STOP FALSE ALLEGATIONS

Johnny Depp (above left) was falsely accused of domestic violence by Amber Heard in a 2018 Washington Post editorial. As a result, Depp was forced to resign from his high-profile acting roles. After Depp filed a defamation lawsuit, a jury reached a unanimous decision in 2022, and Heard was forced to pay Depp $1 million for her false accusations.

A false allegation is an accusation that is made in bad faith with the intention of harming the accused person. False allegations are a severe form of domestic abuse that can harm a person’s mental health, damage one’s social standing and career, and even lead to a wrongful conviction. An Ipsos poll conducted in 30 countries found that 55% of persons believe that women who are say they are abused often make up or exaggerate claims of abuse.

Indeed, some feminists openly endorse the use of false allegations. Teen Vogue columnist Emily Lindin once announced, “If some innocent men’s reputations have to take a hit in the process of undoing the patriarchy, that is a price I am absolutely willing to pay.” Of course, the person who pays the price is the person who was wrongfully accused.

To curb the growth of false allegations, lawmakers need to make these changes:

Renounce so-called “believe the victim” and “trauma-informed” investigations, which bias the investigation and remove the presumption of innocence.
Require hard evidence, not a mere accusation, as proof of abuse.
Increase penalties for false accusers. Examples from the United States:
- Alabama: HB 52
- Iowa: HF 821
- New York: “Anti-Karen” law SB 8492
- California State University: Article VI, Notice of Allegations, I

International Falsely Accused Day

Victoria Villarruel, Vice President of Argentina, endorsed the observance, saying:

International Falsely Accused Day is “a day that serves to reflect on the damage that radical feminism did in our society….” In Argentina, false complaints are made “without consequences for lying, breaking the principle of equality before the law, of innocence and defense, destroying the ties of thousands of families, and mainly many parents who can’t see their children. A justice inclined to the ideologies that continue to destroy our country cannot continue to be an option, let us no longer be witnesses of injustice and remain complicit in the degradation of Argentine families.”

Falsely Accused Day was first observed in 2021 in the United Kingdom. The September 9^th date was selected to honor Simon Warr on what would have been his birthday. Warr had been falsely accused of child abuse and passed away in 2020. The accusation is believed to contributed to his demise.

In subsequent years, Falsely Accused Day became an international event: