Greens Leader’s apology after Clementine Ford slams comments

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor has apologised after she was slammed by feminist author Clementine Ford over Depp-Heard commentary.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor has apologised for her commentary on the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial after she was slammed by Australian feminist author Clementine Ford.

Ms O’Connor copped a flood of blacklash when she took to Twitter in support of Depp, saying Ms Heard was not telling the truth about alleged abuse.

On Sunday afternoon Ms Ford posted on the social media platform that the views aired by Ms O’Connor were concerning.

“Late to this but it’s concerning to see the leader of the Tasmanian Greens Cassy O’Connor coming out so hard for a man who talked about f****** his wife’s burnt dead corpse - the same woman he called a c** guzzler, a flappy fish market and who he promised global humiliation to,” Ms Ford said.

“What a terrible slap in the face to Tasmanian victim survivors.”

Ms O’Connor later changed her tune and apologised.

“I want to acknowledge, and genuinely apologise for the hurt and confusion I have caused by allowing myself to be drawn into debate on the evidence in the Depp Heard trial,” Ms O’Connor said.

“I acknowledge the trial and verdict have been weaponised by those who hate women, abusers and hard right elements.

“To have a world that is safer for women and children and all vulnerable people, we have to maintain the just rage against those forces, as I have throughout my life.”

Ms O’Connor said she had spent years of her life advocating for victims.

“To victim survivors and those who represent them, as well as Greens supporters, I am sorry not to have bitten my tongue in this instance,” she said.

“I hope my record of advocacy and law reform over the past 14 years will ultimately speak for itself.”

Greens leader cops backlash over Depp comments, June 4

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor is facing a backlash after weighing into the debate around the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial, with advocates for victim-survivors of family violence voicing shock at her comments.

Ms O’Connor has taken to Twitter to air her views on the legal dispute between the Hollywood actors and former lovers, indicating her support for Mr Depp and belief that Ms Heard was not telling the truth about alleged abuse at the hands of the 59-year-old.

“Other than Heard’s say so there was no evidence presented to the jury that Depp was physically violent with Heard,” Ms O’Connor wrote in response to another Twitter user on Friday. “Multiple witnesses testified the exact opposite.”

Mr Depp sued Ms Heard for defamation after she wrote an article for the Washington Post in which she described herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse”. While Depp himself wasn’t named in the piece, he claimed it resulted in him losing work as an actor.

Cassy O'Connor, leader of the Greens. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Ms Heard, meanwhile, sued Mr Depp for comments his attorney made about her claims of abuse.

A jury found both Mr Depp and Ms Heard liable for defamation on Thursday, but awarded considerably more damages to Mr Depp.

In 2019, Mr Depp lost a libel trial in the UK, with a judge ruling that 12 of 14 of his alleged assaults on Ms Heard had been “proved to the civil standard”, but Ms O’Connor cast doubt on this decision in another social media post, saying the actor hadn’t been allowed to “present key evidence disputing Heard’s accusations”.

Several Twitter users suggested the Greens leader’s comments could discourage victim-survivors of abuse from coming forward and telling their stories.

A spokeswoman for Ms O’Connor said the Clark MP – who has a lengthy track record of advocating for victim-survivors – would not be providing further comment on the matter but stood by her statements.

FAIRFAX, VA – MAY 27: (NY & NJ NEWSPAPERS OUT) Johnny Depp gestures to fans during a recess outside court during the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard civil trial at Fairfax County Circuit Court on May 27, 2022 in Fairfax, Virginia. Depp is seeking $50 million in alleged damages to his career over an op-ed Heard wrote in the Washington Post in 2018. (Photo by Cliff Owen/Consolidated News Pictures/Getty Images)

Engender Equality policy and communications officer Elinor Heard said public commentary on the Depp-Heard case was “highly distressing” for those who had experienced family and intimate partner violence.

“It is really surprising that any politician or public commentator would feel the need to weigh in on a celebrity trial between American actors and millionaires and see that as an issue above and beyond the chronic crisis in family violence in our communities, which is playing out every day of the week,” she said.

Hobart barrister Greg Barns said Ms O’Connor was entitled to “express a view” on the case.

“Freedom of speech is important as is the right to express views about legal processes,” he said.

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Originally published as Greens Leader’s apology after Clementine Ford slams comments