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Here's why Johnny Depp AVOIDS eye-contact with Amber Heard, as fans weigh in on theory

'The victim avoids eye contact with his abuser. That is common victim behaviour,' read one tweet

According to the court, Johnny Depp has avoided making eye contact with Amber Heard throughout their high-profile trial because he promised her in 2016 that she would never see his eyes again. During their $100 million defamation trial, the actress testified that she has tried to look her ex-husband in the eyes, but he has repeatedly avoided her gaze.

"Mr. Depp hasn't looked at you once in this entire trial, has he?" Johnny Depp's lawyer Camille Vasquez asked Heard on the stand. "Not that I've noticed, no." Heard replied. “You've looked at him though many times, haven't you,” Vasquez continued. “He promised you would never see his eyes again, isn't that true,” Vasquez said after Heard confirmed she had. “I don't recall that,” said the Aquaman star. The Fairfax, Virginia, courthouse was then played in an audio recording made in a San Francisco hotel room in 2016.  Heard attempted to hug Depp in the recording, but when he refused, she said, “Please I just want to hug you and say bye.” Additionally, “I am nothing to you, and I will always be nothing to you,” Depp is heard saying. “You will not see my eyes again.” 

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In one tense moment in court, the two did come face to face, which made Heard physically shudder. The actress was leaving the witness stand after telling the court how her ex-husband sexually assaulted her with a liquor bottle in March 2015 in Australia and threatened to kill her. Depp, who is partially sighted, stood up and approached the Aquaman star at the same time. As court officials turned towards Depp and put their hands up, warning him to stay away, Heard appeared to physically shudder and look terrified, taking a step back. The actor then shrugged and smiled before turning away. During the 15-minute recess, Heard was led to the side of the room by court officials, while Depp went through the back door for a cigarette. 

Twitter reactions

One person wrote, “People will often try to avoid eye contact with a psychopath who has ruined their life.” Another person said, “It's almost like Johnny Depp is an abuse victim who is triggered by even looking at his abuser Amber Heard and avoids eye contact with her for that reason. Whereas she always looked at him when he testified,” while another wrote, “The victim avoids eye contact with his abuser. That is common victim behaviour. The one who is desperate for eye contact, and feels "dehumanised", when the victim doesn´t meet their needs, is the abuser here. Because she lost control over him. VERY proud of Johnny Depp.👏👏👏”