People Are Concerned The Depp-Heard Trial Will Set A Precedent For Future Survivors

Trigger warning: This article discusses domestic abuse and sexual violence

Earlier this week, Johnny Depp won the defamation trial against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, at the Fairfax County Courthouse, Virginia. 

The jury found that Amber did in fact defame her previous partner in an op-ed for The Washington Post, titled: “I spoke up against sexual violence — and faced our culture’s wrath. That has to change.”

Despite not identifying her former partner in the article by name, the jury determined that the Aquaman star acted with ‘malice’ in the article, and subsequently ordered that she payout Johnny $15 million in damages, which was later reduced to $10.35m by Judge Penny Azcarate due to Virginia's statutory cap on punitive damages.

Now, onlookers are concerned that the outcome of this high-profile court case could set a precedent for future survivors who may feel reluctant to step forward about their abuse without fear of defamation allegations.

Bystanders took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the fallout from the case, with one social media user explaining: “It’s so horrible. And what next? Any survivor who says she experienced domestic abuse even without naming the abuser can now be found to have defamed him.

“It’s designed to shut women up and shut anti-Male Violence Against Women and Girls (MVAWG) movements down.”

Another pointed out the same notion: “I don't know if you guys realise that there is now a (very famous) precedent for how saying publicly that you are a victim of domestic violence, without naming your abuser, is considered defamation.”

“I don’t think y’all understand that he sued her because she called herself a victim of domestic abuse. Like that was the whole lawsuit,” another noted.

A different social media user tweeted: “The Depp trial basically sends the message that if a woman can’t prove that she was abused to a high enough standard (whatever that is), then it didn’t happen and she’s defaming her abuser by even speaking about it.”

“Speaking entirely personally as a male victim of abuse, today's verdict isn't a 'win for abused men' but a chilling precedent that will prompt abusers to silence and punish survivors in defamation suits. Abused men and boys were already winning within #MeToo,” a domestic abuse survivor pointed out.

Elsewhere, others pointed out that the way Amber was treated during the trial, having been subjected to a slew of cruel memes and online abuse, could also be enough to deter survivors of domestic abuse and sexual abuse to come forward.

One person wrote: "When you ask why we don’t come forward, I’ll point to Amber Heard. A modern-day stoning #MeToo #Don’tSilenceUs."

Tyla has spoken to Dani Wallace, founder of The #FlyAnyway Foundation, an organisation set up in 2020 to help domestic abuse survivors create their own businesses. Dani shares for her thoughts on the fallout which follows the Depp-Heard trial outcome, and what Johnny’s win means for survivors of domestic abuse. 

"We're are treading very dangerous grounds with regards to silencing women who are experiencing or who have experienced domestic abuse," Dani tells us.

"It has taken a long time and a lot of campaigning from many organisations and survivors to raise awareness in support of victims to help them understand that there are support systems that believe them.

"We actively encourage survivors and victims to speak out and seek support, but the circus surrounding the Depp/Heard case is only serving to set us back if we allow it. It is aiding and abetting perpetrators in silencing their victims. 

"Now, more than ever, the conversations must turn to what we can do to stop domestic abuse. We must, as a wider global community, seek solutions to prevent this from happening in future, as best we can, instead of feeding the media beast that is actively encouraging division and side taking."

For help, support and advice, please visit Refuge here.