Johnny Depp v Amber Heard trial: What is gaslighting and is it illegal in the UK?
The former married couple are currently suing each other in Virginia, United States.
It was sparked after Johnny Depp sued his ex-wife for defamation for $50m over an opinion piece she published in the Washington Post where she described herself as a survivor of domestic abuse.
Ms Heard counter sued and now a trial is taking place.
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Hide AdThe trial has attracted plenty of attention since it began in April.
Gawker reports that the “#justiceforjohnnydepp” hashtag on TikTok has over 1.1bn views.
A livestream of the trial continues to attract huge attention, with people commentating on the proceedings.
Among the many comments the term ‘gaslighting’ has been heavily used – and if you search ‘gaslighting Johnny Depp’ on YouTube it brings up a number of videos.
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Hide AdBut what exactly is gaslighting and is it illegal in the UK?
What is gaslighting?
Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation, where someone manipulates another person into doubting their own sanity.
Where does the name come from?
The name comes from the 1944 film Gaslight in which a young woman whose husband slowly manipulates her into believing that she is descending into insanity.
Is it illegal in the UK?
It is recognised as a criminal offence in the UK.