Predator and Prey: Assault, harassment, and other aggressions in the entertainment industry

[GaT]

6 hours ago, Cinnabon said:

I don’t know anyone who thinks Johnny Depp is an innocent angel. 🤷‍♀️

You obviously don't read Reddit LOL

[janie jones]

6 hours ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

 His whole "wino forever" ethos has an appeal to a lot of people in the same way Woody Allen's waving across the park to Mia and her children held sway in the early 90s. 

What's the situation with Woody Allen waving at them? I couldn't find anything when I googled.

5 hours ago, FilmTVGeek80 said:

I don't care about the texts. I, honestly, think it's a little ridiculous people are making a huge deal about it. So he wished death on his abuser and referred to her in less than genteel terms. I would probably say pretty harsh things about my abuser as well. And, unless he was throwing things at her, I don't care about him destroying property. That's not the same as abusing someone and not the same as Amber throwing things at him, including an incident that resulted in his finger getting chopped off.  I also don't believe that just because someone is an addict makes them an abuser.

So, that video that was out there a while back that she secretly made of him slamming cupboard doors, and I can't remember what else, when I watched it, I kept waiting for the abuse to start, or the scary behavior. If my partner were carrying on like that, I'd roll my eyes and go back to reading the newspaper. But just because I don't think that's scary doesn't mean no one else should. Just because something doesn't bother person A doesn't make it okay to do it to person B. Like, you might have a coworker that thinks dick jokes are funny, but that doesn't mean another coworker doesn't have grounds to report you to HR for making them in their presence.

I'm also a person with a tendency to throw things and slams things when I'm mad. But early in my marriage, my husband expressed that he didn't like this behavior, so what happened? I stopped fucking doing it. If someone can't control themself even if it's "only" property that is being damaged, they've got a problem.

(But I also don't think she's done nothing wrong.)

[MsTree]

There's something about Amber's demeanor that reminds me of Elizabeth Holmes. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I don't believe a word she says. I get the feeling that she thrives on embellishing her "truth".

[Ohiopirate02]

9 hours ago, janie jones said:

What's the situation with Woody Allen waving at them? I couldn't find anything when I googled.

It's from this piece published in the NY Times in 1991

https://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/24/magazine/woody-and-mia-a-new-york-story.html

Allen and Farrow very much lead their own lives, while continuing a relationship that is the longest either has had. By any standard, it is not a conventional union. They are not married, neither do they live together; their apartments face each other across Central Park. When they began to date, they would wave towels out the window as they spoke on the phone, delighting in saying they could see the other. Her apartment -- which in addition to nine children and a nanny is home to two cats, a canary, a parakeet, several chinchillas and assorted tropical fish -- was used for her scenes in "Hannah and Her Sisters," which Allen directed in 1986.

[MaggieG]

13 hours ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

I believe Gawker was being sarcastic there.  James and Jared are two men who somehow keep on getting high profile roles despite accusations.   It's also a backhanded compliment for the PR firm.

I haven't seen James Franco in much of anything recently. I did just watch WeCrashed with Jared Leto. And he was at the Met Gala last night in a ridiculous outfit.

Maybe an unpopular opinion but I don't think what Drew Barrymore said was all that bad 🤷‍♀️

[BetterButter]

FKA Twigs Cites ‘Gaslighting,’ Gets Trial Date in Shia LaBeouf Sex Battery Case

Quote

The British actor-musician sued the Transformers star in December 2020, alleging he terrorized and sexually battered her during a “living nightmare” relationship

 

[JustHereForFood]

19 hours ago, Cinnabon said:

I don’t know anyone who thinks Johnny Depp is an innocent angel. 🤷‍♀️

If you miss that, you can check comments under youtube videos covering that trial. I still kick myself for looking out of curiosity.

[Spartan Girl]

5 minutes ago, JustHereForFood said:

If you miss that, you can check comments under youtube videos covering that trial. I still kick myself for looking out of curiosity.

Or Tumblr. There’s tons of them.

