Well, I guess it was bound to happen.
In these occasionally smaller featurette articles I pen titled "Because You Asked," I do try to address smaller issues -- related to genre but sometimes in lesser ways -- that might come across my desk. And because I'd recently addressed the issue involving Will Smith and Chris Rock at the Oscars (link) a casual fan wanted to know what I thought about the whole Johnny Depp and Amber Heard fiasco. We had a brief back-and-forth via email -- I needed to clarify why the reader thought this involved SciFi and/or Fantasy, and I wanted to make sure it was a legitimate query -- so I figured I'd put-up-or-shut-up a few words in this space.
To be as specific as possible, my take on the Smith/Rock affair really was trying to push back against what I felt was some weird politicizing of it. Ultimately, I felt that folks were using it to push an agenda about how Rock got what he deserved for delivering what may or may not have been an inappropriate joke, so I spoke up on that point. As to whether or not it was all deserved? Pffft. I don't know, and I don't care. I just didn't see it as an indictment regarding free speech, so I did my part to throw a monkey wrench into that dialogue.
Because these two actors do have a presence in genre entertainment (he in a whole lot of projects and her in the Aquaman franchise), I suppose it's legitimate to sound off ... but, again, I don't feel any major attachment to either of them for what they've done in any of their films. I realize that Depp has a following -- I think it's probably dipped somewhat over the years -- and perhaps he's deserving a bit of a respite from all of the bad publicity ... and, still, those things really don't involve me, you, or anyone else but Depp.
Don't get me wrong: I'm not saying he earned this. I feel for him and what he's going through.
This is the consequence of decisions he's made, at least in part. It's sad, yes, but they're private lives don't involve you or me, so I do try to leave those things out of what I cover on SciFiHistory.Net. I know other sites will dabble in this stuff -- I think they do so largely because it gives them clicks and whatnot -- but the most I do is the occasional barb thrown into the Daily Pages when I might dunk a bit on an actor for his politics or on an actress for a curious choice she's made. Their private lives? That's their stuff. That requires their attention. It neither involves nor interests me.
As a consequence, I really haven't followed this court case. Sure, I've read some headlines, and I listened to a few snippets of testimony that made the rounds on the Information Superhighway. It's funny, in some respects, and it's certainly salacious. But bad relationships have been a part and parcel of Hollywood and beyond since the dawn of Man, so I take it all in with a grain of salt.
I suppose -- if I had to express an opinion -- I'd conclude that both of them made some bad decisions, both of them reacted poorly, and both of them probably have a bit of shame of their faces over this coming out publicly the way it did. While it's no tragedy, per se, I do think that we as a society could spend our time on vastly more interesting things -- I'm not sure what lessons can be learned from all of their dirty laundry (including the crap-stained pillows) except to say that whom you love is an important decision, kids.
Wouldn't we be much better off reading a book than following this travesty?
And, no, I'm not talking about the inevitable novelization of the entire trial ...
It is what it is. I'd say more about it, if I really cared that much.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
-- EZ
In these occasionally smaller featurette articles I pen titled "Because You Asked," I do try to address smaller issues -- related to genre but sometimes in lesser ways -- that might come across my desk. And because I'd recently addressed the issue involving Will Smith and Chris Rock at the Oscars (link) a casual fan wanted to know what I thought about the whole Johnny Depp and Amber Heard fiasco. We had a brief back-and-forth via email -- I needed to clarify why the reader thought this involved SciFi and/or Fantasy, and I wanted to make sure it was a legitimate query -- so I figured I'd put-up-or-shut-up a few words in this space.
To be as specific as possible, my take on the Smith/Rock affair really was trying to push back against what I felt was some weird politicizing of it. Ultimately, I felt that folks were using it to push an agenda about how Rock got what he deserved for delivering what may or may not have been an inappropriate joke, so I spoke up on that point. As to whether or not it was all deserved? Pffft. I don't know, and I don't care. I just didn't see it as an indictment regarding free speech, so I did my part to throw a monkey wrench into that dialogue.
Because these two actors do have a presence in genre entertainment (he in a whole lot of projects and her in the Aquaman franchise), I suppose it's legitimate to sound off ... but, again, I don't feel any major attachment to either of them for what they've done in any of their films. I realize that Depp has a following -- I think it's probably dipped somewhat over the years -- and perhaps he's deserving a bit of a respite from all of the bad publicity ... and, still, those things really don't involve me, you, or anyone else but Depp.
Don't get me wrong: I'm not saying he earned this. I feel for him and what he's going through.
This is the consequence of decisions he's made, at least in part. It's sad, yes, but they're private lives don't involve you or me, so I do try to leave those things out of what I cover on SciFiHistory.Net. I know other sites will dabble in this stuff -- I think they do so largely because it gives them clicks and whatnot -- but the most I do is the occasional barb thrown into the Daily Pages when I might dunk a bit on an actor for his politics or on an actress for a curious choice she's made. Their private lives? That's their stuff. That requires their attention. It neither involves nor interests me.
As a consequence, I really haven't followed this court case. Sure, I've read some headlines, and I listened to a few snippets of testimony that made the rounds on the Information Superhighway. It's funny, in some respects, and it's certainly salacious. But bad relationships have been a part and parcel of Hollywood and beyond since the dawn of Man, so I take it all in with a grain of salt.
I suppose -- if I had to express an opinion -- I'd conclude that both of them made some bad decisions, both of them reacted poorly, and both of them probably have a bit of shame of their faces over this coming out publicly the way it did. While it's no tragedy, per se, I do think that we as a society could spend our time on vastly more interesting things -- I'm not sure what lessons can be learned from all of their dirty laundry (including the crap-stained pillows) except to say that whom you love is an important decision, kids.
Wouldn't we be much better off reading a book than following this travesty?
And, no, I'm not talking about the inevitable novelization of the entire trial ...
It is what it is. I'd say more about it, if I really cared that much.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
-- EZ
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