1. Weekends
2. Payday
3. Johnny Depp
So when news broke that Amber Heard had filed for divorce because of domestic violence, the Internet exploded in messages supporting… Johnny Depp.
That’s right. Johnny. Not Amber.
I would like to take this opportunity to recall a certain Mister Oscar Pistorius’ case for you. When it first emerged that he may have shot Reeva in cold blood, most people dismissed the thought.
There’s no way that he could do that.
He is an international sports star.
He is a Paralympic.
He is a good person.
He is loved by all.
Why would he do that?
Except that he shot his girlfriend through a locked door, regardless of what he claimed happened (shooting an intruder through the door). HE. SHOT. SOMEONE. THROUGH. A. LOCKED. DOOR.
Yet he found an online following of loyal fans, Pistorians, who supported him throughout his trial. A murder trial.
Hero worship is a terrifying thing. If you look at the online conversation around Amber Heard and Johnny Depp’s divorce, you will see why.
Images: AP
I am not going into the whole story, you can read about it here if you want more information.
What I would like to address is the fact that your online comments against Amber Heard is wrong, even if you believe that Johnny Depp is “innocent until proven guilty”.
I want you to think about the woman who is sitting at home, with bruises, reading your dismissive comments about Amber Heard’s abuse. I want you to think about her crippling fear for her abuser, and how many times she has tried to muster the courage to leave them/report them. How she is scared of what others will think, or if anyone would believe her.
What message do you think you’re sending to her?
Dismissing abuse is wrong, no matter what. And it is sickening to see how the media is demonising Amber.
This is proof that we have a very long road to walk in terms of education around abuse.
If we can’t create a world without abuse, we should at least create one where it can be reported and taken seriously.
This article was written by Anja van de Spuy of Glitz and Grammar