The trial between Hollywood stars Johnny Depp and Amber Heard is currently the biggest trend on Twitch. Streamers and viewers react simultaneously, turning an emotionally charged legal process into a mega-event. What’s behind it will be revealed here.
In 2021, Twitch saw a surge of mega-trends that largely moved away from gaming:
- So-called “Hot Tub Streams” featuring scantily clad female streamers in hot tubs were so popular that Amouranth became the most popular streamer on the platform.
- Thanks to Amouranth, ASMR streams became a gigantic trend. Whispering into or licking a microphone was perceived as pleasant by viewers, but there was also a significant erotic component.
- Live reactions to cooking shows with Gordon Ramsay were then the next Twitch trend for a while. That’s why the title image of this article features a cardboard cutout of the celebrity chef behind Pokimane.
The big MMO streamer Asmongold stated in December 2021 that this “react content” will be the future of Twitch. In the latest of its kind, he is also actively participating.
Streamers React to the Trial
What is the new trend? Twitch is currently dominated by streamers like Asmongold, Pokimane, or Hasanabi, who watch the TV broadcast of the trial between Hollywood stars Johnny Depp and Amber Heard and react to it live.
These streams attract thousands of viewers, and the homepage of Twitch as well as the most popular categories are dominated by the topic. Many viral clips are also created as a result.
On Reddit and YouTube, a clip of Asmongold is currently going viral, in which he reacts to a brief glance at Amber Heard’s camera and analyzes it. He wants to find out whether her crying is acted:
What makes the streams so popular? The appeal of this format largely lies in the fact that well-known faces from Hollywood and Twitch are confronted with a very dramatic and controversial topic.
Since both the broadcast of the trial and the reactions of the streamers are live, the reactions and emotions feel all the more genuine. Viewers can also react in the chat, feeling like part of a community similar to a local pub.
Furthermore, the trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard is a very emotionally charged topic, both for those involved and for many viewers and fans. Strong opinions, controversial moments, and dramatic stories arise – both in the courtroom and in front of the viewers’ screens.
The live broadcasts of the trial are especially popular in the USA, but are also a hit on social media platforms like TikTok.
On Twitch, this trial takes on new dimensions with the react format, becoming a very special spectacle for the streamers and viewers. Pokimane, for example, graphically tracks how often Heard cried during the trial or how often Depp had to grin or even laugh.
Trial Depp v Heard – Background Information
The trial Depp v Heard, which has been ongoing since April 11, is complex and difficult. It actually revolves around an allegedly defamatory newspaper article, but it primarily concerns the question of who abused whom in the relationship between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.
Johnny Depp is one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces thanks to a illustrious acting career in films like Pirates of the Caribbean and being a two-time titleholder of “Sexiest Man Alive”. Amber Heard also has a respectable Hollywood career with films like Magic Mike XXL or Aquaman, but she is not as well-known as Depp.
The two actors had a relationship that began in 2012. They married in 2015, but Heard filed for divorce in 2016 and requested a restraining order against Depp.
The trial over nearly 48 million Euros seeks to clarify what happened at that time and since then. It also includes many dramatic and traumatic descriptions of domestic violence with physical and sexual dimensions, as well as alcohol and drug abuse.
– A current report from Associated Press
– A current evaluation from ZDF Heute
– A current news article from the Süddeutsche Zeitung
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The trial Depp v Heard will take a short break starting May 9, but is scheduled to continue on May 16 and end on May 27.
The topic of sexism is a generally significant one on Twitch. Just recently, a female streamer publicly called out a viewer for a sexist comment:
Twitch streamer reprimands viewer for sexist comment – “You are simply unbearable”
