Amber Heard and Johnny Depp began dating in 2012 and got engaged in 2014, after two years of dating. They got married in 2015 and not even 15 months later Heard filed for divorce. When word of the divorce hit the media, Heard came out with several accusations against Depp, stating he was physically and emotionally abusive. That same month a judge granted her a restraining order against Depp. One of the most known accusation against Depp is when Heard claims ” he threw a cellphone which struck her in the cheek and eye, screamed at her, hit her violently and pulled her hair.” Depp denied these accusations and his lawyer even insinuated Heard was trying to get financial gain through this.

Depp has continuously denied these accusations and in 2018 tried to sue The Sun after they published an article calling him a “wife beater”. Depp would go on to lose this case. At the end of 2018 Heard published an op-ed in the Washington Post going on about the abuse she faced, while she never named dropped Depp, many assumed it was about him due to the time lines Heard references. Depp would go on to sue Heard for defamation, resulting in Heard countersuing Depp for double the amount. As of now in April of 2022 their trial has been going on in Virginia.

I believe this trial has been getting so much attention because there has been substantial evidence showing that Heard was just as abusive if not more abusive to Depp. It is very rare men who are victims of abuse get justice or even bring their experiences to light. Regardless of who wins or loses the trial, Depp being a man and being so open about the abuse he has been through may result in other men who are victims to speak up. It’ll normalize men talking about abuse and hopefully make some victims who didn’t realize they were victims come to terms with their abuse.