[Cinnabon]

4 hours ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

It's from this piece published in the NY Times in 1991

https://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/24/magazine/woody-and-mia-a-new-york-story.html

Allen and Farrow very much lead their own lives, while continuing a relationship that is the longest either has had. By any standard, it is not a conventional union. They are not married, neither do they live together; their apartments face each other across Central Park. When they began to date, they would wave towels out the window as they spoke on the phone, delighting in saying they could see the other. Her apartment -- which in addition to nine children and a nanny is home to two cats, a canary, a parakeet, several chinchillas and assorted tropical fish -- was used for her scenes in "Hannah and Her Sisters," which Allen directed in 1986.

Before I knew what an asshole abuser Woody was, I thought that their arrangement seemed ideal, lol. 

[Ohiopirate02]

12 minutes ago, Cinnabon said:

Before I knew what an asshole abuser Woody was, I thought that their arrangement seemed ideal, lol. 

I'm more partial to the Tim Burton/Helena Bonham-Carter set-up of attached townhomes.  I think that works better when kids are involved and gets the childrearing far closer to a 50-50 split than what Woody and Mia had.  

[Cinnabon]

19 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

I'm more partial to the Tim Burton/Helena Bonham-Carter set-up of attached townhomes.  I think that works better when kids are involved and gets the childrearing far closer to a 50-50 split than what Woody and Mia had.  

I agree. Woody didn’t want to have responsibility for all of those kids, because he is a selfish POS,  so their arrangement mostly benefited him.

[SunnyBeBe]

The allegations against Depp are pretty disturbing.  Did anyone get a chance to see the testimony of this witness?

 

https://people.com/movies/johnny-depp-once-did-cavity-search-on-amber-heard-psychologist-testifies/

 

[CynicalGirl]

^ Yes, I saw it. Amber testified about it as well. Two VERY different versions of the relationship. I still don't know why Depp would want this info out there, true or not, it's still out there.

So far, Amber's testimony is classic DV story. She was bowled over by this mega rich celebrity older man who love bombed her and then abused her while under the influence. She was in love and couldn't bring herself to leave. I can't imagine how his attorneys are going to attack her on cross.

[Pickles Aplenty]

I felt the need to share this.  Trigger warning for descriptions of SA:

https://medium.com/@hannahxsummers/the-assassination-of-amber-heard-a2e861ad5ded

Edited May 4, 2022 by Pickles Aplenty

[Blergh]

8 hours ago, SunnyBeBe said:

The allegations against Depp are pretty disturbing.  Did anyone get a chance to see the testimony of this witness?

 

https://people.com/movies/johnny-depp-once-did-cavity-search-on-amber-heard-psychologist-testifies/

 

If only  'cavity search' meant ONLY that he was checking her teeth for decay. . .

[seasons]

Today's testimony from Amber is hard to watch. Depp's team interrupts so often with here say objection. Hasn't Amber been coached by her team as to how to testify? Is her attorney asking questions in the wrong way? 

Also, Court tv needs to get some new sponsors. The same Medicare commercials every break are so annoying.

 

17 hours ago, Pickles Aplenty said:

I felt the need to share this.  Trigger warning for descriptions of SA:

https://medium.com/@hannahxsummers/the-assassination-of-amber-heard-a2e861ad5ded

Wow. Thanks for posting. Great article.

 

Heard some legal expert yesterday comment on how Depp actually laughed incredulously during her abuse allegations, saying that's what abusers do - they minimize or even laugh at allegations. So very true.

 

[SunnyBeBe]

I only watched a couple of snippets of Heard testimony.  Ref. Hearsay….no matter how much a witness is prepared, they may instinctively saying things that are inadmissible. Plus, some things that may seem like hearsay are still admissible under an exception.  Ref. Opposing counsel objecting a lot.  Maybe it was justified, but sometimes attorneys do that to interrupt the flow of the testimony or just to fluster the witness.  Some attorneys object to something if it hurts their case.  Lol. If they are doing it for an improper purpose, the judge and jury usually catch on and get annoyed.  But, a certain amount is required if they intend to appeal.  If they didn’t object to the evidence, they might not be allowed to use it in an appeal.  

