A recent investigation found that Amber Heard was the target of a harassment campaign on social media amidst the proceedings of her defamation trial against ex-husband Johnny Depp.
As reported by The Wrap, Amber Heard's legal team hired social media research group Bot Sentinel to look into this online hate in 2020. The group found 672 Twitter accounts that were primarily geared towards producing negative content about the Aquaman star. Findings showed that 3,288 accounts would tweet out hashtags such as #AmberHeardIsAnAbuser and #AmberHeardIsALiar. Of these, 19 percent aimed to trend hashtags artificially and 24 percent were only created in the past seven months.
During Depp's recent defamation trial against his ex-wife, many fans of the Pirates of the Caribbean star rallied behind him, starting several online campaigns with the goal of casting doubt on Heard's claims. "I don’t blame them," Heard said of Depp's fans. "I actually understand. He’s a beloved character and people feel they know him. He’s a fantastic actor." Though she was understanding, the effect of the hate was not lost on her. "But even somebody who is sure I’m deserving of all this hate and vitriol, even if you think that I’m lying, you still couldn’t look me in the eye and tell me that you think on social media there’s been a fair representation," she continued. Heard has stated that during the trial both she and her child received death threats.
Fairfax County Judge Penney Azcarate presided over the case, with the jury deciding on June 1 that Depp's team had proven false all of Heard's defamation claims. The actor attempted to dismiss the $10 million charge against her, though this attempt was recently denied. The Captain Jack Sparrow actor was awarded $10 million in compensatory charges and $350,000 from Heard in punitive charges. Heard received $2 million in compensatory charges and no punitive charges from Depp.
"My decision to pursue this case, knowing very well the height of the legal hurdles that I would be facing and the inevitable, worldwide spectacle into my life, was only made after considerable thought," Depp said. "From the very beginning, the goal of bringing this case was to reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome. Speaking the truth was something that I owed to my children and to all those who have remained steadfast in their support of me. I feel at peace knowing I have finally accomplished that."
Source: The Wrap