Trigger warning: This article discusses domestic abuse.
Phoebe Burgess has used a cruel troll’s taunts to send an important message about domestic violence amid the drama surrounding Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s US court case.
WATCH: Amber Heard reveals shocking details about alleged Johnny Depp abuse
Taking to Instagram on Sunday night, Phoebe posted screenshots of a DM she received after sharing a harmless video of her outfit that day.
“Get a new story you absolute loser. Your children will despise what you have done. Australia’s very own Amber Heard,” a man named Bronson wrote to the mum of two.
He was referring to Phoebe’s allegations that ex-husband Sam Burgess was abusive during their relationship. Burgess vehemently denied those allegations and after a 12-month investigation NSW Police decided not to take action.
While Phoebe usually ignores cruel messages like these, she confessed on Sunday that staying silent is part of the problem when it comes to domestic violence.
“My traditional response to these are not to legitimise them – but it occurred to me that this is the problem when any of us stay silent in not calling out ignorant, unacceptable behaviour,” she penned in a lengthy caption.
She also revealed that the media coverage of the Depp v Heard trial, as well as the overwhelming social media response, has left her feeling deeply “uncomfortable”.
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“If any of you have been feeling uncomfortable about the way Johnny Depp’s defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard has been portrayed and consumed: I hear you, sister,” Phoebe continued.
“This man took this legal action – demanding $100 million – after a UK judge found he was a ‘wife beater’.
“If his mission was to send a signal to all the abusers and misogynists out there that women won’t be believed, he’s succeeded.”
The 32-year-old went on to say that the public reaction to the case reinforces victims’ fears that no one will believe them, or scare them into staying with abusive partners out of fear they’ll “do a Depp on [them]”.
She’s not the first star to question how the trial has been handled online, with fans of Depp spewing vile hate at Heard in a bid to defend the actor.
Meanwhile, Heard’s supporters have lashed out at fans of Depp for supporting the actor, who has been embroiled in domestic violence allegations for years.
Journalist and legal reporter Lucia Osborne-Crowley has been covering the case and noted how the backlash against Heard for speaking up only harms other victims and survivors of abuse.
“Johnny Depp won’t see your posts turning Amber Heard’s graphic rape allegations into a humiliating meme, but your friends who have survived sexual violence will,” she tweeted in early May.
She also noted that a large portion of the attacks on Heard appear to be based in the idea that she’s not a “perfect victim”, however as Lucia noted in an interview with Refinery29, “perfect” abuse victims do not exist and perpetuating the idea that they do does more harm than good.
If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, help is always available. Call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit their website.
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