[MsTree]

RE: Heard's testimony...I still believe she's overacting. I'm sure they had fights that got out of hand, but here's what bothers me: She doesn't appear to be a stupid person, so why would she stay with someone who continually abused her, physically & verbally??

Also, why was she recording their fights? Put down the damn phone and get your ass out of there!! IOW, if someone was kicking, punching, and slapping me, my first reaction is not to start recording the violence. I'm running, not walking, out the door.

And why was she videotaping him all the time, if not for "evidence"?  She could have been gone, but apparently videotaping him while in a drunk sleep is more important?!? 

Amber is an actress. She's not poor or broke. Leave his ass alone and make a life without him. And if she's so "afraid", there are shelters for abused women. Find one, Amber.

 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, MsTree said:

RE: Heard's testimony...I still believe she's overacting. I'm sure they had fights that got out of hand, but here's what bothers me: She doesn't appear to be a stupid person, so why would she stay with someone who continually abused her, physically & verbally??

There is an entire field of study devoted to trying to understand that question and it has nothing to do with intelligence. The abuse rarely happens immediately and the accusers MO is to demoralize and isolate their victims. The abuse is rarely continuous but follows a well defined cycle. Abusers are master manipulators. 

Mellisa Benoist’s detailing the progression of her abusive relationship does a amazing job of explaining. What people picture an abusive relationship looking like is rarely accurate. 

[BlackberryJam]

4 hours ago, MsTree said:

RE: Heard's testimony...I still believe she's overacting. I'm sure they had fights that got out of hand, but here's what bothers me: She doesn't appear to be a stupid person, so why would she stay with someone who continually abused her, physically & verbally??

Also, why was she recording their fights? Put down the damn phone and get your ass out of there!! IOW, if someone was kicking, punching, and slapping me, my first reaction is not to start recording the violence. I'm running, not walking, out the door.

And why was she videotaping him all the time, if not for "evidence"?  She could have been gone, but apparently videotaping him while in a drunk sleep is more important?!? 

Amber is an actress. She's not poor or broke. Leave his ass alone and make a life without him. And if she's so "afraid", there are shelters for abused women. Find one, Amber.

 

The attitude that intimate partner violence is suffered only by the poor and stupid is insulting. Thinking that it's easy to walk out and go to a shelter is just victim blaming.  These issues are complex. Love is complicated. Understanding what love is is complicated.  Self esteem and mental illness are complicated. Not to mention the victim feeling guilt and shame.

It's not easy to just walk out. Thinking it is helps perpetuate the problem.

Edited May 6, 2022 by BlackberryJam

[Ohiopirate02]

5 hours ago, MsTree said:

 

Amber is an actress. She's not poor or broke. Leave his ass alone and make a life without him. And if she's so "afraid", there are shelters for abused women. Find one, Amber.

 

Amber did this.  She is not the one who filed this lawsuit forcing her to recount to the entire world (thanks to some very lax courtroom rules in Virginia, a state btw neither Johnny nor her live) her relationship with Johnny.  And her recording him, that had to be done in order to back up her claims.  Like you said, she's not stupid, she knows she needs evidence of his behavior.  

[peachmangosteen]

When women make DV claims there's always people saying they want 'proof,' but then when there's video evidence some will deride women for filming it. Damned if you do, damned if you don't, unfortunately.

[Lady Whistleup]

7 hours ago, MsTree said:

RE: Heard's testimony...I still believe she's overacting. I'm sure they had fights that got out of hand, but here's what bothers me: She doesn't appear to be a stupid person, so why would she stay with someone who continually abused her, physically & verbally??

Amber is an actress. She's not poor or broke. Leave his ass alone and make a life without him. And if she's so "afraid", there are shelters for abused women. Find one, Amber.

 

Victims of DV are not "stupid" or "poor and broke." It can happen to anyone from any background or socioeconomic status. Amber Heard's descriptions of Johnny Depp are stomach-churning and IMO way too specific to be made up.

Also, DV shelters are usually very crowded and it can often take months to get there. And it often means uprooting your entire life including your kids, your pets, etc.

