“Tell the world, Johnny, tell them that I, Johnny Depp, a man, I too am a victim of domestic violence. And see how many people side with you.” How many women have had men say that to them?
Not only when it comes to domestic violence, but sexual assault and the rarely discussed sexual coercion. “Go ahead tell them—they will never believe you.”
At the onset of the Me Too movement, we watched as women united. They were standing up and fighting back against sexual assault and sexual coercion. You know, the “if you do this sexual favor for me I can help you get places—if not I will make sure you never work again” kind of coercion.
Light was finally being shed on the casting couch, be it in the movie industry or in your local business office. Women were sharing the stories that they had held onto and were afraid to share. Prior to this moment in time if a woman dared to bring up their domestic abuse, sexual assault, or coercion they were vilified.
They were told that they must have done something to bring it on themselves. They were all temptresses in a world of easily tempted men. Or so we were told.
It was healing and empowering for so many women to share their stories, to finally put that burden, and the shame that accompanied, it down and realize that it wasn’t us—it was them. Generations of guilt were released and we stood at the ready on a mission to support other women that came forward. Then it happened. Hollywood, which started the revolution took it to the very edge and pushed it off the cliff with their chants of “Believe All Women!”
They turned a moment of freedom into an opportunity to shackle all men, proclaim men the oppressors, and stick it to their perceived enemy—the Patriarchy. Once again Hollywood used women to further their cause and we were too naive to see it coming. Unfortunately, Amber Heard, her lies, her team, the Sun, the Post, and all of her co-conspirators reversed any progress and once again made it harder for real victims to be believed.
Amber Heard saw an opportunity to grab ahold of this untamed beast throw a bridle on it and drag Johnny Depp’s bound body behind it. These same elites jumped on the ride with her. Without any proof of wrongdoing on Depp’s part, the ACLU crowned Heard the Ambassador of Womankind or something equally as revolting.
In doing so they have shown the world what so many already knew—the ACLU is not about civil rights or liberty—it is about punishing political adversaries and furthering its hand-picked causes. All of the usual suspects spread the “news” far and wide. In a nanosecond–Depp was done.
Many have speculated as to the popularity of the Depp/Heard trial. I won’t attempt to speak for everyone as I am sure that the fact that he is a star played a role as did simple morbid curiosity. But for me, it was about watching the truth being revealed one witness and one audio recording at a time.
It was as if all the people who had their legitimate “me too” stories hijacked by those looking to gain celebrity and power from their pain finally got some of their power back. It was also a moment of triumph for the many men that have been falsely accused out of some twisted act of revenge for unrequited love or infidelity.
Millions of people sat ringside and cheered as they watched someone with the courage and the means to fight back against the cancel culture and the full power and weight of Hollywood and the ACLU. Maybe some of us saw a little bit of ourselves in Johnny Depp just as we have, from time to time, connected with the vulnerability of some of his most relatable characters. When Johnny won, we won.
It is my hope that the scales of domestic violence, sexual assault, and sexual coercion are finally balanced. It is also my hope that society can now understand that there are also male victims who often suffer in silence or are rarely believed.
So yes, “Tell the world, Johnny, tell them that I, Johnny Depp, a man, I too am a victim of domestic violence…And see how many people believe or side with you.” Ironically it was Amber’s own words that made the case for Mr. Depp and, hopefully, undid much of the damage she has done to re-victimize so many survivors.
