…in your summer wardrobe: Swimwear for every body.
…in your cup: Three ways to raise a glass to Pride Month.
They’re Not ‘Just Like Us'
Design: Camille Rapay | Photo: Getty Images
Depp v. Heard: The trial nobody could avoid is over. The conversations that it triggered about abuse, domestic violence, and #MeToo will continue. But let’s not make a movement of millions about two celebrities.
The Story
From every angle, the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial was a spectacle. And thanks to the live courtroom cameras — rare during trials centering on allegations of domestic abuse — every glance and gesture could be spliced, captioned, and shared on all corners of social media. Which, domestic violence orgs warn, could have a “chilling effect” on survivors.
Let’s talk about it...
We don’t have to tell you that Heard was vilified on social media. A staggering level of hate toward the actress, from men’s rights ‘activists’ and Depp’s fans, flooded TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter for weeks. And the virality was unrelenting. The Depp-Heard trial seemed to end largely in Depp’s favor. While the jury found defamation on both sides, Depp was awarded more money. Still, some experts have brought up inconsistencies in the verdict, and Heard plans to appeal. Regardless of what happens, damage has already been done.
Go on.
Reminder: The Depp-Heard trial was a pair of defamation lawsuits. It wasn't a criminal domestic violence case. But retaliation — even just the threat of it — has long been a textbook part of abusers’ playbooks, according to experts. Now, advocates worry that after watching the Depp-Heard trial, abuse survivors will be even more afraid to come forward publicly. Not just because they might not be believed. But because they fear being mocked, humiliated, and maligned. Even sued. Particularly if similar headline-making defamation cases move forward. See: Marilyn Manson suing Evan Rachel Wood. And Dave Portnoy suing Insider.
Yikes.
You said it. Some fear that the Depp-Heard trial could set a dangerous precedent for defamation cases. But others say survivors shouldn’t be deterred from speaking the truth (or reporting it to the authorities) because of one sensational celebrity case. Legally, defamation is defined as a person knowingly publishing or communicating lies about someone else to hurt their reputation (which can include social media). Though in reality, even when the accusations are true, an alleged abuser can still drag you into court. It’s just one more tool that abusers can wield. But survivors can also take abusers to court if they're accused of making things up.
theSkimm
The staggering fact is that 1 in 3 women — and 1 in 4 men — in the US experience domestic violence. Those numbers are almost certainly higher, since it’s estimated that nearly half of all incidents might go unreported, according to the DOJ. Remember: There are resources and laws in place to protect survivors. And the movement to speak out has come too far to start taking steps back.
Bookmark'd
The weekend means more time to do the things you love. For many of us, that’s reading. But we can’t Skimm it all for you. So instead, we’re giving you a look at the reads we’ve saved, texted, and emailed to our friends…
The Euphoria of Elliot Page…in his own words, the Oscar-nominated actor offers an intimate look into his life as one of the world’s most famous transgender men.
The Women of 'The Janes' Risked It All…a new documentary shines a light on the underground network of women who provided affordable and safe abortions in the days before Roe v. Wade.
Downtime
Design: theSkimm | Photo: Getty Images
Downtime doesn’t have to mean doing nothing. Here’s one idea for making the most of your weekend.
Summer is (unofficially) here. And after two years of pandemic-related postponements and delays, you might be ready to make up for lost time with an adventure far from home. It’s a trend that experts are describing as “revenge travel.” And to help make sure your revenge is sweet, here are travel itineraries for just about every interest. (Don't forget these smart travel accessories or flying essentials.)
Love to get lost in a great TV show? Consider a trip that’ll let you live out your favorite stories. You could attend a tea fit for Queen Charlotte in “Bridgerton.” You could traverse the Scottish Highlands à la lovestruck time travelers in “Outlander.” Or you could take a “Yellowstone”-inspired trip to, yes, Yellowstone.
More in tune with nature than TV? Try a birding excursion. Think: days filled with IDing wingspans and the calls of the wild (don’t forget your bins!) and nights spent sleeping in the trees. Or you could take a star trek to one of the country’s stellar Dark Sky Preserves.
Traveling during Pride Month? Visit the landmarks where LGBTQ+ history was made, either in the US or abroad. (If you’re staying stateside, make sure to support queer-owned businesses along the way.)
And if you consider meals to be the highlight of any trip, visit the best diners in every state, which are guaranteed to leave you feeling full. Ready, set, away you go!
PS: We answered your Qs about summer travel — from dealing with COVID-19 testing requirements, to whether flight and gas costs will go down, and more.
Eyes On: The 2022 Midterms
Design: theSkimm
The midterm elections have a big impact on the policies that affect our day-to-day lives. So we’re here to help you Skimm Your Ballot. And Skimm what’s going on next week…
There are some buzzy Senate (see: Iowa) and Gov (see: New Mexico) primaries this week. But most of the attention is on House races, thanks to newly redrawn congressional maps after redistricting. Like in…
California, where most of the House primaries have an incumbent Dem running for re-election. That’s part of what makes the state so appealing to the GOP, as it attempts to retake control of the House.
Iowa, due to redistricting, Republicans think they might have a chance to unseat the only Dem in the state’s congressional delegation.
Montana, which snagged a second House rep, after only having one for decades. Meaning, it doubled the size of its delegation. That change is expected to benefit Republicans, who seem likely to pick former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke as their nom.
New Jersey, where Dems flipped a few seats during the Trump presidency. But after a closer-than-expected gov race last year, some Republicans are looking at the state's House seats with fresh eyes. And using the primary to test how competitive some could be.
PS: The results of these elections are up to the voters. Click here to learn more about how to make your vote count.
Skimm Picks
1. What our readers kept adding to cart last month. From a bug-bite suction tool to a gorgeous sheath dress, here's everything that Skimm'rs (hey, that's you) were totally obsessed with.
2. Buzzy books to dive into this summer. There’s just something about a light breeze and sunshine that makes reading the perfect book all the more satisfying. Let's start turning pages.
3. The best sales to shop this week. Like Nordstrom's Half-Yearly Sale and an extra 50% off sale items at J.Crew. Our shopping carts are filled.
*PS: This is a sponsored post.
Skimm More
More Skimm, more knowledge. Here’s what else we covered this week…
PS: Want more events like this on your cal? theSkimm App gives you a heads-up on when everything from holidays to sports games to awards shows are going down. Download it here.
theSkimm Loyalty Program
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Psst...Triple the sign up points* ends soon. Sign up for theSkimm Loyalty Program between now and June 7th and 3x the points* are yours. Hello, fast-tracked rewards.
*Sign up promotion limited to new member enrollments occurring between May 23, 2022 and June 7, 2022. Contact loyalty@theSkimm.com for questions.
Skimm'd by Rasheeda Campbell, Xian Chiang-Waren, Melissa Goldberg, and Clem Robineau
