OPINION | Amber Heard's leaked confessions do not absolve Johnny Depp of wrongdoing despite the outrage
Less than a week ago, the world came to know about an audio recording where Amber Heard allegedly confesses to abusing Johnny Depp.
In the tapes, Heard says, "I'm sorry that I didn't, uh, uh, hit you across the face in a proper slap, but I was hitting you, it was not punching you. Babe, you're not punched."
She continues, "I don't know what the motion of my actual hand was, but you're fine. I did not hurt you, I did not punch you, I was hitting you." She goes on to say, "I can't promise you I won't get physical again. God, I f**king sometimes get so mad I lose it." This tape was released by Daily Mail.
Heard filed for divorce from Depp on May 23, 2016, and obtained a temporary restraining order against him. In her court declaration, she stated that Depp had been verbally and physically abusive throughout their relationship, usually while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
In early 2019, Depp sued Heard for $50 million for defamation over an op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in December 2018. The article "depended on the central premise that Ms Heard was a domestic abuse victim and that Mr Depp perpetrated domestic violence against her".
Ever since the truth about Heard came out, social media has been ablaze with Depp fans demanding justice for the actor while asking for Heard's removal from her role in 'Aquaman'. Many Depp fans want Heard dragged to court and held accountable for her actions. They also want Depp to be given back the role of Captain Jack Sparrow in the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise.
Things have only gotten worse for Heard. A second audio tape was leaked where Heard reportedly dares Depp to tell the world that he was a domestic violence victim. She is heard saying, "See how many people believe or side with you."
When Depp replies, "It doesn't matter — fair fight my a**," Heard says, "Exactly, because you're big, you're bigger and you're stronger. And so when I say that I thought that you could kill me, that doesn't mean you counter with you also lost your own finger. I, I'm not trying to attack you here, I'm just trying to point out the fact of why I said call 911."
She continues, "Because I was, you had your hands on me after you threw a phone at my face. And it's got crazy in the past, and I truly thought I need to stop this madness before I get hurt," she added. Depp had admitted to throwing a phone at Heard during a 2016 disposition.
While the allegations of Heard abusing Depp had been raised in the aftermath of Depp suing his former wife, the leaked audio tapes have intensified the attacks on Heard, who has been accused of derailing the #MeToo movement.
Heard was accused of domestic assault in 2009 by her then girlfriend. However, in 2016 her girlfriend said that the reports were false and motivated by "homophobic" and "misogynist" attitudes.
However, do the leaked audio tapes mean that Depp can now be absolved of all wrongdoing? While Depp does not negate Heard's accusations in the tapes, media and fans have glossed over Heard's allegation about Depp throwing a phone at her.
Fans also allege that Heard needs to go through the same "cancel culture" that Depp went through when the abuse allegations first came up. Depp had also alleged that he lost his role as Captain Jack Sparrow because of the allegations, a claim fans have been bolstering.
However, there is no direct proof of this claim. The reboot of the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise was announced in 2018 and though Depp lost out on his role, his career has not taken a major hit as most fans allege.
Depp was cast as Gellert Grindelwald for the 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' franchise, spun off from the wildly successful 'Harry Potter'. And after the abuse allegations made by Heard, many called for the role to be recast. However, 'Harry Potter' author JK Rowling defended the actor, saying it was "the right thing" for the series. Two movies of the 'Fantastic Beasts' franchise are already out, with three more announced to be released.
Heard had also accused Depp of alcohol and drug abuse, which could certainly be a contributing factor to the estranged couple's ugly situation. Depp's history of alcohol addiction is not new. The actor had previously talked about it, though Depp claimed he stopped drinking in 2013. In 2018, Rolling Stone reported about Depp using hashish as well as bragging about the amount of money the actor spent on wine.
The question that arises at the moment, however, is why Amber Heard seems to be singularly targeted today despite the audiotapes having both her and Johnny Depp speak about their abusive actions.
Even at the time when Heard first came out with the allegations, media coverage of the actress was unfavorable with some outlets peddling tired narratives about domestic abuse victims looking for financial paydays. There was also intense scrutiny of Heard's sexual orientation, which played to stereotypes of bisexual women being promiscuous, sneaky and unreliable.
This is not to say that Heard must be excused or forgiven. However, Depp's cis-white-male privilege undoubtedly plays a role in the imbalance in terms of the treatment both actors have been receiving in the wake of the leaked tapes.
None of the tapes released have absolved Depp of abuse, rather they just prove his allegations that Heard was abusive as well. What is clear is that Heard and Depp's relationship was mutually abusive and toxic, something the actors have themselves acknowledged in the leaked tapes. A similar situation was noticed in the media's coverage of the mutually abusive relationship between Nicki Minaj and Safaree Samuels.
Neither side deserves to be excused but the narratives peddled currently with Heard being singularly targeted need to be discarded. Heard's earlier communications have misled the public and thereby negatively affecting the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, leading many to question other survivors' claims. However, it does not mean her experience as a domestic abuse victim can be ignored, just as Depp's ordeal within the relationship cannot be ignored either.