Netflix's latest docuseries Depp V Heard covers Hollywood's biggest case as actors Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard take the stand in the highly publicised defamation trial from 2022. The docuseries reveals footage from the trial along with public and media reactions to it.
The 3-episode docuseries is directed by Emmy and BAFTA nominee Emma Cooper, known for The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes. With each episode ranging over forty minutes, the documentary presents how the high-profile case became a topic of global discussion and created a surge for social media influencers who made the most of the revelations of the trial.
The Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard trial took place in April 2022 at Fairfax County Courthouse in Virginia and lasted six weeks. Over the course of the trial, both actors took the stand to present their side of the story and made some shocking accusations against each other. The trial was videotaped, and clips of the same became viral content.
The decision for the trial was reached by Jury, who awarded Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages from Heard. We have listed down 6 things that left us disturbed in the docuseries.
The docu-series showcases the unedited TMZ video that was considered to be an important piece of evidence in the case. A of the same clip was leaked to the TMZ website in 2016, showing Depp drinking heavily and slamming cabinets in their kitchen. The unedited clip in the series showcases Heard sniggering at the end while capturing the video.
A scandalous accusation against Heard claimed that she defecated in his bed as part of a cruel act of abuse. The docuseries sheds light on texts that were omitted from the trial, which showcase the actor discussing his pet teacup Yorkie's bowel syndrome. Despite there being evidence regarding the possibility of the actor's dog being involved in the incident, the trial does not cover it.
The majority of the docuseries consists of clippings of TikTok and YouTube channels that were covering the trial during the time. Most of these videos seem to be leaning towards Depp. The usage of these clips as a means to showcase the atmosphere of the trial without digging deeper into the case also seems like a shallow move for a docuseries.
One of the most shocking revelations of the docuseries happens to be how the Hollywood case became a means of making money for influencers who were happy to take sides irrespective of the truth or the verdict. The series reveals how the hashtag #JusticeForJohnnyDepp had approximately 20 billion views, while #JusticeForAmberHeard had just 77.5 million views, also showcasing how social media clout may have affected the case.
The series merely touches upon what happened after the trial verdict when some of Johnny Depp's fans raised money to unearth sealed documents in the hopes of finding more evidence against Heard. Although the series doesn't share more details about what they found despite it being public knowledge that it consisted of Depp's disturbing texts with Marilyn Manson and more.
The last episode showcases a clip of Heard’s attorney Elaine Bredehoft arguing about the jury being swayed by the discourse on social media, while Depp’s lawyers, Camille Vasquez and Ben Chew, maintain there’s no reason why the jurors would break their oath. Despite trying to stay neutral, it doesn't feel like the docuseries manages to do so, as it keeps showcasing public opinion siding with Depp.