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Becca Monaghan
Apr 25, 2022
Johnny Depp says he suspected Amber Heard was having an affair with ...
Independent TV
People have slammed Johnny Depp fan compilations for "making light" of his $50m (£38 million) defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard.
Taking to the stand earlier this week, the Pirates of the Caribbean actor expressed the importance of the trial, saying: "I'm obsessed with the truth so today is my first opportunity that I've been able to speak about this case in full for the first time. I felt a responsibility of clearing the record."
"I felt it my responsibility to stand up not only for myself in that instance but stand up for my children," he added, citing that they were of high school age at the time of the allegations.
The ongoing case has inevitably garnered international attention, with fans of the actor creating compilations. For instance, one YouTube video shared Depp's "most savage moments" in the case.
Meanwhile, another showcased the 58-year-old "being hilarious in court."
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A third edit, which racked up millions of views on TikTok, shows the star taking to the stand. The creator added a dramatic soundtrack to Depp's recollection of the horrific severed finger incident.
People are now hitting back, perceiving the fan edits as "obsessive" and "romanticising" Depp's alleged trauma. Some have slammed the compilations as treating the court case as a form of entertainment "as if it's a movie."
Comedian Kurtis Conner took to Twitter with a screengrab of one of the problematic videos. "Call me crazy, but hey maybe don't make fan edits and compilations about this?? What the hell".
call me crazy but hey maybe don\u2019t make fan edits and compilations about this?? what the hellpic.twitter.com/llIq5NhkNl— kurtis conner (@kurtis conner) 1650723193
Many fellow users agreed with Conner's statement, with one declaring that just because there have been a few giggles in the courtroom, it "does NOT give everyone permission to make gains off his trauma."
They added: "We do not make light of serious situations ESPECIALLY abuse."
he pulled some jokes and they were a funny coping mechanism! the courtroom laughed and so did he! but this does NOT give everyone permission to make gains off of his trauma, we do not make light of serious situations ESPECIALLY abuse. I'm so sorry johnny.— \u2754saint \ud83e\udd87 (@\u2754saint \ud83e\udd87) 1650724616
Another highlighted a separate viral YouTube video that had garnered over three million views in less than 24 hours. The four-minute clip compiled all of Depp's "hilarious" moments during the trial.
dude literally saw this two minutes ago and was thinking wtf ? we love people making jokes about serious situations !pic.twitter.com/9jjeHNWvTF— niamhie|| darling ! (@niamhie|| darling !) 1650723253
One user said that romanticising a man in this position is "kinda scary" and raised questions about how the "kids" making the clips view relationships.
Using jokes to cope is one thing, this is actual degenerative behavior. Romanticizing a man in his position is kinda scary and makes me wonder how the kids (hopefully it's kids) making these view relationships.— Eli Rodriguez (chillin in depressed mode) (@Eli Rodriguez (chillin in depressed mode)) 1650723538
Being supportive of Johnny depp doesn\u2019t excuse the fact that videos like these are making light of an abuse, something that\u2019s already not taken seriously enough— Raiden Mei kinnie (@Raiden Mei kinnie) 1650736272
Some people defended the clips as a form of showing support to Depp, but others quickly pointed out there is a difference between being supportive and "making light" of abuse.
just saw one called \u201cjohnny depp being hilarious in the courtroom\u201d like???— chandler \ud83e\uddf8 (@chandler \ud83e\uddf8) 1650723234
"we use jokes and humor to cope" and WHAT exactly are YOU coping with?? it's his abuse and trauma, NOT yours. be respectful.— Kiz \ud83e\udeb2\ud83e\udd95 (@Kiz \ud83e\udeb2\ud83e\udd95) 1650744146
to be fair\u2026.kurtis is right guys, it honestly is kinda out of place considering that this is such an impactful situation for johnny. like this is something so serious and i get it, some parts are kind of \u201cfunny\u201d ig but at the same time this needs to be taken seriously :/— moon (@moon) 1650723327
Another brought attention to the sad reality of 2022, "when people can't process anything without turning it into a meme."
Welcome to 2022 when people can't process anything without turning it to a meme— Bimbo With A Great Axe \ud83d\udc99\ud83d\udc9b (@Bimbo With A Great Axe \ud83d\udc99\ud83d\udc9b) 1650723486
Meanwhile, another found the content across social media unsettling.
literally i\u2019ve been seeing them all over tiktok and it unsettles a deep part in me— ally \ud83e\udde1 (@ally \ud83e\udde1) 1650723222
no please! i\u2019m seeing whole accounts dedicated to making light of the situation on tiktok— STINKY (@STINKY) 1650723222
Heard is being sued for defamation after her 2018 column implied Depp had abused her. Depp's legal team claims it has impacted his career despite not being named in the article.
“The characterisation of my substance abuse that has been delivered by Miss Heard is grossly embellished, and a lot of it, I’m sorry to say, is just plainly false. I think it was an easy target for her to hit,” Depp said.
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