Edited May 6, 2022 by Lady Whistleup

[SusanM]

12 minutes ago, Lady Whistleup said:

Victims of DV are not "stupid" or "poor and broke." It can happen to anyone from any background or socioeconomic status. Amber Heard's descriptions of Johnny Depp are stomach-churning and IMO way too specific to be made up.

Agreed.  I think the problem a lot of people have is this need to have a good guy and a bad guy in these kinds of scenarios.  Heard isn't a classic good guy.  From everything I've been reading she does not come across as likeable, she's got her own control issues and some of the stuff coming out about her paint her as a pretty crappy person.  But, that said, this doesn't mean she wasn't a victim of domestic violence.  What's happening to her kinda reminds me of what happens when the police kill a POC.  It stops being about whether the police acted unlawfully and totally becomes a situation where anything negative the POC ever did in their whole life becomes the focal point.  "Sure the police shot him in the back but let's not forget he stole a pack of gum from a candy store when he was 11".

[RealHousewife]

9 minutes ago, SusanM said:

Agreed.  I think the problem a lot of people have is this need to have a good guy and a bad guy in these kinds of scenarios.  Heard isn't a classic good guy.  From everything I've been reading she does not come across as likeable, she's got her own control issues and some of the stuff coming out about her paint her as a pretty crappy person.  But, that said, this doesn't mean she wasn't a victim of domestic violence.  What's happening to her kinda reminds me of what happens when the police kill a POC.  It stops being about whether the police acted unlawfully and totally becomes a situation where anything negative the POC ever did in their whole life becomes the focal point.  "Sure the police shot him in the back but let's not forget he stole a pack of gum from a candy store when he was 11".

I haven't been following this case closely, but that sounds like a good comparison.

Also, while I think it's normal to wonder why someone rich wouldn't just leave, for those of us who haven't been in a romantic relationship that was abusive where we stayed, how many of us stayed at a job that was toxic because we weren't sure where to go? Sure, other options are out there, but the world is scary. People who seem to have options don't always have the best self-esteem. How many of us stayed with our parents after an abusive childhood? I've been there and have seen many others do it too. People who have (or seem to have) everything still suffer. We never know what's going on behind closed doors, even if we do follow drama shown in the public eye. Look at Naomi Judd. She was beautiful, talented, famous, rich. People like her aren't exempt from the worst kind of pain. 

One thing I've learned is the "good guy" can traumatize you too. There are men who aren't physically abusive and super nice to their friends/coworkers/randoms, but will put their partner through emotional hell. You start to wonder if it's you because he's supposed a good guy. My sister is dealing with that right now. 

[Guest]

2 hours ago, peachmangosteen said:

When women make DV claims there's always people saying they want 'proof,' but then when there's video evidence some will deride women for filming it. Damned if you do, damned if you don't, unfortunately.

Exactly. When a woman reaches out for help any expert is going to recommend that they plan leaving and gather evidence of abuse. It is necessary to help establish any protections like a restraining order during what is a very dangerous time for victims. Leaving at all is often deadly and doing so without a plan in place or safeguards is even more so. Victims are vulnerable at every level and money or intelligence often provides very little protection.

In addition, there are text messages from Depp’s assistant who saw her get kicked that Depp had to be told what he did later because he didn’t remember. Her recording could have been gathering evidence to help her escape or it could have been to show him afterwards when he couldn’t remember what he had done. There are so many reasons she may have recorded.  

[Annber03]

1 hour ago, RealHousewife said:

Also, while I think it's normal to wonder why someone rich wouldn't just leave, for those of us who haven't been in a romantic relationship that was abusive where we stayed, how many of us stayed at a job that was toxic because we weren't sure where to go? Sure, other options are out there, but the world is scary.

This. And even those with money who do try and move on with their lives can still be in danger. Nicole Brown Simpson, anyone? 

[Spartan Girl]

Already the Depp stans are trying to twist Jennifer Grey’s interviews and stuff about her relationship with in her book in their favor. Yes, Jennifer Grey said he had never hit her, but she did say that he was moody and jealous and paranoid, etc, and she has wisely not taken any public stance about whether she’s on either side. All she said was her truth and her experience; she never actually defended him.

