Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s abuse allegations have had the world’s attention since 2016. Last year, in 2021, it was announced that Amber heard might face jail time. Johnny Depp fans worldwide rejoiced as most people were on Johnny’s side despite Heard’s testimony of Depp being the abuser since 2016. Depp lost jobs due to companies not wanting to associate with him, Heard was kept on the cast of Aquaman despite some evidence showing she was the abuser, and the world was enraged that Heard might come out on top of this allegation.
About a year ago, LAPD police bodycam footage was released showing no indication that Heard’s abuse claims were valid. The police officers who responded to the 9-1-1 call also stated that there was no evidence that she was being abused. Depp, who has maintained his innocence since the beginning, can now see the light at the end of a dark, five-year tunnel.
People following the case have pointed out various things that would suspect Heard being the abuser. From body language in the court to a two-hour recording where she says, “see how many people believe you or side with you” regarding Johnny’s abuse claim. On tape, she also admitted to hitting him and fighting back under the claim of self-defense, which didn’t fly with most people as Heard’s timelines didn’t seem to add up, and Depp would show up to events with bruises.
There are more details in this case, seeing as the couple has been going back and forth since 2016, but on the surface level, one can only ask: how did the world let this happen? How could there be so much uncertainty in Heard’s allegations, but she still comes out on top nearly every time? Heard’s mockery of Johnny on tape was enough to answer those questions. She was smaller than him, not as strong as him, and hid under cover of self-defense. It may have seemed logical in the beginning to assume her allegations might be true, be even her past marriage ended because Heard assaulted her partner in an airport. Eye-witness testimonies confirmed the assault, but her partner later dropped the charges.
The world watched Johnny Depp lose multiple jobs while Amber Heard went on to act in Aquaman despite the end of this feud being nowhere in sight. No one waited to see the outcome, no one believed he would win the case; they simply did not want to be associated with what one article claimed to be “a wife-beater.” And now, new evidence shows that Johnny Depp’s life the past few years may have been made miserable for little to no reason. This case can be seen as a typical lesson of “don’t jump to conclusions,” but the bigger lesson to take away is that abuse can go both ways.