TRIAL BY INTERNET

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp's vicious court battle has divided social media and thrown the spotlight on domestic abuse

- ROBYN LUCAS

NOT since the OJ Simpson trial has a court case attracted so much public attention. A live stream watched by hundreds of millions of people, social media users weighing in endlessly, news sites providing saturation coverage it's Johnny Depp and Amber Heard overload.

Much of it has been disturbing. First, there are the details: harrowing testimony of domestic violence, claims of extreme drug and alcohol abuse, deeply personal accounts of what went on behind closed doors, and sordid tales of cruelty and disrespect that make you wonder if these two ever felt anything for each other at all.

And then there's the court of public opinion. The internet means anyone can weigh in - and tens of millions have been doing so, Johnny fans under the Justice for Johnny Depp hashtag, Amber's under I Stand By Amber Heard.

There are many more hashtags in between - and most of them are so anti-Amber it's spawned a whole separate debate: despite the fact a London court last year found Amber's allegations that Johnny was a "wife-beater" to be "substantially true", his ex is the one coming in for a pounding.

Johnny and Amber are going head-to-head in a court in Fairfax, Virginia, this time. He's suing her over a 2018 essay she wrote in The Washington Post about her experiences with domestic abuse.

Johnny (58), who was dropped by The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, claims she cost him his career. He's seeking $50 million (R762m) in compensation. Amber (35) is countersuing for $100m (R1,6 billion).

People in camp Johnny believe Amber is the abuser and come up with a catalogue of negativity. Those on Amber's side and a growing swell of neutral commentators - believe the backlash is misogynistic and seriously damaging the fight against domestic violence.