It comes to something when the President of the United States endorsing a mad homophobic conspiracy theorist doctor who believes masks are useless against coronavirus, the medical community is trying to make a vaccine that makes people immune to religion, and alien DNA is being used in prescriptions is only the second most grotesque moment of a day.
Several months ago, I urged Donald Trump to ‘shut the f*ck up’ with his crazy ‘covid cure’ pronouncements. He responded by unfollowing me on Twitter and continuing to spout dangerous unproven and disproven claptrap from the most powerful podium on the planet.
Last night, he plummeted new depths by praising whack-job medic Dr Stella Emmanuel, saying ‘I thought her voice was an important voice.’
He was joined by Madonna, arguably the only person in the world who’s had a worse pandemic than Trump, who declared in a post now deleted by Instagram: ‘The Truth will set us all free! This woman is my hero, thank you Stella Emmanuel!’
The fact that two such high profile people have thrown their support behind such an obviously insane quack as so many people are dying is of course utterly deplorable given the influence they wield.
But over in London, a court case has just wrapped up that was possibly even more repellent.
The judge’s ruling in Johnny Depp’s libel action against The Sun newspaper for calling him a ‘wife-beater’ won’t be known for a while yet. However, I think we’ve all consumed enough lurid, gruesome details from the case over the past 16 days to reach our own verdicts on the movie star and his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard
The case conjured up arguably the most toe-curling celebrity image of all time, though it was run pretty close by humiliating photos of a growling Depp slumped on the floor with a tub of ice cream dribbling between his legs
The judge’s ruling in Johnny Depp’s libel action against The Sun newspaper for calling him a ‘wife-beater’ won’t be known for a while yet.
However, I think we’ve all consumed enough lurid, gruesome details from the case over the past 16 days to reach our own verdicts on the movie star and his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard.
Even by Hollywood standards, it has revealed a shocking litany of allegations.
The charge sheet of claims and counter claims about their booze-sodden, drug-fuelled fights featured partially-severed fingers, ‘faked’ or real bruises, hair-dragging, ‘disco bloodbaths’, vodka bottles thrown like grenades, phones being ripped off walls, names written in blood on mirrors, dogs dangled out of car windows, tampon applicators used to snort cocaine, accusations of affairs and threesomes with billionaires and other stars, kicking on planes, and constant foul-mouthed abuse towards each other.
The nadir, and competition for this status was very high, came when Depp returned late to their LA home after being told $750 million had disappeared from his finances, an argument with Heard ensued and someone – he says her, she says a dog – defecated on their bed.
It conjured up arguably the most toe-curling celebrity image of all time, though it was run pretty close by humiliating photos of a growling Depp slumped on the floor with a tub of ice cream dribbling between his legs.
This whole legal battle has been a relentless ugly barrage on the senses which has seen both Depp and Heard accused of repeatedly lying.
I’ve no idea where the truth is actually lurking beneath all the torrents of mud that was thrown and defy the poor judge to work it out either.
It also includes vodka bottles thrown like grenades, phones being ripped off walls, names written in blood on mirrors, dogs dangled out of car windows, tampon applicators used to snort cocaine, accusations of affairs and threesomes with billionaires and other stars, kicking on planes, and constant foul-mouthed abuse towards each other. (Pictured is evidence which allegedly shows a table in Depp’s home)
The case has, even by Hollywood standards, revealed a shocking litany of allegations. The charge sheet of claims and counter claims about their booze-sodden, drug-fuelled fights featured partially-severed fingers, ‘faked’ or real bruises, hair-dragging, ‘disco bloodbaths’ (Pictured: Depp after his finger was allegedly partially severed)
What we do know is that after Heard previously filed for a restraining order, she later withdrew it, settled for a $7 million divorce, and released a joint statement with Depp which said: ‘Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love. There was never an intent of physical or emotional harm.’
And we now know, thanks to evidence from myriad, bodyguards, realtors, assistants, siblings, agents, doctors, island managers and interior decorators, that this was a load of baloney and the pair of them were marital horror stories seemingly intent on destroying each other.
