Depp Vs Heard: Can we handle a sequel?

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp were both found guilty of defamation by the US jury, but he won more in damages than she, coronating him the king in this particular bloodshed. (Image: AFP)

By now everyone knows there is no real winner in the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard case, where they took each other to court. That the case went technicolour and 70mm, amplified by recordings and headlines, via a live relay, with a nail-biting finish only adds to the bizarre nature of the whole trial. Which went from ‘he said, she said’ to what we are saying and will say for a long time.

The word ‘abuse’ was freely abused as the couple’s lawyers melodramatically presented evidence and testimony and witnesses. The cataloguing included hitting, punching, sliced fingers, drugs, swearing, trashing rooms and even a ‘who did this in my bed?’ Donations went missing. Supermodel Kate Moss put in a guest appearance via Zoom to say no, he did not push me down any stairs. Earlier, when Heard alluded to Moss’ fall during the time Depp dated the latter, his team could be seen celebrating, knowing Moss would be called in and that she would say the truth. A truth Heard dismisses, along with all of Depp’s truths, as power play, as stardom.

Fast-forward to who won, and the answers reveal more about us as a people. Some choose to focus on what he won in compensation ($15 million), some on what she won ($2 million), and yet others on how who won what is irrelevant in the face of the ridiculous amount of inhumanity that was on display by the main protagonists, their supporters, and us, the onlookers. Heard and Depp were both found guilty of defamation by the US jury, but he won more in damages than her, coronating him the king in this particular bloodshed. His fans are delirious! They are hoping Depp will hook up with his lawyer.

Feminists have gone into a huddle. They would rather focus on the damages Heard won, however puny, proving she was wronged too, and perhaps wronged more than this trial or judgment would let on. Here too women are divided: those who believe Heard and worry that all abused women out there are now at risk of being disbelieved and those who doubt her narrative and fear that genuine victims will be affected. Either way, not a good look for their gender.

There was the therapist who mentioned ‘mutual abuse’; Heard was beaten by her dad and Depp by his mom, and they triggered each other. Many, heart of hearts, know this to be the closest to the truth. Nothing we saw so far clearly proves one party the villain and the other a saint.

Which brings us to us. Perhaps the most abused party in this case. Subjected to gory details, which we alternately lapped up and were nauseated by, ambushed by wily lawyers, privy to close-ups of superstars, brainwashed at every step… We saw at close quarters how duets can turn into duels.

With Heard’s lawyer saying she is ‘absolutely not’ able to pay Depp and likely to appeal the verdict, the former couple may take this to the next court. He might win again or she will write another op-ed piece – uh-oh here we go again!