Depp v. Heard: Trial By Toxic Memes, Stans & Hashtags

The courtroom drama of Depp vs Heard is ugly, but nothing compared to the vitriol on social media, as fans pick sides.

• Depp vs Heard defamation suit has doubled the ratings of Court TV
• Stans (stalker+fan) have flooded social media with toxicity and threats
• Social media memes and hashtags simplify and frame complex issues, influencing public opinion
• The perceptions of the movie-going public will determine the ultimate outcome

On April 11, 2022, the courtroom drama of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard began and their tumultuous, extravagant, and mutually-abusive relationship played out across traditional and social media. However ugly the testimonies, they are nothing compared to what is happening on social media. The public testimonies are fueling a much meaner one on social media, where stans (stalker + fan) have taken to social with unbelievable vitriol, ranging from insults to death threats.

Johnny Depp has always had a lot of enthusiastic fans—even with all the controversy around him.  His Instagram account has over 14 million followers.  He’s also been in the public eye since he hit it big in 21 Jump Street in 1987.  That’s over 30 years of serious stardom where he had the enduring appeal of the archetypal ‘bad boy.’  

Strong Parasocial Relationships Can Turn Fans into Stans 

Fans often form emotional connections to celebrities, especially ones they like and see frequently.  These parasocial relationships are one-sided, but the fan experiences emotional benefits from feeling connected to a celebrity and identity as a member of a fan community.  Nothing fires up social identity like a good hashtag war.  On TikTok, #justiceforjohnnydepp had nearly 7 billion views.  But stans do not make box office receipts.

Amber Heard does not have the benefit of Depp’s professional longevity or depth, although her recent success in Aquaman and the swirling publicity around her relationship with Depp have moved her into the mainstream consciousness.  She originally activated support from #MeToo activists, but the sordid details are causing some of them to back away.

When people are in the public eye and benefit from public adoration and attention, anything they do is entertainment.  The sordid and unhappy accusations from both sides are full of all kinds of archetypal and cultural narratives—bad boys, celebrity excess, privilege, heroes, warriors, fallen idols, and prodigal sons—that add to the fodder.  All this is easy pickings in social media and no longer under control as content is no longer curated and mediated by PR handlers.

Social Media Reduces Complex Topics into Simple Ideas That Drive Public Opinion

Internet memes frequently make fun or snarky commentary about serious things—even the Ukrainian Invasion.  Memes can be a legitimate means of constructing a narrative and having a voice. TikTok’s format encourages this type of content creation, but I don’t see it as being desensitized to important issues as much as it seems a statement in response to the whole circus.  Johnny Depp’s reputation for outrageousness and excess and the enormous back stock of media content available make him an easy subject for ‘memefication’.  While there are serious domestic abuse issues being contested, Depp’s persona, well-known roles and reputation lend the proceedings a surreal quality that is low-hanging fruit for stans and fan cam edits.  The accusations of abusive behavior against Heard contribute to the chaos.

When fans are invested in celebrities, they take sides and engage in often misguided efforts to “protect” their favorite, attacking the other side.  Fans with a strong emotional investment are easily converted into supporters.  The more a fan’s identity is invested in their association with the celebrity or the fan community, the more likely will turn stan and join the mob.  I would say we have Team Johnny and Team Amber but that’s way too tame for what’s going on.

Stans, memes and fan cams provide a way of simplifying a complex narrative and effectively communicating a point of view, taking one side or the other.  When other celebrities take sides, it adds the weight of their social capital validating the cause, as when Heard’s co-star Aquaman Jason Momoa started following Depp on Instagram.  What’s most troubling is how people have used social media to subvert the judicial system, essentially trying people in the court of public opinion. That’s the source of the damage to Depp’s career— the movie industry won’t risk their own social and financial capital if fans won’t go to Depp’s movies.  The old “no such thing as bad press” is clearly not true when it comes to accusations that violate social justice values or hint of abuse. 

Verdict By Public Opinion and Box Office Receipts

Whatever judgment is handed down in court amidst all the accusations and stories of celebrity excess, it remains to be seen what outcome will reverberate across the public opinion. The judge may determine the financial awards given in court, but Depp vs. Heard is being tried on social media.  Juries are supposed to be impartial, but it’s the perceptions of the movie-going public that matter.  All those people at home watching wall-to-wall Court TV will determine the actors’ future earnings.  With cancel culture at full volume, Depp’s suit was maybe risky, but it was also the only way to repair his relationship with movie-goers.  Unfortunately, if he achieves his victory, it will be at the expense of Amber Heard.