“The View” panelists are voicing displeasure that the defamation trial involving Hollywood celebrities Johnny Depp and Amber Heard may receive more attention than hearings held by the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
On Thursday, Whoopi Goldberg said, “One of the most high-profile, salacious court cases in recent memory is over. Johnny Depp and Amber Heard were both found liable for defaming each other.”
“Depp ended up with a little over $10 million while Heard got $2 million. Now some people are calling the verdict a big win for Depp and a blow to the Me Too movement and vice versa,” she continued.
Goldberg asked, “So is it just that people now have to find something else to do? Cause you know, they’re not going to pay attention to the Jan. 6 committee. You know, people are not going to be all into that. So is it people need a spectacle?”
Guest Tara Setmayer chimed in, “I just don’t like the celebrity spectacle of [the trial].”
“Because like Whoopi said, more people care about this than they will about the Jan. 6 hearings next week and the next couple weeks, which is actually about defending our democracy and an insurrection that affects all of us in this country, not some stupid celebrity trial you know where they’re yelling and sniping at each other,” she continued.
Finally, Setmayer added, “I just think that we need not to minimize the whole thing.”
Watch the video below:
Faux conservative Tara Setmayer agrees with Whoopi.
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) June 2, 2022
She argues the 1/6 Committee hearings are about "defending our democracy and an insurrection that affects all of us, not some stupid celebrity trial!" pic.twitter.com/ShofnKdEwF
Goldberg and Setmayer’s comments come after the jury in Depp’s defamation case against his ex-wife Heard revealed its verdict, as IJR reported.
The jury found that Heard defamed Depp with allegations that he committed domestic violence and awarded him $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages.
Heard was also awarded $2 million in compensatory damages.
In a statement after the verdict, Depp said, “From the very beginning, the goal of bringing this case was to reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome.”
“Speaking the truth was something that I owed to my children and to all those who have remained steadfast in their support of me,” he added.
Meanwhile, Heard said, “The disappointment I feel today is beyond words. I’m heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of my ex-husband.”
“It is a setback. It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously,” she added.
The Jan. 6 committee is slated to hold a series of hearings starting June 9.