Edited May 6, 2022 by Spartan Girl

[SunnyBeBe]

I used to wonder why people stay in an abusive relationship, too.  The reasons can be numerous and complex, but I’ll offer a few things  that I encountered personally.  
 

When you’re in the situation, you’re often not thinking with your brain. You rely on feelings. Your love is so intense, the emotion overrules your reasoning.

 AND, you can’t let go of the kind of love the abuser demonstrated during the love bomb phase.  He likely made you believe that you were his soul mate, the perfect lover, the most beautiful person in the world and that your future together would be everything you ever dreamed of, including children, fun, travel, fidelity, great sex, etc.  He is kind, considerate, charming, …..he can’t stand to be a part.  He is very jealous of you.  You think that’s awesome, because he cares so much. HOWEVER, these are warning signs.  Once you are committed….he knows he has you, and then the true narcissist appears. You are shocked! You can’t believe this man has turned mean, violent, cold and cruel.  So…..you figure it’s situational, drugs, exhaustion, etc. You question what you have done to make him turn……  You question if the REAL wonderful man will return.  You suffer, WAITING  for that great guy that you fell in love with to return!  The trouble is…..the real guy IS the mean one. The nice guy was a fake…created to reel you in. He’ll only return when in public, around certain people and when he’s charming a new potential victim.  There may only be a handful of people who have actually witnessed the violence. And, sometimes they owe an allegiance to mean guy due to employment, friendship, contracts, etc.  So, if mean guy says he has no memory of doing all that crazy, violent stuff, what do you do?  Hopefully, you realize he is not who you thought he was and you can escape.  He may be okay with that, but if not….he will make you suffer.  

[Annber03]

Statistics also show that the most dangerous time for somebody in an abusive relationship is precisely when they do try to leave. The very fact they're about to leave makes the abuser realize they no longer have any power or control over this person anymore, and that can be enough to send them into a violent and deadly rage. 

So yeah, while I obviously want anyone in an abusive relationship to get the hell out at the first opportunity, I also very much understand why so many are scared to do so. It's far, far easier said than done - it's one of those "Oh, gee, I never would've thought of that oh-os-simple solution on my own, thank you, Captain Obvious!" types of suggestions that people love to throw out, but which doesn't really do anything to actually help the person in danger. 

[SunnyBeBe]

27 minutes ago, Annber03 said:

Statistics also show that the most dangerous time for somebody in an abusive relationship is precisely when they do try to leave. The very fact they're about to leave makes the abuser realize they no longer have any power or control over this person anymore, and that can be enough to send them into a violent and deadly rage. 

So yeah, while I obviously want anyone in an abusive relationship to get the hell out at the first opportunity, I also very much understand why so many are scared to do so. It's far, far easier said than done - it's one of those "Oh, gee, I never would've thought of that oh-os-simple solution on my own, thank you, Captain Obvious!" types of suggestions that people love to throw out, but which doesn't really do anything to actually help the person in danger. 

True!  I highly encourage anyone who’s leaving to secretly consult with a professional organization, who can assist in developing a plan for your protection.  You really need a plan and everything set in place in advance.  

Edited May 6, 2022 by SunnyBeBe

[Lady Whistleup]

I find the stans outside the courthouse really really creepy. Like ... these people need help. Seriously.

[SunnyBeBe]

17 minutes ago, Lady Whistleup said:

I find the stans outside the courthouse really really creepy. Like ... these people need help. Seriously.

I have my personal opinions, but generally, I feel the jury is in a better place than me to render judgment in a case.  

[CynicalGirl]

It should be noted that in the UK case against the tabloid, the judge found that Amber's claims were credible in 13 or 14 different incidents. It was such a slam dunk that Depp was denied an appeal.

Of course, that was the UK and this case will be decided by a jury, not a judge. And with a jury, it's a crapshoot and luck of the draw.

