Cornell Gang Rape Scandal
Could Face Depp & Heard Jury Trouble
The alleged Cornell gang rape case could face the same problem that hung over Johnny Depp and Amber Heard … millions of people making up their minds before a jury ever does.
Journalism professor Jeffrey Blevins joined us on “TMZ Live” Tuesday and said the social media frenzy surrounding the case could make finding a truly unbiased jury a major challenge.
Blevins, who teaches at the University of Cincinnati, says traditional media tends to stick closer to the legal questions — things like New York law, intoxication and consent — while social media is far more personal and emotional.
And both sides are taking heat online … he points out some of the men accused in the lawsuit — and even their parents — have been doxxed … while some folks are trying to identify the Jane Doe behind the claims.
Blevins says that kind of online warfare reminds him of the Depp-Heard trial, where social media became a massive part of the conversation and, in his view, may have influenced how people approached the case.
He says the Cornell case could follow a similar path … with people filtering the allegations through their own experiences and deciding what they believe long before a jury ever hears evidence.
The Depp-Heard defamation trial lasted six weeks, and a seven-person jury in Virginia found that she defamed him and awarded him more than $10 million in damages. The jury also awarded her $2 million in damages, finding she was defamed by one of his lawyers.
Check out the full interview on “TMZ Live” … Blevins explains why the court of public opinion may end up making a real courtroom a whole lot more complicated for the Cornell scandal.
Source link
