In light of recent events there are several things that we can learn from Amber Heard and her current situation with Johnny Depp. Like many other kids I grew up loving Captain Jack Sparrow, when I was older I had more appreciation for Edward Scissorhands and Sweeney Todd and his other more serious roles. Now, I can't help but cringe at the thought of idolizing this man. Domestic abuse is a serious issue, leading me to the first lesson to take from the sad reality of this situation; it can happen to anyone. People like to think of celebrities as a type of celestial beings, they are virtually untouchable, and they can do no wrong. An attractive male actor who has made millions, visited sick kids in the hospital, donated to charities, he could never do that to a woman. People are more appalled at the people suggesting that Johnny Depp is capable of doing this than they are about the fact that it was done. Being famous does not make him perfect, it doesn't make him exempt from flaws, even huge ones like this.Anyone can be an abuser, and anyone can wind up being abused. It is a sick fact to admit, but it is true. Amber Heard is a well off, strong woman herself, without Johnny Depp, and that did not stop her from becoming a victim. There's no specific set of characteristics that define a victim of abuse.
The second lesson to take from this is that not every victim looks the same, and not all abuse occurs in the same fashion. They can look like a powerful actress, but they can also look like a scared, confused high school girl that thought her boyfriend meant it when he said it would only happen once. Abuse victims are also not strictly female, and male victims are more often ignored, discredited, or told to man up and deal with it. Abuse is not always physical, and that is often forgotten. No one type of abuse is worse than another, and each comes with its own issues, but they also often don't come alone. It is important to keep an open mind about accepting those whom come to you and tell you they're being abused. It is far from easy to work up the courage to stand up to your abuser, which includes letting other people know.
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There has been a clear divide in the masses when it comes to Amber Heard and Johnny Depp. Half of the masses, like myself, have sided with Amber, but the other half have found disgusting ways to turn this around and make her out to be the bad guy. She must be a gold digger, in it for the money since day one. Obviously she used makeup to put all those bruises on her face, and those dramatic waterworks at court just prove how great of an actress she is. Honestly? People make me sick. The world wonders why people don't seek help in these situations and this is why. Everyone needs some sort of validation, because we expect the worst from each other no matter what. That is, unless your Johnny Depp, because obviously he can do no wrong. Discrediting abuse victims only enables abusers more. May I remind you, someone does not have to have bruises to be a victim.
So, what can we gather from this? The biggest underlying issue here, aside from the obvious fact the Depp beat his wife, is that society sees celebrities through a veil, and because of that the abuser is still being idolized and the victim was somehow shamed for standing up for herself. For the public eye, there are two very contradictory messages being sent out; Amber shows other abuse victims that you can stand up for yourself, fight back and get out, but at the same time society is supporting an abusive man and invalidating his victim, which can be very discouraging. Whether you believe Amber or your heart is still with Johnny, there are some very important things to remember and take from this.
Abuse can happen to anyone and has probably happened to someone you know at least once. Familiarize yourself with the signs so that you can not only look out for your loved ones, but for yourself. Standing on the sidelines when you're aware of an abusive situation is almost just as bad as being abusive yourself. There is always something that you can do, and trust me, your friend will thank you in the long run if you turn them into a school counselor, or whoever you think is a safe confidant. If you are a victim of domestic abuse, there is help out there, and I stand with not only Amber, but with you.
