In the rush to vindicate Johnny Depp, his fans have become abuse apologists

The Fantastic Beasts star has yet to present any evidence to show he’s innocent of assaulting ex-wife Amber Heard

Johnny Depp or Amber Heard is lying. But which one?

It’s been a point of public contention since 2016, when Heard filed for divorce from Depp, alleging he had abused her throughout their three-year marriage.

Now Depp is suing his ex-wife for $50m in a defamation lawsuit over an op-ed she wrote about domestic violence in the Washington Post — one that didn’t mention Depp by name but “depended on the central premise that Ms Heard was a domestic abuse victim and that Mr Depp perpetrated domestic violence against her”.

Not only does the lawsuit claim Heard’s allegations, evidence of which has been well-documented, were an “elaborate hoax” to generate positive publicity advance her career — despite Heard having been cast in her most significant role, Mera in the DC franchise, well before the divorce filing — but Depp also claims he has proof Heard assaulted him.

A photo of his busted up finger, which he submitted as evidence against Heard, quickly made the rounds on Twitter after he filed his lawsuit. Depp claims Heard was responsible…