VIRAL: YouTuber James Forsey exploits Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's legal drama for millions
Closing in on 20 million views achieved within the span of weeks, James Forsey seemingly cracked the YouTube and TikTok algorithm on how to achieve instant success.
Going viral on YouTube (or any social media site for that matter) can be exciting for anyone. You have a short, fleeting moment of Kim Kardashian fame that gives a high you crave after it's over.
For James Forsey, a new YouTuber that exploded onto the digital scene earlier this year, it is anything but a fleeting moment. His current success is extremely promising, and it’s very exciting to be a part of writing one of the many stories that will come out of his career.
The Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial on YouTube
Earlier in the year, the hard-to-miss defamation legal trial between A-Lister Johnny Depp and his ex Amber Heard had a cult following. Averaging 30 to 40 million views, the live streams covering the trial on the Law&Crime Network’s YouTube channel were a formula for success. And James Forsey seized this.
He used his newly discovered and popularised style of content — fusing a witty title with the length of the video into a viral moment. Titles such as “Watching Amber Heard until she’s rude” sits at an ample 17 seconds in length (I’m sure you can see why James is such a hit), but boasts over 5.7 million views! A feat most could only dream of — especially for a new creator.
While a secret formula to please YouTube Gods is not known, it’s been quite clear that James Forsey knows what works — and what doesn’t. According to his YouTube Wiki page, it’s common knowledge that he understands the YouTube algorithm quite well, and used this to his advantage.
His micro-series of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard content was such a hit on YouTube that many people tried to imitate his wins — of course with all failures. To be successful on YouTube you have to bring something new (copying the exact format of someone else’s work is objectively wrong and won’t get you far).
The future
Content creators are getting younger and younger each year they start — this is no different for James Forsey.
So where will see James in the future? His start is certainly extremely promising, and while he’s seemingly on a short hiatus, I’m sure we can expect his future content to be just as clever.
Take this important message for future influencers of the world — Create and don’t imitate.
