On April 12, in Dallas Texas, the Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard defamation court proceedings began. Depp is suing Heard for $50 million claiming that she sabotaged his career by claiming that he abused her during their 15-month marriage. 

With the court proceedings still going, many questions have been raised. Did Johnny really abuse Amber? Did Amber abuse Johnny? How did Amber‘s lawyer not know that the makeup palette came out in 2017?  Many of these questions people have been asking themselves across various social media and news platforms. 

In order to understand the court proceedings, you have to know a little bit about the couple’s history. In 2014, the couple began dating and then got engaged. The following year in 2015, they got married. In 2016, after 15 months of marriage, the couple divorced, following Heard filing claims that she was abused during the marriage while Johnny was under the influence of drugs and alcohol. 

In the following years, Amber spoke out against domestic abuse against women; however, never mentioned Depp by name in saying that he was the one who abused her. In 2019, Depp sued Heard for $50 million in a defamation case claiming that the claim she made against him was untrue. And here we are, in 2022 watching the case live. 

Many viral videos of the court case, such as Heard’s lawyer objecting to his own question have been circulating throughout the Internet, with a majority of people siding with Depp. 92% of people who answered our poll on instagram also said they sided with Depp. Some viral tiktoks even use audio from the trial in which you can hear Depp’s responses in court and even audio recorded by Heard during arguments with Depp.

There are many important things to know about this case. This is not a trial where the jury will decide if Depp abused Heard, this is simply a defamation case, so all Depp’s lawyers will have to do is show how these ‘untrue’ claims have ruined Depp’s career. 

The court proceedings are simply nothing less than a laughing stock. So far in the trial, we have only heard from a few witnesses and a psychiatrist, along with Depp himself. We have yet to hear from Heard. 

The cross-examination by Heard’s lawyer is probably one of the funniest things ever. In the middle of a witness answering a question given by Herad’s lawyers, he objects to the witness’s testimony. In the middle of answering a question. That he asked. And yes, it does get better. 

While Depp’s lawyer asked a witness (a casting agent) ‘what role was Mr. Depp to play in Pirates (of the Carribean) 3”, Heard’s lawyer interjected with “Objection, calls for speculation and hearsay.” Now, I don’t know what about that would call for speculation, but apparently the witness agreed with me and despite the objection, still answered the question with “Jack Sparrow.” 

The same lawyer of Heard’s then proceeded to show the jury a makeup concealer palette saying that Heard used it during their marriage in 2015 and 2016 to cover up bruises from Depp. Then Malini makeup (the brand of the concealer) came out saying that the palette the layer was referring to did not come out until December of 2017 meaning that Heard could not have used the palette to cover up bruises from 2015-2016. 

Having only heard from the lawyers, witnesses, and Depp himself, it’s very clear to see who has their stuff together and who doesn’t. Depp answers every question he is given with honesty and integrity, showing how these claims have effecticted him and his career. Every witness brought up has been calm, collected, and has answered with logic and evidence. Heard’s lawyers however truly make me believe that law school cannot be that hard if they passed the bar. Seriously, who objects to their own question? 

Overall, the court hearings have only boosted Depp’s popularity. If you were iffy going in, you certainly have picked a side coming out. With the court proceedings still unfolding, and Heard to speak either later this week or next, it’s important to remember how these claims, whether true or untrue, will affect how we view domestic violence as a whole, or false claims and how that could destroy someone’s reputation. Either way, Johnny Depp will truly be in his Reputation era.