slide 9 to 15 of 15

The Amber Heard verdict reportedly sends a message to black women everywhere

As reported by Townhall, “Following a six-week-long trial, a civil jury sided with Johnny Depp on Wednesday in his $50 million defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife Amber Heard.” Both Depp and Heard released statements to the press after the verdict was read, and Heard decided to double-down and libel Depp again. But Heard made it clear that her defeat was a defeat for all women:

Advertisement

Heard writes:

“I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for women. It is a setback. It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated.”

It was a defeat for not just women, but for black women also, according to The Root:

Candace McDuffie writes:

If the mistreatment of a wealthy blonde-haired, blue-eyed white actress is ridiculed by the world, what does that mean for Black women?

Heard was turned in everything from memes to murals mocking the validity of her abuse. Some even believed Depp when he said that she was the aggressor in the relationship. If all of Heard’s privilege couldn’t protect her from such viciousness, Black women—like always—remain even more vulnerable.

As we’ve seen from Tina Turner to Rihanna, from Megan Thee Stallion to the dozens of young Black women R.Kelly abused, our pain becomes punchlines and our humanity is invalidated.

What happened to Heard is another vile reminder to women—particularly Black women—that nothing can guarantee our safety.

Advertisement

This reminds us of the piece Forbes published after Will Smith assaulted Chris Rock at the Oscars asking, “Why are jokes always at the expense of black women?”

Advertisement

It’s just a reminder that whatever happens to white women affects black women even more.


Related:

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Recommended

Trending on Twitchy Videos

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement