Johnny Depp Vs Amber Heard Case Won't Derail #MeToo Movement: Emma Thompson

Emma Thompson has weighed in on whether the result of the Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard defamation trial will impact the #MeToo movement.

In a statement, Thompson described the verdict as a “setback” for women but said it will not derail the movement.

Depp won his defamation case against Heard last week after six weeks of trial. Following the verdict, the judge ordered Heard, who previously called herself “a public figure representing domestic abuse,” to pay Depp at least $10 million in charges.

During an interview on BBC Radio 4’s “BBC Women’s Hour” Thursday, Thompson commented on the verdict and said, while she did not follow the trial, she thinks the case will not affect the movement in any way if women will continue to speak up.

“It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated,” she said. “It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously.”

“One of the great issues to do with that case is fame and how people who are famous are treated differently and viewed differently. The #MeToo movement is not going to be derailed by that, but in order for it not to be derailed, we just have to keep on talking. We have to keep on talking and refuse to allow it to be derailed by a case with two very, very, very famous people,” she continued.

She went on to describe the case of Depp and Heard as “not representative” saying, such a case involving two famous protagonists should not lay the foundation of the entire movement.

“A case where the two protagonists are that famous is not representative. And it’s just very important to remember that this movement—which is about human kindness and is just so simple, really, and has been made so complicated—cannot and will not be derailed by one case,” she explained.

The British actress and screenwriter made headlines in 2019 after dropping out of the film “Luck.” She left the production after John Lasseter, who was forced to leave Disney in 2018 following complaints of inappropriate groping in the workplace, joined the film.

#MeToo movement is a social movement against sexual abuse and rape culture that allows victims to come forward and tell their stories so their fellow victims may know they are not alone.