barriers to victimization,” wrote Women in Film, an entertainment industry advocacy organization founded in 1973. Which speaks to violence or violence perpetrated by people in power. .”
The group shared a phone number for their helpline, offered resources to people of both sexes who have experienced sexual harassment or misbehavior while working in the entertainment industry, and said, “We’re here to help.”
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
