Amber Heard-Johnny Depp trial memes could have ?a chilling effect? on victims of domestic abuse, expert says

Heard is countersuing Depp, seeking $100 million in damages.Glenn, who is chief executive officer of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, is among a contingency of social media users following the case who have been horrified by the way some on platforms like TikTok and Twitter have turned Heard’s testimony about alleged abuse she endured during her relationship with Depp into memes, jokes and lip syncs. On Tuesday, she posted what she describes as a public service announcement for her followers, asking them to remember that while they may be having fun with the content they’re creating around the trial, “it’s not funny to re-enact audio of testimony of alleged DV [domestic violence].”“I think there’s a lot of insensitivity and judgment around what domestic violence looks like … take away the fact that we’re talking about Johnny Depp and Amber Heard and whether they’re telling the truth or not,” Mojdehiazad said. When contacted for this story, two domestic violence survivors declined to be identified by NBC News or share details about their experiences, citing one issue: fear that they could be harassed by Depp’s fans for speaking out against him.Mojdehiazad said she hopes people viewing the case will eventually realize that the Depp-Heard trial proves the many challenges that domestic violence victims endure. Even two wealthy, privileged celebrities like Depp and Heard can become victims of abuse — and a situation like theirs can also be difficult to escape, Mojdehiazad said.“If everyone at this point stopped making fun of the testimony,” she said, “I think we need that to kind of die down so we can learn these valuable lessons.”If you or someone you know is facing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence hotline for help at (800) 799-SAFE (7233), or go to www.thehotline.org for more.