On Friday, the GirlGaze Project released a Public Service Announcement video featuring Amber Heard, in which she emotionally advocates for women suffering from domestic abuse.
Heard opens the video asking, “How is this happening to me? I’m strong, smart, I’m not a victim.”
On the verge of tears, she describes the precarious position her own struggle of abuse put her in.
“I guess there was a lot of shame attached to that, the label of victim,” she explains.
“It happens to so many women you know. When it happens in your home behind closed doors with someone you love, it’s not straightforward. If a stranger did this, it would be a no-brainer.”
Despite the added hardship of dealing with abuse under the scrutiny of the public eye, Heard has chosen to take her platform as a means to help others going through that which she has fought.
“Just as a woman having gone through this in the public stage, in the public arena that I did it, I have a unique opportunity to remind other women this doesn’t have to be the way it is, you don’t have to do it alone, you’re not alone. We can change this.”
Heard ends the emotional video with a powerful message to her peers, and to society: “The only way that people are going to feel comfortable coming forward, raising their voices, standing up for themselves, is if we change the system in place that keeps them quiet.”
But the reaction to Heard’s PSA has incidentally functioned as a sad reminder of why so many women don’t come forward about abuse.
@AmberHeardNews She really should give up on acting. If people can’t see thru this,..shes trying to divert away from what she actually did.
— fairfarren (@imseriousyall) November 25, 2016
@PerezHilton @ThePerezHilton This would be nice from someone who isn’t a phony.
— Kristi McQuade☘️ (@kindness_love__) November 26, 2016
@AmberHeardNews Aww look who decided to bring up the abuse story when the news about that lawsuit broke out ???? smart move, Amber
— Momoa ????☀️???? (@Black_Pearl275) November 25, 2016
Despite the undeniably important message Heard is putting forward, the 30-year-old actress has copped criticism from online commenters quick to shame her following her split from high-profile actor Johnny Depp.
One commenter on The Daily Mail, wrote,
“So, now that she is in need of $10M because of the lawsuit, she plays victim again and hopes to extort another $10M from Depp. This woman is totally without scruples. Won’t be surprised to see her spend another night in jail.”
Even a commenter who claims to have experienced abuse took aim at Heard, stating,
“I’ve been attacked by an (ex-)partner so I know a bit about this. To me, Heard comes across as COMPLETELY unconvincing. She does not seem anything like a victim of DV. She does seem like a very poor actress. And attention seeking.”
While another commenter simply wrote, “I don’t believe her.”
@AmberHeardNews She’s unhappy with the success of Fantastic Beasts. She’s using this video to denigrate Johnny’s image.
— Momoa ????☀️???? (@Black_Pearl275) November 25, 2016
The number of naysayers is not surprising, given the fame and fan-following that Depp has built throughout his considerable career, despite Depp’s alleged assaults, restraining order, and the fact that Heard donated her $7 million settlement to victims of domestic violence.
It is this stigma against survivors that Heard is fighting against, urging those abused to speak up in spite of the doubt and hate it may arise in others.
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Probably because none of her claims against Johnny were proven. The police found no evidence of abuse and she refused to press charges after she released a long statement saying she will. A restraining order isn't exactly proof, it's very easy to get one. She settled with him and said she wishes the best for him in the future, she has no business talking about it now.
Oh, and the fact that she was arrested for domestic violence against a woman is likely one of the reasons as well.
Wrongfully arrested and not charged, I think you mean.
Or maybe it's just compassion fatigue, from every celebrity making a heartfelt plea about some cause or other. It's a side effect of saturation media and the social media concept that 'everyone has a voice' and you MUST hear it.