‘Depp v Heard’: Netflix documentary examines trial by TikTok

The aftermath of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s defamation trial in 2022 is still being felt. Netflix’s latest docuseries, “Depp v Heard,” aims to dig at the influence of social media in shaping public perception and the trial’s outcome.

Emma Cooper, the director, takes viewers on a journey that uncovers the targeted harassment campaign against Heard, raising significant issues about its impact on the proceedings.

“Depp v Heard” illuminates the pernicious undercurrent of social media influence during the trial, demonstrating how sites such as TikTok and YouTube played a crucial role in increasing pro-Depp sentiment.

The docuseries emphasises these platforms’ troubling impact on public perception by deconstructing TikTok videos that frequently took Heard’s testimony out of context or promoted falsehoods.

Cooper’s unconventional juxtaposing of Depp and Heard’s testimonies presents a balanced but thorough trial account. By doing so, she emphasises how the trial’s focus switched from investigating Heard’s allegations of domestic abuse to questioning her veracity. The series dissects their opposing accounts, uncovering the complexity that hid the true substance of the case.

While the jury interviewed by Good Morning America professed to be unconcerned about other influences, Cooper investigates the potential impact of the jurors’ constant social media presence on their viewpoints.

The docuseries asks viewers to consider whether the court of public opinion influenced the ultimate judgement by interweaving interviews with Heard’s attorney and Depp’s legal team.

The case of “Depp v Heard” may not provide clear answers, but it does highlight a frightening reality: the power of social media in moulding narratives and opinions.

As the series comes to a close, it becomes clear that, while acknowledging the harassment campaign isn’t a replacement for justice, it is an important step towards comprehending the complex web of circumstances that formed the trial.

GBDESK//