The Amber Heard vs. Johnny Depp meme template emerged during the high-profile 2022 defamation trial, capturing the intense public scrutiny and polar opposite emotional displays of the two celebrities. Users often utilize these images to contrast genuine reactions with staged or overly dramatic ones, or to satirize the media circus surrounding the legal battle. The template gained massive traction on TikTok and Reddit, becoming a go-to format for comparing contrasting perspectives on various real-life situations beyond the courtroom, often highlighting the difference between perception and reality.