Time - INT (2022-05-23)

11

“The phenomenon of West Elm Caleb
wasn’t just that a few girls posted
about their experiences with him. It
was the snowballing of those posts,
then posts about it, then memes, then
meta memes about the memes, then
articles and discourse off the app,”
says Richards. “The thing spirals into
a massive cultural moment.”
That’s happening around this trial
too. Users are exchanging pet theories
about someone who looks like Heard’s
attorney, Elaine Bredehoft, appear-
ing in the crowd at an event for Depp’s
2013 movie The Lone Ranger. A video
outlining the theory has been viewed
millions of times.
The scale of content is understand-
able, says Carroll. “When a celebrity is
involved in a controversy—regardless
of whether something is alleged or
proven—our modern social media
sphere means there’s immediately an
immense pressure to renounce any af-
fection you ever held for them,” she
says. Yet as we’re seeing, many are
instead choosing to double down on
their love of Depp, convinced that the
course of the trial will demonstrate
their favorite actor’s innocence. 

Depp testifies

in April at the

Fairfax County

Circuit Courthouse

in Fairfax, Va.

NEWS TICKER

he would reverse the

permanent suspension

of former President

Donald Trump’s

account,

Emergent

Biosolutions

concealed evidence

from inspectors

died after apparently

shooting herself

GOOD QUESTION

What’s behind the baby-

formula shortage?

PARENTS ACROSS THE U.S. ARE SCOUR-

ing the internet and crossing state lines to

get their hands on baby formula, as a na-

tional shortage has major retailers putting

limits on the amount customers can buy.

The crisis has worsened over the past

few weeks, with 40% of popular formula

brands sold out in late April, according

to an analysis by Datasembly. More than

half of formula products were completely

sold out in several states, including

Texas—and images shared online showed

empty formula aisles across the country.

Some eBay listings for infant formula

were priced almost double normal retail

costs. Specialty formulas for babies with

allergies or special medical needs were

even harder to find.

There’s no one reason for the shortage—

showing that even the most essential items

can fall through the cracks of strained

global supply chains. Supply chain issues

resulting from COVID-19, increased de-

mand following the easing of pandemic

restrictions, the war in Ukraine, and insuf-

ficient supplies of some commodities have

all contributed, experts say. Panic buying

further reduced stocks.

But the problem was exacerbated

when Abbott Laboratories—producer

of top U.S. brand Similac—shut a major

factory in Michigan and issued recalls in

February over contamination concerns.

According to the Food and Drug Admin-

istration, four babies got sick, including

two who died, after being fed formula

from the factory. In March the FDA pub-

lished preliminary findings that Abbott

had failed to maintain sanitary condi-

tions. However, Abbott says a separate

FDA investigation found no traces of the

bacteria linked to the illnesses in its for-

mula. The company is the main supplier

for families on state benefits.

Abbott says it is working with the

FDA to reopen its Michigan plant, while

increasing shipments from its factory

in Ireland. But despite the fact that

Reckitt, the maker of the second largest

formula brand, already shipped 30%

more product than usual in the first three

months of 2022, the shortage remains.

—ELOISE BARRY