There is no actual indication that this is some sort of cultural watershed moment where women are suddenly being believed. The vilification she is enduring for daring to say bad things about him speaks directly and squarely to the complete opposite being true. Depp has decades of behaving erratically and being well known to have both a temper and substance abuse issues. If studios dropped him after Heard's Op-ed it's because they had direct personal experience with him and those things - not because a lone woman suddenly has any significant power. Again - Hollywood is not known for it's ethics and great compassion for women and it's completely naive to imagine they have suddenly gained those things if that was contrary to their own interests.

And it seems unlikely they will want to want to work with him after this - even if he wins - and not because Hollywood actual cares about abuse.

There's ample recording of Depp behaving abusively towards Heard. Physical abuse isn't the only sort that counts. She didn't mention his name in the Op-Ed so there's really not much of a case to say that she defamed him. If everyone assumes it was him, it's because they already know about how much the shoe fits. This whole defamation suit is just damage control.

I find it really amazing how you presume to know what Depp's motivations are, but whatever, I'll bite. Off to read that piece.