According to an exclusive for Variety, NBC News will be debuting a documentary examing TikTok’s unique influence on the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamation trial. During the six weeks the defamation trial occurred, social media users were flooded with content about the trial, including TikTok memes, streamers who watched it live, and available to stream almost everywhere online. It seemed people could not get away from it, which the NBC documentary explores, including how some viewers could have been misled if they watched only TikToks about the trial.
@robandhaley Jonny Depp Amber Heard trial in 60 seconds #johnnydepptrial #johnnydeppamberheardtrial #justiceforjohnnydepp #amberheard #johnnydepp #foryoupage #johnnydeppcourt
♬ Pirates Of The Caribbean – Main Theme – He’s A Pirate – Geek Music
According to the article, “Heard’s attorney Elaine Bredehoft, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence CEO Ruth Glenn, American University law professor and gendered violence expert Jamie Abrams, NBC News senior breaking news reporter Doha Madani, NBC News tech and culture reporter Kat Tenbarge, People Magazine’s Nigel Smith and more” will be featured within the documentary. This caused conversation online, including some people speaking up for their belief of Heard, which has been quite rare online.
I’m in this and I’m very excited for you to see it!!! https://t.co/NaXrhfmIJw
— Kat Tenbarge (@kattenbarge) July 13, 2022
However, not everyone within the hashtag actually supported Heard, with many people using the hashtag to further slander Heard. Overall, public opinion has been skewed towards Heard online, which is what the documentary explores and whether TikTok memes misled viewers. It also explores how the verdict can affect future cases regarding domestic abuse and how the Me Too movement might be altered by the trial and the public reaction tied to it.
NBC News is launching a documentary about social media’s impact on the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard trial.
‘A Marriage on Trial: Johnny Depp, Amber Heard & Truth in the Age of Social Media’ will debut at 10:30 p.m. ET on NBC News and Peacock.
????: https://t.co/0stnNu1Kgo pic.twitter.com/u16NsPNBiR
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) July 13, 2022
The documentary will be released tonight, to watch on Peacock and the NBC News platform. Online, many seem interested to see how facts might have been transformed online and more about how media can impact trials, especially since the jury was not sequestered. “I wondered how long that would take. I found the whole ‘entertainment’ value of it disturbing,” one person noted, referring to the entertainment aspect of the trial and how obsessed people were with watching the trial nonstop.
ADVERTISEMENT
