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In 2006, Tarana Burke, an American civil rights activist who has herself been a victim of sexual assault, invented this phrase and founded the MeToo movement. What started as local grassroots work gained global traction in 2017 when #metoo went viral after the Harvey Weinstein saga came to the fore. The movement spawned countless stories of women being sexually harassed by predators over a period of years. The skeletons had finally tumbled out of the closets!
Shortened to the year 2022, the “MenToo” hashtag has been gaining momentum online following the much-anticipated trial verdict between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. There was incessant tweeting and dialogue on social media in support of Depp. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the whole world was excited about the trial. The case was eventually closed with the jury’s decision in favor of the Pirates of the Caribbean actor. Heard now has to pay Depp $15 million in damages. Shortly after his landmark win, #MenToo secured a spot on Twitter’s trending list.
The tweets, mostly in support of Depp, claimed “men can be victims of domestic violence too.” British author Greg Ellis wrote on Twitter: “Today’s win is a signal. The jury spoke. We had a judgement. The verdict was clear. The truth has triumphed. 6 long years.”
YES YES YES
HE DID IT
YOU DID IT
WE MADE IT
We won.
Today’s win is a signal.
The jury spoke.
We had a judgement.
The verdict was clear.The truth has triumphed.
6 long years. #MenToo #Truth always wins #MenToo #AbuseHasNoGender pic.twitter.com/YicASs8ix0— Greg Ellis (@ellisgreg) June 1, 2022
“‘Tell the world Johnny. Tell them I, Johnny Depp, am a victim of domestic violence. See if the judge and jury believe you.” The jury and judge and the whole world believed this man. He waited 6 years and spoke his truth and his truth now takes precedence for #MenToo #JohnnyDepp,” another fan tweeted in support of Depp.
“Tell the world Johnny. Tell them I, Johnny Depp, am a victim of domestic violence. See if the judge and jury believe you.”
The jury and the judges and the whole world believed this man. He waited 6 years and he spoke his truth and his truth now takes precedence #MenToo #Johnny Depp pic.twitter.com/uU2Jj7w4Dw
— ··nina ·· (@swftslvrry) June 1, 2022
For more reactions see below:
Johnny Depp resigned from his career. Pirates 6. Fantastic Beasts 3. ALL at stake.
It also took YEARS, but he WON.
He PROVED that #mentoo can be survivors of domestic violence.
— ThatUmbrellaGuy (@ThatUmbrella) June 1, 2022
I stood by Johnny Depp as a woman, a survivor, a human. I also have a 29 year old son who doesn’t want to go out and I see that on VA Justice Day. #MenToo #MePoo #JusticeForJohnnyDepp pic.twitter.com/Vs53e9KeoM
— Ewinter’s Forest Mignon (@ElizaDFTW) June 1, 2022
I’ve spent the last 13 years in criminal defense. I have seen good men’s lives destroyed by false accusations. jobs lost; children taken away; absolutely ruined her life. All it takes is an accusation. #MenToo
— Eric Matheny (@EricMMatheny) June 1, 2022
The case of Depp v. Heard has been massive for the truth that men aren’t always cookie-cutter types. That men hurt. That men can also be victims – and survivors. #MenToo
— Justin Bower (@j_with_the_pen) June 1, 2022
Honestly, this verdict means so much more than #JusticeForJohnny, I want my sons to live in a world that stands up for them too. I want them to know that if someone hurts them, they can say it and not be laughed at.#AbuseHasNoGender#MenToo
— Aimz (@AWdepp) May 31, 2022
I hope that Johnny Depp, who wins this case, gives male abuse victims the hope they need, that their voices are heard and that they are taken seriously, much good will come of it #mentoo #JusticeForJohhnyDepp
— Nat (@itscinnamonnatt) June 1, 2022
While part of the internet is celebrating the verdict in Depp’s favour, there were others who expressed concern following the verdict. Journalist Moira Donegan wrote: “Amber Heard did not even name her accuser. Which woman will report now? What woman is talking to a reporter? What woman confides in a friend? #MeToo was in many ways a movement for women’s freedom of expression. The impact of this backlash on freedom of expression is staggering.”
Amber Heard didn’t even name her accuser. Which woman will report now? What woman is talking to a reporter? What woman confides in a friend? #I also was in many ways a women’s free speech movement. The impact of this backlash on freedom of expression is staggering. https://t.co/Mb2gJfDYZ1
— Moira Donegan (@MoiraDonegan) June 1, 2022
I’m very concerned about what that means, especially in relation to powerful and/or wealthy men who have been difficult enough to speak out about. We’re concerned that we may see cases from the MeToo era where people only spoke vaguely about their abuse.
— Alicia (@nerdjpg) June 1, 2022
The much-discussed case concerned a lawsuit filed by Depp against Heard in December 2018, in an op-ed she wrote in The Washington Post, in which she described herself as “a public figure who advocates domestic violence.”
While the Virginia court jury found Amber Heard’s article defamatory of Johnny Depp, it also found that Heard had been defamed by one of Depp’s attorneys, who said she fabricated a detailed fraud that included stealing the apartment of the couple cleaning up to look worse for the police. The jury awarded her $2 million.