Johnny Depp Will Lose the Case, and He Knew It from the Start
It was never about winning the case; it was about refusing to remain silent
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When I first began hearing about the details in the relationship between these two celebrities, my first reaction was sympathy for Johnny Depp: I know from experience that, as a man, when an ex-romantic partner publicly discusses personal details of your relationship that portray you in a negative light, you are placed in a no-win situation. Whatever you do, there is no possible way to undo the damage and no course of action that does not come with serious negative consequences.
I’ve spent years researching this topic, and found that most experts will advise you to take the high road: remain silent, pick your battles carefully, and resist the temptation to “sink to their level.” In my opinion, anyone providing this advice is demonstrating that they have absolutely no actual understanding or experience with the reality of these situations. It is akin to telling a female victim of sexual assault not to report or discuss what happened to her. It is disempowering, frustrating beyond words, and makes it infinitely more difficult to put the experience behind you & move on with your life. It sends the message that what your ex-partner is doing is acceptable behavior, suggests to people that you are guilty & afraid, and makes it highly likely that not only will their behavior continue, but they will become more bold & take more license with their claims, and may utilize the same strategy to harm others in the future. Quite simply, false allegations are a form of abuse, and remaining silent about abuse is always the wrong thing to do.
However, responding will open you up to even more criticism. If you exhibit the slightest bit of anger or indignation (a common, understandable response to being falsely accused by a former intimate partner), people (& judges) will see that as evidence that the original claims against you were true. A good lawyer would likely advise you to limit your response to a denial without providing additional details; this strategy makes sense from a legal standpoint, but in the court of public opinion, it is totally ineffective. Unless you provide an alternative narrative that people find believable, simply denying the allegations…
