Johnny Depp loses libel case against The Sun

[RoyalCorgi]

I think this is probably a good thing for those of us who campaign against domestic violence:

www.theguardian.com/film/2020/nov/02/johnny-depp-loses-libel-case-against-sun-over-claims-he-beat-ex-wife-amber-heard

PS: Not defending The Sun conceptually whatsoever! I just think she'll have to release a statement at some point. She may well be hampered by the US case at the moment, though.

@MayDayFightsBack

The lack of people agreeing with the verdict doesn't surprise me after all the adoring crap I've read about Sean Connery this weekend - a man who said he thought it was fine for men to hit women and whose ex wife said he hit her regularly.

I’ve had to sit on my hands quite a bit lately. Connery was a misogynist but G-d forbid you mention that.

@Nancydrawn

Well, the libel case was specifically about allegations regarding Depp's abuse in context for Fantastic Beasts. The Sun's article was about the surprise that JK Rowling et al. backed Depp in the face of his record of domestic abuse. (Original title of article: "GONE POTTY How can JK Rowling be ‘genuinely happy’ casting Johnny Depp in the new Fantastic Beasts film after assault claim?")

So it involves her deeply, like it or not.

I assume the presence of Neil Blair was some sort of watching brief to record accurately what was said rather than rely on media reports and to assess if what came out was damaging to the brand and not an endorsement as suggested in the earlier version of the Times article.

And I assume that placing Blair with Depp’s legal team ensured Blair always got a place in the courtroom but it might have been more discreet to have had someone there anonymously. The case was held in public.

I’ve had to sit on my hands quite a bit lately. Connery was a misogynist but G-d forbid you mention that

You can say it in my house ! Husband agrees too.

I believe he abused her. He came from an abusive background and probably never seek helped. BUT I also think Amber abused back. They were in a bad relationship.

Dido: I agree on both counts. I do, however, think it's a real problem that she hasn't said anything about it. I hope that it's merely legal issues holding her back rather than any sort of qualms about speaking.

Waiting for the papers to somehow make it out to be JK Rowling's fault.

It’s not her fault he beat his wife, but she gave him a resounding endorsement when these events were a matter of public knowledge. She made a very clear decision to back him over his victim. She bears some responsibility for now putting that right.

I feel like unfriending the lot of them.

You'll feel better if you do.

@SpeccyLime Perhaps JKR decided to back Depp and support him from his abusing spouse.
She made a very clear decision to back him over his victim. Is a one sided statement. It seems that Heard was clearly violent to Depp and Depp clearly violent to heard.
JKR took sides, perhaps she knows things we don't. There certainly seems lots of documented proof and witness statements against Heard in the US case.

How does anyone decide who the victim is in this case?

Papers today are saying JK Rowling holds Depp's future in her hands. Times is saying a statement from her is expected/needed.

@Wildswim

Papers today are saying JK Rowling holds Depp's future in her hands. Times is saying a statement from her is expected/needed.

What's the deal here? Are there sequel films to be made?

This was a disaster for both of them, as they both showed themselves to be very dysfunctional and abusive. I had a feeling JD would lose.
It really was the very definition of a toxic relationship.

[quote DrMorbius]**@SpeccyLime Perhaps JKR decided to back Depp and support him from his abusing spouse.
She made a very clear decision to back him over his victim. Is a one sided statement. It seems that Heard was clearly violent to Depp and Depp clearly violent to heard.
JKR took sides, perhaps she knows things we don't. There certainly seems lots of documented proof and witness statements against Heard in the US case.

How does anyone decide who the victim is in this case?[/quote]
Well thankfully, the judge of the High court has decided it so we don't have to rely on internet sages to determine who the victim is .

The judgement has been linked to on here if you would like further clarification of who the victim was.

In other great news for Johnny Depp - his great friend Victoria Mary White (married to Shane McGowan of the Pogues) has sent her support and that of Shane to JD via twitter. This was the news headline where I live - yes, on national radio, they decided that Victoria's support merited the headline and not JD's loss of the libel case.

