Before I get to talking about anything FNaF I really need to get this off my chest. So beware, I’m about to lay down some feelings on the six week long trial that was Depp V Heard.
I must have said or wrote the title of this post more than 50 times in the span of the last six/seven weeks. People claiming to be abuse survivors throwing shade at the whole trial as if the trial itself was about the abuse instead of the claim of abuse made public by Amber Heard. Which told me clearly that those people throwing the shade had not been listening to any of it.
Let me first begin with the fact that ANYONE can be an abuser. Man, woman, adult, child, rich, poor, smart, stupid, straight, bi, gay, pansexual, etc. Like death, nothing matters. Let me also state that anyone claiming abuse should not be automatically believed. They should be treated with a kind, loving hand while an investigation is done into the allegations. People’s knee jerk reaction to believe all abusers’ claims is befuddling to an intelligent mind. One who has grown up surrounded by drama queens who loved to make outrageous claims about anything.
Ah the 90s in Washington State.
I did watch snippets of the trial (if I ever type trail instead of trial, please forgive my crossed mind) when I could and recaps from LegalBites to get a quick overview of the day. And if I found a particular part needed to be watched first hand, I would find it and watch it.
I therefore saved my judgement and opinions until I was able to hear both main parties talk about the incident and why an op ed was made. While I will freely admit I have been a great fan of Johnny Depp’s work and have never had a reason to think him as a person was anything but great. I’ve only had fan interactions and what people have said about him both as an actor and a person to base any opinions on. Same with Amber Heard. She has never stuck out in my mind before these last few weeks but I do realize she was in Aquaman and have listened to what people have had to say about her as an actor and person.
It’s what any of us have really when it comes to celebrities. We will never know what goes on in the places where we can’t or don’t go. So we have to rely on what we see and if we trust the source, hear.
Listening to Johnny I will admit broke my heart. As it would if I listened to anyone saying these types of things. As it did when Amber was speaking as well.
Until Amber’s side started to unravel. Until evidence started to show that what she was telling us didn’t have any proof to support it. Not just a few embellishes here or there, but that some of these events didn’t happen at all. Except inside her head.
This then made me angry.
Here is a celebrity who has stepped up and said that she not only supports the MeToo movement (as we all should), but is an abuse survivor and a “public figure representing domestic abuse”. She made claims in a very public venue, that although she named no names, it was painfully obvious who she was referencing. And she did admit this in court. A celebrity who gave others strength to speak up about their pain and experience. And now we find out she was not the abused but the abuser? Talk about a slap in the face or a punch in the gut!
When these things started to become apparent I was heartbroken. Here again is another person claiming abuse only to be shown not to have been abused at all. Another person to make others ask “Why should we believe you?” And the honest truth of the matter is we shouldn’t.
We should not automatically believe allegations of abuse from anyone, yes I do mean anyone, but instead jump directly into taking care of the person and investigating the claims. Make sure that if those claims prove to be true, we can help do something about them. And if they prove untrue, we can help do something for the person making the untruths.
Why is it that society always, ALWAYS goes one way or another so dramatically and not just sit in the middle? You either jump into the pool of belief or the pool of disbelief. Both will always hurt someone. So why not just stand on the edge like an intelligent person until the actual facts are known and there is proof one way?
It is what I’ve always tried to do with many things I see, hear and read. Yes, I have my biases.
Did I want the claims about Johnny to be lies, well of course I did! I never like thinking the worse about people or even assuming it. Especially those people I do not know personally. And yes, this was the same when Harvey Weinstein, Oliver Stone, Kevin Spacey, and even George Takei and Ben Affleck were accused. There is a whole LIST of people who have been accused over on teen vogue.
Did I read the accounts in disbelief? Yes of course! Did I personally cancel anyone proven to be an abuser? Absolutely. And I would have done so if Depp was proven as well.
But I do that for those who falsely claim to be abused as well as that is a form of abuse. It’s a horrible thing to even do, mainly to all those who rally around the abused because they know what it is like to be abused and to have people flat out disbelieve them. And then to find out that the person they supported was lying? Imagine it if you will. If you can.
I am also quite tired of the people now saying stuff like “Women will always defend a guy and men will always defend a gal.” when it comes to abuse allegations. Which is absolute bullshit.
And I am floored to read that a writer for The Cut asked, “Here is a woman recounting, in agonizing detail, how an extremely famous man allegedly abused her. Why, in 2022, do so many people seem to hate her for it?”
We hate her because she lied dumbass.
Or how about clueless sociologist Nicole Bedera who offered a few theories about why both female survivors of domestic abuse and many women period have seemed to support Depp.
“It can be scary — and for victims, re-traumatizing — for women to empathize with an abuse survivor. If violence really *is* everywhere and if it *feels* like it can happen to anyone, then a lot of women will start to worry that they will be next” she wrote on Twitter and an article for Harper’s Bazaar “So is it surprising that a lot of women are coming to Depp’s defense? No. Not at all.”
Or perhaps, just perhaps those people looked at Amber and heard their abusers. Many now recognize abusers by their words and actions as they have been through it and are more aware of it so they do not fall for it again.
I personally am amazed at anyone not upset at Amber for these lies. Not because of who she accused, but because SHE LIED ABOUT A PRETTY IMPORTANT ISSUE. And she was caught lying about donating money as well.
How many feelings did you have through all this whether you actively watched, caught snippets or high lights or just followed the memes, how do you feel now? Sound off in the comments and where ever else you wish!
Until next time, I promise I will get to FNaF. But with all things happening it’s hard to sit down and focus on it and feel the excitement it greatly deserves.