Hollywood Vampires: Feeding the Celebrity Exploitation Machine

What happens when justice goes viral? When the courtroom becomes content? And when the story isn't just about two celebrities, but about us?

In this episode of Up+Adam, Adam Montiel welcomes journalist and documentarian Makiko Wholey, co-author of Hollywood Vampires: Johnny Depp, Amber Heard, and the Celebrity Exploitation Machine. Makiko takes us behind the scenes of one of the most chaotic, consequential trials in modern celebrity history, revealing what most of us missed while we were scrolling. From overnight fan campouts in Fairfax to the quiet conversations that never made it to YouTube, Makiko unpacks the cultural spectacle, the flaws in our fandom, and why Amber Heard became the symbol of a movement turned inside out.

We explore the power of performance, the danger of viral storytelling, and what this story teaches us about truth in the digital age. Buckle up — it’s raw, real, and unmissable.

• Buy the book:

Hollywood Vampires: Johnny Depp, Amber Heard, and the Celebrity Exploitation Machine



• Follow Makiko Wholey:

Instagram: @markeck0

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