I despair (the national morning radio news programme has a male and female presenter) that women (Not Victoria Mary - the women who research and present the news) are still supporting JD and casting aside Amber by focusing on the friends who support him (ie well if his friends think he is amazing, then the judgement is wrong).

I can never understand why people believe that actors are somehow like the people they portray on screen - are they that gullible? Do people really believe that super famous actors are all sweet and lovely????? And that their friends in any way represent normal people?

Rowling’s original statement supporting the casting of Depp

Of which this portion caught my eye:

For me personally, the inability to speak openly to fans about this issue has been difficult, frustrating and at times painful. However, the agreements that have been put in place to protect the privacy of two people, both of whom have expressed a desire to get on with their lives, must be respected. Based on our understanding of the circumstances, the filmmakers and I are not only comfortable sticking with our original casting, but genuinely happy to have Johnny playing a major character in the movies.

Perhaps their understanding of the circumstances has now changed.

I suspect that is probably true @ShagMeRiggins

If that statement is true and JKR or her reps had been in touch with both JD and AH then that statement is all that could reasonably, legally have been said.

I would expect there to be a new statement from JKR, but would also fully understand if she chose to do it via her lawyers rather than herself!

I don't understand why any abuse she did then means its ok for him to assault her its an odd position, especially on a feminist board

It clearly was a very unhealthy relationship, but there is no justification for assaulting your wife. Headbutting her fgs. Awful.

@QuentinWinters

I don't understand why any abuse she did then means its ok for him to assault her its an odd position, especially on a feminist board

It clearly was a very unhealthy relationship, but there is no justification for assaulting your wife. Headbutting her fgs. Awful.

Who said it was?

Has it been said here? Or do you mean amongst his, frankly delusional, avid supporters?

Yep, anyone who's ever worked in a women's refuge knows that abused women sometimes behave 'badly' and can become abusive themselves due to trauma. That doesn't mean that what happened to them doesn't matter, or that their abuser is somehow absolved. Suspect AH already had some trauma in her background when they met.

How does anyone decide who the victim is in this case?

I think they were equally abusive to one another. Doesn't excuse either of them.

They both came across as vile individuals. I don't feel sorry for either of them.

I have no dog in this fight, being neutral on both of them. But I don't feel like rushing to condemn or convict him just yet

This was a disaster for both of them, as they both showed themselves to be very dysfunctional and abusive. I had a feeling JD would lose. It really was the very definition of a toxic relationship.

These are quotes from this thread.

Johnny Depp has now been proven in court to be a domestic abuser.
Amber Heard hasn't. As someone said upthread, the judgement shows the judge thought his allegations of violence against her were untrue.

Why can't he just be condemned for what he's done? Why a load of justification that somehow its not that bad?

Patriarchy in action. Again.

Violence by her, I mean

when will we see the Pink News article telling Johnny not to work with a TERF?

" How does anyone decide who the victim is in this case"

Only a criminal court can really judge that but Depp was happy enough to take this action so will have to deal with the consequences. The balance of probabilities veridict is just that but he asked for it.

@zanahoria

when will we see the Pink News article telling Johnny not to work with a TERF?

Fucking priceless!

@SpeccyLime

Waiting for the papers to somehow make it out to be JK Rowling's fault.

It’s not her fault he beat his wife, but she gave him a resounding endorsement when these events were a matter of public knowledge. She made a very clear decision to back him over his victim. She bears some responsibility for now putting that right.

Not really fair. People are innocent until proven guilty and JKR would only have been going on what she knew at that point. Also it's highly improbable that it was her decision to make - could she have gone against the whole multi-million franchise on the basis of what were then unproven claims? She isn't responsible for him or his violence and she didn't "back him over his victim" - it's not a game, is it.

The whole thing is just really fucking grim. But ultimately, Depp has to be held responsible for his actions (and Amber Heard should be held responsible for hers) - no one else is responsible for his decisions, only him.