[Spartan Girl]

1 hour ago, SunnyBeBe said:

You are shocked! You can’t believe this man has turned mean, violent, cold and cruel.  So…..you figure it’s situational, drugs, exhaustion, etc. You question what you have done to make him turn……  You question if the REAL wonderful man will return.

Quoting this because that whole spiel was nearly exactly what Jennifer Grey said in her book when things started to go bad with the two of them. Word for word. I am not even exaggerating.

Edited May 6, 2022 by Spartan Girl

[SunnyBeBe]

26 minutes ago, CynicalGirl said:

It should be noted that in the UK case against the tabloid, the judge found that Amber's claims were credible in 13 or 14 different incidents. It was such a slam dunk that Depp was denied an appeal.

Of course, that was the UK and this case will be decided by a jury, not a judge. And with a jury, it's a crapshoot and luck of the draw.

I was wondering why Res Judicata or issue preclusion (claim or issue preclusion based on prior court decisions on issues), didn’t apply in this Depp case.  I was thinking it was due to the prior case being heard in England, but apparently that is an option. Hmmmm…..interesting.  I wonder why it wasn’t applied in this case.  At least estoppel of the main issue of abuse. 
 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Res_judicata

Edited May 6, 2022 by SunnyBeBe

[BlackberryJam]

1 hour ago, SunnyBeBe said:

I was wondering why Res Judicata or issue preclusion (claim or issue preclusion based on prior court decisions on issues), didn’t apply in this Depp case.  I was thinking it was due to the prior case being heard in England, but apparently that is an option. Hmmmm…..interesting.  I wonder why it wasn’t applied in this case.  At least estoppel of the main issue of abuse. 
 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Res_judicata

Amber wasn't the defendant in the UK case, so it's technically a different cause of action. 

[Vermicious Knid]

Amber Heard is a liar and a grifter. She is not some champion of domestic violence. I notice a lot of people acknowledging she's probably toxic and abusive herself and then completely handwaving that away 'because Johnny'. I am neither for or against Johnny Depp but you can't believe anything out of her mouth. 

The ACLU says Amber Heard has paid less than half of her $3.5 million donation pledge
 

Quote

 

The pledge agreement calls for Heard to donate the money over the course of 10 years, starting in August 2016. But she hasn't made a payment since December 2018, ACLU Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel Terence Dougherty said in recorded video testimony...

Heard has been credited with donating $1.3 million in four installments, Dougherty said. But not all of the money came directly from her: $100,000 was from Depp, and another $500,000 is from a Vanguard account the ACLU believes to be associated with Elon Musk — whom Heard dated after her breakup with Depp.

 

The police report contradicting everything she claimed has been public for years. She also went out and partied with friends that night and was photographed with no bruises. Pretty damning exidence, Stole her assistant's sexual assault story, from testimony in the UK trial.

Quote

In her second witness statement to the court, James said she had been the victim of rape in Brazil when she was in her twenties and that the experience had “haunted” her ever since.

When she read Heard’s submissions, James said, “to my utter shock and dismay, I discovered that Ms Heard had in fact stolen my sexual violence conversation with her and twisted it into her own story to benefit herself. This of course caused me extreme distress and outrage that she would dare to attempt to use the most harrowing experience of my life as her own narrative.”

James told the court that although she had been subpoenaed to give evidence, she was doing so because she is “a sexual violence survivor and it’s a very serious to take that stance if you are not one”. At that point Sashsa Wass, QC, representing The Sun, abandoned her cross-examination of James.

 

[peachmangosteen]

2 hours ago, Lady Whistleup said:

I find the stans outside the courthouse really really creepy. Like ... these people need help. Seriously.

Yes. This whole thing is being treated like it's a TV show or something. Very gross and sad.

[Cinnabon]

3 minutes ago, peachmangosteen said:

Yes. This whole thing is being treated like it's a TV show or something. Very gross and sad.

Unfortunately, it never changes. Even Charles Manson had a cadre of women supporting him during his trial.

[CynicalGirl]

No, it's a movie. Gone Girl and Amber is Amazing Amy. 🙄

[Ms Blue Jay]

On 5/3/2022 at 9:27 AM, MaggieG said:

I haven't seen James Franco in much of anything recently. I did just watch WeCrashed with Jared Leto. And he was at the Met Gala last night in a ridiculous outfit.

