Recent events in Hollywood and the entertainment industry at large have driven home the idea that it's nigh on impossible to know every side of any given story. The defamation trial of Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard is one such instance, the effects of which are still sending out steady ripples.
Depp recently made a surprise appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards as the network's "Moon Person" mascot, and while the audience seemed appreciative of the cameo, it seems they didn't represent everyone's reaction. As reported by People, Heard's younger sister, Whitney Henriquez, posted a decidedly less charitable assessment on her Instagram story, saying, "I stand with Amber Heard" along with an image that changed the VMA's title to the "DVMA's." This seems to refer to the accusations of Depp's domestic violence that a London judge ruled were credible, referencing a newspaper which referred to him as a "wife beater."
"@MTV you're disgusting and clearly desperate!" Henriquez wrote in her story. "I really hope that none of the people that made this call have daughters..." She has been a staunch ally for her sister all throughout the Depp v Heard trial and ever since, never hesitating or holding back in her support despite the ultimate ruling, which many have apparently changed their opinions on in the time since. "We knew that this was going to be an uphill battle and that the cards were stacked against us," she said back when the trial had just concluded. "But you stood up and spoke out regardless. I am so honored to testify for you, and I would do it a million times over because I know what I saw and because the truth is forever on your side."
The story of Heard and Depp is one that everyone seemed to have popular and unpopular opinions about. During the recent trial, which only dealt with whether Heard had defamed Depp when speaking out about domestic abuse she suffered in a 2018 op-ed, everyone seemed to be on Depp's side. A good chunk of evidence seemed to paint Heard as an abuser herself, only for claims to come out later that much of it was fabricated. This was seen as a big reason that a number of big names ultimately withdrew support for Depp after the trial.
It's not difficult to see Henriquez's frustration, given how Heard is still vilified by many in the media and the public. Meanwhile, everyone seems all too eager to get Depp back in the spotlight. It may come as slight consolation that, at the very least, there currently appear to be no plans to remove Heard from the Aquaman movies, where she plays the prominent role of Princess Mera.
However, given the volatile nature of Warner Bros. at the moment, particularly given its handling of Ezra Miller, there's always the chance that anything could change at the drop of a hat. Here's hoping some true closure can eventually find everyone involved.
Source: People