Johnny Depp versus Amber Heard

Celebrities are like onions. We ALL are.

At this moment, there are two New York Times Bestselling novels being written by opposing legal counsels in a courtroom in Fairfax, Virginia.

In one, there is a victim of domestic violence. Having endured a childhood of abuse at the hand of their parents, they worked day and night to achieve their dream of stardom. A dream that was lost in the shambles of a broken marriage.

In the second, there is a victim of mental illness. They also endured a childhood of abuse. They also dreamed of stardom. That dream was also lost after the collapse of their marriage.

Both abused alcohol.

Both abused drugs.

But who is who?

Who is the victim of domestic violence and who is the victim of mental illness?

Aren’t they both?

Moreover, does it matter?

To them, of course, it does.

But to the rest of the world?

It does because Johnny Depp is one of the most prolific actors of our time. He has been an A-list celebrity since he made the world care for a man with scissors for hands.

He has been a dependable leading man at the box office for decades — akin to the likes of Denzel Washington, Tom Cruise, and Brad Pitt.

His eccentricities only add to his enigma, allowing him to explore roles that are further and further removed from reality — and have viewers of all kinds racing to the theatre to watch.

Amber Heard, on the other hand, is best known as the former wife of Johnny Depp. Following that, she was best known as the girlfriend of Elon Musk — although their relationship was relatively short-lived.

Her greatest starring role was in the flop Aquaman — a film that garnered only 6.9/10 stars on IMDB, despite a star-studded cast.

Back to Virginia.

What we are seeing unfold in Fairfax is the peeling of an onion (as Shrek would say).

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are having the most intimate, private moments of their lives displayed for the world to see.

In print and also on-screen. Every detail of the trial is being broadcast directly onto the internet. Live!

They are both portraying the most important role of their lives.

They are playing themselves.

With that, the world is seeing that celebrities truly are no better than anyone else.

Amber and Johnny are no different than anyone else — another celebrity, a store clerk, or a teacher.

They have demons that they manage on a day-to-day basis.

They have love and compassion for others.

They have friends and family.

They are imperfect and make mistakes.

They have temper tantrums and act irrationally.

They are human.

What is important for the world to learn or, perhaps more accurately stated, remember is that a celebrity is just a person.

Just like you and me.

They are doing a job on the screen. They just happen to do a job that is viewed by millions of people.

Just because they are in the public’s eye doesn’t mean that they are BETTER than any of the rest of us.

So, why do so many people put celebrities up on a pedestal? What have they done that has allowed them to obtain ‘hero’ status?

Nothing.

The person on the screen is fictional.

The person on the screen is a role they are playing.

The person on the screen is a job.

We do not know celebrities. Even now, when social media allows us to see more of a celebrity’s personal life than ever before, we do not know them.

We simply see the person they want us to know. The person they wish to be portrayed as in the media.

We should not revere any celebrity simply for being a celebrity.

We should revere the people we do know that are making a difference in the world.

The teacher who stays at school late to help their students.

The nurse who works a twelve-hour shift with no break to care for their patients.

The business owner who puts their blood, sweat, and tears into their company. Providing employment and income for their staff and their families.

We should admire and aspire to be like the local heroes that we do know.

Instead, too many of us take them for granted. Too many of us forget to say thank you and appreciate the work that we do benefit from. Too many of us do not understand that real heroes are everyday heroes.

Not celebrities.

The next time you think of who your hero is, think of the people you actually know.

Remember that celebrities are simply people doing a job.

Just like all of us.

Until next time……………………………………..XO-JGF

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