How Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard Case Impacts Other Celebrity Exes
The Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial is making headlines daily, with pop culture fans and celebrity critics alike taking to social media to weigh in on the buzzworthy court case. With weeks still to go, lots of evidence has to be uncovered, and many fans still haven’t made up their minds whether to believe Heard’s claims that Depp physically abused her, or to side with Depp in his suit against Heard for defamation of character.
Some of these outspoken critics have been active on social media, debating and discussing why they refuse to side with one celebrity over the other. The case is also causing some shock waves to echo through Hollywood, with at least one other major lawsuit emerging in recent weeks.
Several critics won’t take sides in the trial
Depp and Heard had a tumultuous relationship from the beginning, culminating in divorce in 2017. After their divorce, Heard wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post, where she detailed her experience as a victim of domestic abuse. The op-ed eventually resulted in Depp suing Heard for defamation, claiming that his ex-wife cost him his high-profile status in Hollywood.
The case went to trial in April 2022, and with cameras allowed in the courtroom, fans worldwide have watched as Depp related his side of the story. While the trial’s outcome remains very unclear, as Heard only recently took the stand to recount her experiences, some fans on social media have remained steadfast in their desire not to take sides.
Gossip blogger Perez Hilton recently wrote on Twitter, “I do NOT support Amber Heard. I don’t support Johnny Depp either.”
Podcast host and reality TV expert Kate Casey took to Twitter at the end of April to write, “If Johnny Depp is friends with Marilyn Manson I have issues.”
Marilyn Manson is suing Evan Rachel Wood
Depp and Marilyn Manson have been good friends for years—the two have supported each other at various public events and reportedly even have matching tattoos. That isn’t the only thing they have in common. Both have been accused of abuse by their ex-partners. Actor Evan Rachel Wood, who was in a relationship with Manson from 2007 through 2010, has gone on the record to claim that Manson “groomed” and abused her, and that he used their large age difference against her.
Now, just as Depp is suing Heard, Manson has taken legal action against Wood. According to Variety, Manson cited defamation over Wood’s sexual abuse allegations against him, in advance of the release of her HBO documentary, Rising Phoenix. The documentary features Wood recounting her own alleged abuse at the hands of Manson, as well as her meetings with those who have also spoken out against the shock rocker.
Variety reports that Wood is “confident” in her truth and that she is “not scared” about the lawsuit. Now that Manson and Depp are both embroiled in defamation suits against exes who have claimed abuse, it’s easy to see why fans are taking to social media to discuss their association, even if many aren’t sure what to make of things just yet.
Several former celebrity couples have battled it out in court
While Depp and Heard’s court case is one of the most public examples of contentious Hollywood divorces, several other former celeb couples have ended up in court as well. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie divorced in 2016 and have been dealing with the details of their split ever since. According to Hollywood Life, the two have had a hard time determining custody arrangements for their six children, which has led to the case lasting much longer than it probably should have.
Model Heidi Klum and her ex-husband, Seal, are another example of exes who had a hard time in court after they split. Hollywood Life reports that the custody battle between the pair got contentious at times, causing Klum and Seal to end up in court on several occasions after their 2014 split.
