As a society, we need to do better when men speak out about their trauma instead of calling them weak. Men are humans, just like the rest of us, and they have every right to be vulnerable and express themselves. We can put our shoulders out for women to cry on when they speak out about abuse, but why can't we do that for men?
It's vile that people believe being manly means not having feelings. It's not right, and we are failing them when they're asking us for help.
Johnny Depp met Amber Heard in 2009, while filming a movie. In 2015, the two tied the knot in a private ceremony; however, a year later, she filed for divorce and stated it was because of domestic violence. The media took everything it could and threw it at Depp - they called him a wife-beater, a drunk, and plenty of other things. Depp and Heard went to trial where it quickly turned brutal, and Depp went on to say that Heard was the abuser and not him. Heard stated that was simply not true and that Johnny would get drunk and take advantage of her. She went on to add that, aside from domestic violence, there was also verbal and emotional abuse. Heard tried to show her evidence in court, but it didn't seem to add up.
Depp had his own evidence that showed the court pictures and videos of Heard being the abuser.
He went on to tell the court that Heard once threw a knife at him after an argument and it cut off the tip of his finger. With the trial ending this year and the court ruling in Heard's favor, Depp was asked to resign from his latest movie - Warner Brothers' "Fantastic Beasts." However, Heard still gets to keep her jobs, with no consequences. This wasn't the only job he had to step down from, either. He unfortunately had to resign as Caption Jack Sparrow from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise.
We need to do better at believing the actual victim when they are brave enough to speak out, knowing there could be consequences.
People all around the world have stood in support for Depp during this trying time. His ex-girlfriend, Winona Ryder, went on to say that Depp was one of the most respected gentlemen she ever met, and he never once laid a finger on her. Fans would wait outside the court holding up signs supporting Depp and calling Heard the man-beater; they would chant when Depp would pass by.
Now that the trial has ended, people have started petitions to get Depp justice for losing his treasured roles, and they are imploring the companies to rehire him.