The issue of domestic violence is repeatedly a lingering topic of discussion in today's society, but the most recently talked-about domestic violence case involving one of the most famous actors of this generation has given the public the ultimate shock. Since Amber Heard's domestic violence accusations against Johnny Depp were released early last week, the very thought of a celebrity falling from the graces has shaken up Depp fans everywhere. With the caliber of fame in which Johnny Depp has obtained, this case could have the power to be handled correctly, giving hope and a much-needed voice to domestic violence victims all around the world when they need it the most. However, especially because the perpetrator is a famous, rich, male U.S. actor, it won't be handled properly; at least not by the media and its audience. This is because a frighteningly large portion of the general public still sits on the dangerous notion that those actually mentally capable of committing acts of domestic violence must fall into a certain "type" of sorts; one of those types certainly not being a high-profile celebrity, who has previously kept a decent reputation for himself in the media.
Depp is not alone on getting away scot-free in the public eye simply because of his clean-cut celebrity status. Several other well-respected celebrities such as Nicholas Cage and Emma Roberts have also managed to slip their alleged domestic violence cases under the rug. More famously, the June 1994 case against OJ Simpson on two counts of killing his ex-wife, and a friend of hers, caused an uproar within the general public about whether Simpson went through with this heinous act. Because OJ Simpson was such a household name in this era, not once did it come to the peoples' minds that, just maybe, he is not meant to be on the pedestal that everyone seems to put him on.
The only action more damaging and nonsensical than completely denying that maybe your favorite celebrity can also be capable of such a heinous act, is invalidating their victims' claims. There are ubiquitous, haunting assumptions that tend to follow domestic violence victims suffering in silence until they finally gain the confidence to come forward. These blindly-led and baseless assumptions tend to follow the victim when the public simply cannot believe that the perpetrator is capable of creating such destruction upon someone else. The people live in so much denial, that their only reply to their own unreasonableness is to blame the person who was simply looking for a way out.
These assumptions, especially in Hollywood, are typically ones that state that the victim was attempting to obtain fame/attention, or is obsessive and/or spiteful over the perpetrator. The public's ominous opinions of domestic abuse is so skewed in situations such as this, but to make matters worse, most of these wrongful perspectives mirror that of the media. Some media outlets are very quick to protect their beloved celebrities that they hold most dear, further letting their audiences believe that their favorite A-list Hollywood stars also come with a superhero cape and a halo above their head. It is truly frustrating to watch some of the most powerful voices in world media use their capabilities to paint the villain as the saint, and the sufferer as the actual perpetrator.
If it is ever wondered as to why both women and men are typically hesitant with coming forward with abuse claims, situations such as this one should be observed closely. This era of celebrity-obsession will never let a famous, popular criminal fall from the graces. This is also an era of arbitrary victim-blaming, which makes the issue of abuse in the media and the public an even more vital topic. It ought to go without saying, but after being violated and having a part of their own dignity be taken away at the hands of their perpetrator, the last thing the victim wants to go through is more pain of his/her fellow people not having the heart to see his/her side of the story. The legends in which celebrities create for themselves throughout their careers cannot simply mask their wrongdoings done to others.