Depp wants us to believe he’s a ‘Southern gentleman’ who could never hit a woman.
But little of his behaviour appears even remotely gentlemanly.
In one ‘jokey’ – their word for it, not mine – text message exchange about Heard with his actor friend Paul Bettany, Depp says to him: ‘Let’s drown her before we burn her!!! I will f*** her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she’s dead.’
Heard, meanwhile, wants us to believe she’s the sweet, innocent victim of a ‘monster’ yet admits to punching Depp with a closed fist, and his lawyers painted a devastating picture of someone capable of being just as violent, abusive and monstrous.
Social media has lined up behind both sides, often viciously, as have celebrity friends of the couple. Like everything else in this toxically tribal world we now endure, the truth doesn’t matter – all that matters is that YOUR side wins.
And the scenes outside court each day have more resembled a movie premiere more than a domestic violence case, with Depp and Heard sporting endless new eye-catching outfits, preening for photographers, and greeting their fans. (Depp handed bandannas to his, Heard gave hand-written thank you notes to hers).
Yesterday, as the case closed, Heard delivered an Oscar-winning performance for the media outside court.
Hands clasped across her chest, eyes glistening, voice trembling, she talked about the ‘incredibly painful’ experience of the trial, thanked the world for its support, and begged ‘British justice’ to prevail.
She was booed by Depp’s young female fans – ‘Deppheads’ – who chanted ‘Justice for Johnny!’
He was then raucously cheered as he emerged from court.
Several hours later, Heard was seen laughing and joking as she left an expensive Japanese restaurant with her ‘girl squad’ friends and her legal team.
All of this, given what we learned in the trial, made my skin crawl.
For the past few months, celebrities have been relegated to irrelevant non-events as the worst pandemic for 100 years ravaged the globe.
Yesterday, as the case closed, Heard delivered an Oscar-winning performance for the media outside court. Hands clasped across her chest, eyes glistening, voice trembling, she talked about the ‘incredibly painful’ experience of the trial, thanked the world for its support, and begged ‘British justice’ to prevail
In an image submitted as evidence during the hearing, Amber Heard is seen with bruising on her face
The REAL stars, it has transpired, are not overpaid, underworked, vain-glorious prima donnas from the world of entertainment – but underpaid, overworked, humble, selfless health workers desperately trying to save lives.
This hasn’t stopped the former from trying equally desperately to make themselves relevant as all our attention has gravitated to more important things like ventilators and vaccines.
Their embarrassing ‘what about ME?’ attitude was best exemplified in Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot’s ghastly Imagine video, where a bunch of famous millionaires in their luxury mansions tunelessly wailed about a world without possessions – as the economy crashed and millions were losing their jobs.
And by Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle’s ridiculously tone-deaf antics throughout the crisis.
But none of that nonsense even reaches first base when it comes to Depp and Heard who have lifted the curtain on a super-rich lifestyle so sordid and stomach-churning that it must make all normal people shudder with revulsion.
Not least the hero health workers, many of whom have recently lost their lives trying to save complete strangers from a deadly virus, and who can only dream of the enormous wealth and privilege enjoyed by these two clowns.
The only winners in this tragic saga are The Sun, who have enjoyed global publicity far outweighing any financial punishment they may or may not receive, and the vast army of lawyers for both sides who’ve been raking in millions.
The two big losers are Johnny Depp and Amber Heard who have emerged from the wreckage of the trial with their reputations hugely damaged and in Depp’s case, illustrated just how horribly self-destructive alcohol and drug addiction can be.
To depict either of them as ‘victims’ of each other’s disgusting behaviour does a massive disservice to real victims.
My verdict is this: I find them both guilty of being spoiled, narcissistic and horribly abusive Hollywood nightmares who have shown us the very worst of celebrity excess at a time when nobody has any time for it.
Their sentence is to enter a Trappist retreat with immediate effect and give us all a break from their hideous relationship.