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After weeks of testimony, the verdict in the Depp v Heard defamation trial was decided on June 1.

Although the jury determined both parties liable for defamation, the decision found Heard defamed Depp in three statements. He was awarded $15 million across compensatory and punitive damages. Heard was awarded $2 million in damages for one statement made by Depp’s attorney that was identified as defamation.

“It sends the message that, as far as we think we have come as a society, and particularly as a nation, that we have not come that far.” – Ruth Glenn, NCADV, on PBS NewsHour

Legal pundits and social media influencers have celebrated the jury’s verdict as a categorical win for Depp. Crowds gathered outside the courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia after the decision to applaud and cheer. Experts in missions to support survivors of intimate partner abuse soon began to offer another perspective, and major media outlets have followed the lead.

PERFECT VICTIM MYTH

The idea of the “perfect victim” has begun to be explored in recent media stories. Maybe you’ve struggled with this myth, too. Have you ever thought someone was too angry or didn’t seem sad enough when they shared stories with you about their trauma?

Our interpretation of a victim’s behavior or choices often informs whether we believe them. Consider, for example, the persistent belief that women who have been sexually assaulted while wearing revealing clothing or drinking are culpable.

Although neither Heard nor Depp easily fit social expectations for survivors of intimate partner abuse, public sentiment faired more positive for Depp. Social media users were especially disparaging of Heard. She was mocked for staying, hitting, belittling, manipulation, and physical violence.

Despite the same being revealed in testimony related to Depp’s behavior, the #justiceforjohnny hashtag was used more than 10 million times on social media during the trial.

MUTUAL ABUSE?

Violence by both parties was often described as “mutual abuse” during testimony.

“Domestic abuse, in particular, is messy and complicated,” writes Eliana Dockterman for Time. “The victim often stays with the perpetrator fearing economic, social, or physical repercussions. Sometimes the victim fights back. And victims can be flawed: They don’t need to be pure or sober to tell the truth.”

Research and practice find that intimate partner abuse can best be understood by identifying the primary aggressor. This determination isn’t just related to physical size or strength. More often than not, the primary aggressor is the partner with more financial power and social influence to maintain control of the other partner.

“The perfect victim is an innocent… She has corroborating evidence—but not too much evidence because that would indicate she’s vindictive and planned to speak out. In fact, when she comes forward, she does so reluctantly.” – Eliana Dockterman, Time 

THERE IS HOPE

Ruth Glenn, CEO of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, was interviewed during PBS NewsHour after the verdict. When asked for her reflections on the decision, Glenn responded:

“What we witnessed during this case in the courtroom, and certainly outside of the courtroom, was a miscarriage of understanding the dynamics of domestic violence.”

Advocates and survivors have gone on record with Rolling Stone and CBS News to express concerns the court proceedings, public response, and subsequent verdict will discourage victims from coming forward and seeking support.

“There is hope,” reminds Glenn. “We’re going to have to keep moving forward in allowing victims and survivors to have their voice and talk about the abuse that they have endured.”

(Featured image from NPR.org)

The defamation trial of Johnny Depp versus Amber Heard has people talking about domestic violence.

Trigger Warning: This post includes descriptions of abuse that could be re-traumatizing for victims and survivors of abuse.

Evidence of violence

The trial finds Depp suing Heard because of this essay she wrote in The Washington Post about her experience as a victim of intimate partner abuse. Although not mentioned in the essay, Depp is suing Heard claiming the article is defamatory.

Several witnesses for the prosecution, including Depp, already have testified. Attorneys from both sides read and questioned text messages sent between and about the former couple. These messages revealed a pattern of aggressive name-calling and verbal violence.

Several video and audio recordings, many made without the other’s consent, also have been played during testimony. In one of the recordings, Depp accuses Heard of punching him. Heard acknowledges it happened but contends she didn’t hurt him. Other videos capture Depp yelling and slamming cabinets. He threatens to cut his wrists with a knife in another recording.

Mutual Abuse?

Media coverage has used terms like “mutual abuse” and “reactive abuse” to describe the violence. In a recent interview with NBC News, Ruth Glenn, President and CEO of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, spoke about the use of those terms.

“I don’t believe in mutual abuse. I don’t believe that two parties decide to meet in the kitchen and box it out,” Glenn said. “It just doesn’t sound right, reactive abuse. I’m going to abuse you as a reaction? No, I’m going to defend myself as a reaction.”

Advocates in the mission to end intimate partner abuse know that violence is rooted in power and control. Although behaviors from both partners can be abusive, one person tends to have more control in the relationship than the other. Tactics such as emotional abuse, isolation, and threats often accompany physical abuse.

Abusers also minimize, deny, and blame others, especially to leverage support from third parties.

Blame Shifting

The National Domestic Violence Hotline website offers more insight on blame-shifting.

“Sometimes the justifications sound really good. Especially when we’re looking for something — anything — to help make sense of how the person we care for is acting toward us. It’s normal to want to rationalize what’s going on because abuse is pretty irrational.”

“We often want to find reasons because we don’t have any real data on why abusers do what they do,” Glenn said during the NBC interview. “I think we find many different ways to make it OK in our heads that somebody can be abusive.”

Legal advocates for survivors, many of whom have spent hundreds of hours in courtrooms listening to testimonies, also understand that abusers often attempt to shift the blame to victims, especially when victims have reacted physically in self-defense.

Public Opinion

Although the trial is not about establishing whether the abuse happened, or who abused whom, public opinion abounds. A recent Google search returned more than a hundred million web links to the topic.

Supporters of Depp believe Heard was the primary aggressor, and she shifted blame to Depp as the victim.They point to an absence of physical abuse in Depp’s previous relationships, which has been backed by the testimony of former partners. Testimony also revealed that Depp’s mother physically, emotionally, and verbally him as a child and also abused their father.

Supporters of Heard say the prosecution’s testimonies do not invalidate her claims of abuse. Heard believes she has a right to tell her story — in private and public. The defense is expected to present their evidence and arguments in the coming days.

Taking Sides

Given the frequency of intimate partner abuse, it’s likely you’ve struggled with many of these same questions when supporting a friend or family member who was being abused. Maybe this very public trial will help us to better understand power and control and, in turn, more deeply consider the complexities of intimate partner abuse.