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On the Media

How the Depp v. Heard Trial Became a Meme

On the Media

WNYC Studios

Magazine, Newspapers, Media, 1st, Advertising, Social Sciences, Studios, Radio, Transparency, Tv, History, Science, News Commentary, Npr, Technology, Amendment, Newspaper, Wnyc, News, Journalism

4.68.7K Ratings

🗓️ 12 May 2022

⏱️ 13 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week, we take a look at the latest celebrity trial to ensnare the national attention. Johnny Depp is suing Amber Heard, his ex-wife, for defamation, and she’s counter suing him for the same. Depp’s suit takes issue with an op-ed Heard wrote back in 2018 for the Washington Post in which she identifies herself as a survivor of domestic violence. She first came forward with allegations against Depp in 2016. In 2018, Depp sued British tabloid, The Sun, for defamation over headlines that accused him of abuse, but he lost that case. Given the history, you might expect to see fewer headlines over this latest trial. But, not so. The ratings for Court TV, which is broadcasting every moment of the trial, have more than doubled. Pair the live visuals with Depp’s rabid online fanbase, and you’ve got a case being watched billions of times over — in fact, the #JusticeforJohnnyDepp hashtag has upwards of 10 billion views on TikTok and it’s spawned several viral sounds and trends and … comedy sketches. Guest host Brandy Zadrozny asks EJ Dickson, senior writer for Rolling Stone, about how pro-Depp coverage of the case took over TikTok, and its consequences.

Transcript

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0:00.0

I'm Brandy Zadrasni, I'm a reporter for NBC News, but this week I'm sitting in for

0:06.5

Brook Gladstone.

0:08.7

Johnny Depp is suing Amber Heard, his ex-wife for defamation, and she's countersuing him

0:13.4

for the same.

0:14.7

And never has the term media circus been more out.

0:17.8

Johnny Depp!

0:18.8

Johnny!

0:19.8

There is a Johnny Depp supporter right there, right behind the court, right by that garbage

0:24.8

can with alpacas.

0:34.8

It all started back in 2018 when Heard wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post in which

0:48.1

she identifies herself as a survivor of domestic violence.

0:52.0

Same year, Depp sued a British tabloid for defamation, over headlines that accused him

0:56.9

of being an abuser.

0:58.4

But he lost that case.

1:00.3

Given that all of this stuff has been in the ether for years, you might be forgiven

1:04.6

for thinking that there'd be less coverage about this latest trial.

1:08.7

But you'd be wrong.

1:10.5

The ratings for court TV, which is broadcasting every salacious moment of the trial, have

1:15.4

more than doubled.

1:16.8

Prepare the live visuals with Depp's massive online fanbase, and you've got a case being

1:22.0

watched billions of times over.

1:24.5

In fact, the Justice for Johnny Depp hashtag has upwards of 10 billion views on TikTok.

...

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