Where is iO Tillett Wright, the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard 'whistleblower' whose 911 call sparked the divisive scandal?
iO Tillett Wright, gender fluidity, gay rights activist and TV personality was bang at the center of the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard controversy even before the rest of the world knew about it, or so he claimed. Wright left no stone unturned to defend his friend, Heard after she came out to the world about her alleged assault.
He defended her in a column, in interviews and all over social media. In fact, he was the one who made the 911 call that started it all. But now that the tables appear to have turned on Heard. Where is he? As he seems to be missing from the limelight. Even though, according to his social media, he's quite busy.
In a post from February 2, days before recordings where Amber admitted that she abused her ex-husband were leaked, Wright posted a throwback celebrating his personal journey and the success of his podcast - The Ballad of Billy Balls Podcast. Since the recordings have leaked, he has continued to be active on Twitter - just staying far...far away from one of his best friend's very public scandal.
Many wonder, why is he silent now and more importantly, what does this deafening silence mean?
When the Depp-Heard abuse allegations started flying, dirt was thrown in ample amounts from both sides of the fence. But the support that Heard received from vocal friends like Wright did make a difference. Heard became the champion of domestic violence survivors and the voice of strength amidst the apparent chaos. Wright, who lived with the former couple before these allegations came to light, had written a column for Refinery 29 saying how he knew that Heard had been abused and that he had to say something to defend his friend.
"I know this because I went to their house. I saw the pillow with my own eyes," he wrote, referring to Heard's pillowcase that she said was soaked with blood. "I saw the busted lip and the clumps of hair on the floor. I got the phone call immediately after it happened, her screaming and crying, a stoic woman reduced to sobs. I understood her heartbreak. He had been my friend, too, a person I loved very much. A person I had once referred to as a brother."
He further added saying, "I had to stand up for my friend, and for what I believe in my gut to be the code of conduct by which human beings have to behave with each other". He finished off the column with "When it comes to violence, 'love' is no longer part of the equation."
The support continued from Wright to Heard after he announced that he had cut ties with Depp and was standing firmly with Heard. Tweets saying, "BULLSHIT. I've had enough. I saw the bruises. Many times. And the fat lip. And the cut head" and "How much evidence does a woman need to present?! She has photos, texts, witnesses, and filed a restraining order" and "This culture of victim-blaming makes me sick. I'm a witness. I'm here. I'm standing up. I can't take any more of this witch hunt." were flooding Wright's timeline.
Fast forward to now, his social media activity has zilch to do with Heard and Depp.
There is a possibility that like many of the former couple's fans, Wright has heard the recordings and read the news and like many from the fandom who once held Heard on a pedestal, decided to remain silent. But unlike those people, he did make a 911 call that changed two people's lives forever.