Maybe an unpopular opinion but I don't think what Drew Barrymore said was all that bad 🤷‍♀️

She's a hypocrite.  She has on guests like Evan Rachel Wood and Dylan Farrow to talk about abuse but then has Anthony Anderson on to laugh at domestic violence when he's a 3 time accused rapist himself.  

3 hours ago, Lady Whistleup said:

I find the stans outside the courthouse really really creepy. Like ... these people need help. Seriously.

I love Johnny's old movies but I don't understand how that translates to whatever psychosis these fans are experiencing.  It's scary.

[Ms Blue Jay]

On 5/3/2022 at 11:08 AM, JustHereForFood said:

If you miss that, you can check comments under youtube videos covering that trial. I still kick myself for looking out of curiosity.

The Johnny defenders are ALL. OVER. TWITTER.  Just search the #JusticeforJohnny hashtag.  IT IS TERRIFYING.

[Guest]

For me, in these cases there is often one or two things that make me come to a conclusion and stick with it. It’s not that I am hand waving other evidence. It’s just that the other evidence isn’t going to negate what I view is the smoking gun. In this case it was these text messages from Depp’s assistant to Heard. For me that’s it. A third party saw Depp abuse Heard and Depp was so impaired that he had no memory of what happened. That evidence is just made stronger because the assistant is extremely anti-Heard. Apparently at one point he tried to say the texts were fake but experts disagreed. On the stand in the UK case he said they weren’t altered but were taken out of context but I can’t think of any context where this isn’t proof that Depp was abusive and so impaired that he can’t even remember what happened. It also shows the very common mindset around enablers. “He didn’t mean it.” “He feels awful.” “It wasn’t that bad.” 

Edited May 7, 2022 by Guest

[Hybridcookie]

About the ACLU donation, from that same article;
 

Quote

The pledge agreement calls for Heard to donate the money over the course of 10 years, starting in August 2016. But she hasn't made a payment since December 2018, ACLU Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel Terence Dougherty said in recorded video testimony.

When the ACLU reached out to Heard about another installment of her gift in 2019, Dougherty added, "we learned that she was having financial difficulties."

She's having financial difficulties being he keeps dragging her to court.

- In 2019, the ACLU reached out to her to find out when the next payment would be. Dougherty says “we learned that she was having financial difficulties”. He also says that she was ahead of her payment schedule, until Depp began his litigation that year.

- Dougherty says there has been no indication from Amber that she does not still intend to gift the full $3.5 million.

 

 

Honestly, I think the Kate James story was completely overblown by the media.

From the UK court documents, Kate James gave a 2nd witness statement which was in direct response to a specific paragraph in one of Amber's witness statements:

Amber's statement:

Quote

Another time, later in 2013 I remember distinctly sitting on a pink couch in my office
and we talked about the violence I had suffered and she sweetly consoled me. I
remember it clearly because I used the word ‘victim’ and she got upset and left. It was quite jarring and when we spoke maybe a few days later, when she was dropping
something off at my apartment, she said “the right word is ‘survivor’, not ‘victim’”. I was so new to even talking about this and acknowledging it was happening, I hadn’t thought about the language I was using.

Kate's statement:

Quote

In 2013, Ms Heard became aware of what happened to me as I had talked about it with a friend of hers at her apartment. Ms Heard then summoned me to her office where we sat on her couch and she questioned me about it, she was curious to see how I coped with it on a daily basis and she suggested I buy a gun. I was shocked at that suggestion as I would consider having a gun in my home with a small child around. I responded that I chose not to see myself as a "rape survivor" and not a "rape victim", and that is how I found my own way to cope.

I discovered that Ms Heard had in fact stolen my sexual violence conversation with her and twisted it into her own story to benefit herself. This of course caused me extreme distress and outrage that she would dare to attempt to use the most harrowing experience of my life as her own narrative.”

