Social media reacts to the verdict: How are family, friends, fans and celebrities reacting to the jury’s decision?
With so many people following the trail, there has been plenty of reaction to events in Fairfax with many coming out in support of Depp or Heard.
As expected for a trial which was so public, news and social media has been all over Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s libel trial as if viewing a Roman gladitorial arena. Six weeks of vitriol, accusation and counter-accusation, as well as mudslinging from commentators, turned the libel trial into a broader discussion of domestic abuse and culpability in what was clearly a very disfunctional relationship, to put it lightly.
Social media could prove to have been a major factor in the trial. On TikTok, the hashtag #justiceforjohnnydepp got about 19 billion views alone. The jury was instructed not to read about the case online, but they were not sequestered and they were allowed to keep their phones. With so many stories flying around the internet and newspapers, including from us, could a jury keep away from the reports?
Related: Amber Heard’s sister breaks silence over Depp verdict
It should come as no surprise that people were quick to give their opinion on proceedings once the result was made public.
How did celebrities react on social media?
Depp had many supporters amongst his celebrity friends. Pretty Little Liars star Ashley Benson posted her support on Instagram,
Naomi Campbell also supported Depp after the result. Depp’s “Dark Shadows” co-star Eva Green even took to Instagram to proclaim she had “no doubt” that he would “emerge with his good name and wonderful heart revealed to the world, and life will be better than it ever was for him and his family.”
British actor Greg Ellis, who starred alongside Depp in several Pirates of the Caribbean films, has been effusive in his support for Depp throughout the trial. He was quick to celebrate the result on Twitter.
“Plant your flag for Johnny Depp,” Ellis tweeted.
There were those who took the opportunity to argue, in their opinion, that the result of the trial would be detrimental for other women who accuse men of domesic abuse. One of these was Amy Schumer who posted a photo to instagram of a quote from Gloria Steinem in a thinly-veiled reply to the trial.