 

From what I'm reading Kate James never actually said that Amber used the actual story of Kate's assault as her own, just that Amber used that conversation they had about it in her own witness statement. And because she didn't like Amber, she didn't want her own to story to be used as part of Amber's.
 

From the trial transcript:

Quote

MR. SHERBORNE: Ms. James, just very briefly, can you explain why you took exception to what Ms. Heard had said in her fifth witness statement?

KATE. Because Ms. Heard referred to a conversation we had about me being violently raped at a certain point in Brazil and she used that as her own story.

Q. Ms. James, just a bit slower, otherwise the judge cannot take a note.

A. Sorry. She referred directly to a violent rape that occurred to me 26 years ago, and she twisted it into her own story and she used it for her own use.

Q: This is the last question I am going to ask you about this. In paragraph 7 of your witness statement, just summarising, you say this: "As I perused the documents, much to my utter shock and dismay, I discovered that Ms. Heard had stolen my sexual violence conversation with her and twisted it into her own story to benefit herself."

A. Correct. 

Any statements Amber made about her own sexual assault were kept confidential, so there was no way Kate could've known what she'd said to the court.

Quote

Q. I am just going to ask you a question. Just say yes or no, please, to the next question. Have you seen any confidential statements that Ms. Heard has made in these proceedings?

KATE. No, sir.

 

So from what I can read,
- Kate didn't like that Amber used the conversation about being a 'victim' or 'survivor' in Amber's own statements to make Amber seem like a victim. She thinks Amber's lying and in Kate's words "I am a sexual violence survivor and it is very, very serious to take that stance if you are not one, and I am one."
- Amber's witness statements were the 'documents she perused' and was why Kate herself made a second statement.
 - There was no way Kate could've known what Amber had said confidentially to the court.
- The media articles talking about it used the Kate's statements from the trial and nothing else/no other details.

(I'm sorry if this seems like incoherent rambling, but it's now 1am, and I have spent far too long on this post)

[Blergh]

FWIW, I have no clowns in this circus but  for one to prove slander, one must prove that the alleged slanderer actually lied about something one did- and it seems to me that all Mr. Depp has accomplished here has been to prove Miss Heard's claims of him having been abusive to her during their relationship and marriage to have been true (regardless of her imperfect or unangelic behavior). 

[mariah23]

Are you effing kidding me???!!!!!!

[Ohiopirate02]

56 minutes ago, Blergh said:

FWIW, I have no clowns in this circus but  for one to prove slander, one must prove that the alleged slanderer actually lied about something one did- and it seems to me that all Mr. Depp has accomplished here has been to prove Miss Heard's claims of him having been abusive to her during their relationship and marriage to have been true (regardless of her imperfect or unangelic behavior). 

I've read the op-ed that this whole case hinges on, and Amber never states Johnny abused her.  The whole case hinges on one sentence-- "Then two years ago, I became a public figure representing domestic abuse, and I felt the full force of our culture’s wrath for women who speak out."

Was she talking about Johnny there? Of course she was, but I fail to see how this one sentence rises to the legal definition of slander. 

[Guest]

27 minutes ago, mariah23 said:

Are you effing kidding me???!!!!!!

That actually doesn’t surprise me. I hadn’t heard about the previous allegations but something has always made me think he was a creep. Now, an allegation against his brother would surprise me. 

Just now, Ohiopirate02 said:

Was she talking about Johnny there? Of course she was, but I fail to see how this one sentence rises to the legal definition of slander. 

I agree and I am sure that oped was looked over by lawyers very closely. When Melissa Beniost came forward she was also very careful to never name names even though it was easy to figure out who she was talking about. 

[Ohiopirate02]

4 minutes ago, Dani said:

 

I agree and I am sure that oped was looked over by lawyers very closely. When Melissa Beniost came forward she was also very careful to never name names even though it was easy to figure out who she was talking about. 

I know the threshold is lower on oped pieces than what gets published as regular articles,  but the WaPo is going to make sure they are legally in the clear before publishing a piece like this.  Which is also why Johnny is not suing them like he did with The Sun, and why he ended up in a courtroom on the opposite coast.