TikTok star Reesa Teesa opens up on marriage gone awry

Good Morning America

4 Mar 202408:40

Summary

TLDRIn an ABC News exclusive, Robin interviews Teresa Johnson, who became a sensation on TikTok by sharing her story of marrying and divorcing a man she labels a pathological liar, nicknamed 'Legion'. Teresa's videos, which amassed over 400 million views, narrate her whirlwind pandemic romance filled with promises, deception, and heartbreak. Despite initially relishing the financial stability Legion offered, Teresa soon uncovered a web of lies, including his criminal past. The saga highlights Teresa's journey of self-reflection and healing, emphasizing the importance of truth and accountability in relationships. Despite the ordeal, Teresa remains hopeful about love and plans to fulfill her dream of visiting London.

Takeaways

😮 Teresa Johnson's TikTok series detailing her marriage and subsequent divorce from a man she calls 'Legion' went viral, amassing over 400 million views.
🚩 Throughout their whirlwind romance, Johnson ignored multiple 'red flags' about Legion's truthfulness, driven by her desire for love and marriage.
💸 Legion allegedly made false promises of buying Johnson luxurious items like a car, house, and a trip to London, but never followed through.
💔 The most painful moment for Johnson was when Legion pretended to be his own assistant and didn't take her to the hospital when she miscarried their child.
🕵️‍♀️ After their marriage, Johnson discovered that Legion had a criminal record for impersonating a police officer and an open warrant for violating probation.
🤥 Legion has refuted Johnson's claims, denying financial lies and alleging that their relationship ended due to Johnson's affair.
👩‍⚖️ Johnson acknowledges her accountability in ignoring the red flags and her desire to be loved and married, but has sought therapy for healing.
✈️ Despite the heartbreak, Johnson plans to take herself on her long-awaited trip to London later this year.
🙋‍♀️ Johnson's honesty and accountability in sharing her story have resonated with millions, striking a chord with those who have faced similar deceptions.
🌟 The viral series highlights the importance of verifying information and not ignoring red flags in relationships, even when driven by understandable human desires.

Q & A

What is the main subject of Teresa Johnson's TikTok series?
-The main subject is Teresa Johnson's experience of falling in love, marrying, and then divorcing a man she describes as a pathological liar.
How many views has Teresa Johnson's TikTok series garnered?
-The series has garnered more than 400 million views.
Why did Teresa Johnson choose to share her story on social media?
-She was initially nervous but decided to share her story believing that it could help someone else.
How did Teresa Johnson and 'Legion' first meet?
-They met on Facebook dating and also matched on Hinge under two different names.
What significant actions did 'Legion' take during his relationship with Teresa?
-'Legion' took over paying Teresa's household bills, made promises of buying luxury items, and even put an offer on a house despite allegedly having no money.
What were the 'United Nations of red flags' that Teresa Johnson ignored?
-She ignored multiple warning signs and discrepancies in 'Legion's' stories and behavior because she did not want to be alone, did not want to appear foolish, and was eager to get married.
What was the most painful point of deception for Teresa?
-The most painful deception was when 'Legion' pretended to be his own executive assistant and failed to take her to the hospital when she lost their child.
What legal issues did 'Legion' have?
-He had a criminal record, had pled guilty to impersonating a police officer in 2017, and had an open warrant for violating probation.
How has Teresa Johnson's life changed after her experience with 'Legion'?
-She has become less excited and more cautious in life, feeling a significant shift from her former self due to the traumatic experiences.
What does Teresa Johnson attribute to her healing process after the divorce?
-Recording the series was cathartic, but she emphasizes that therapy has been key in her journey of healing, self-reflection, and learning to love herself more.
How did 'Legion' respond to Teresa Johnson's claims?
-He declined to respond to several outreach attempts but refuted the claims on social media, denying financial woes and alleging that Teresa had an affair.

Outlines

00:00

📱 Viral Saga of Love, Deception, and Heartbreak

ABC News features an exclusive interview with Teresa Johnson, who became viral on TikTok for sharing her story of marrying and divorcing a man she labels a pathological liar, known in her series as 'Legion'. Teresa's story, which has amassed over 400 million views, unfolds her whirlwind pandemic romance filled with love, heartbreak, and deception. She recounts how they met on dating sites, the red flags she ignored, and the false promises he made, including financial stability and lavish gifts. Despite the lies, Teresa shared her story to help others, emphasizing the importance of verification in relationships. Her narrative extends to the elaborate web of lies she uncovered post-marriage, leading to their divorce within six months.

05:02

💔 Journey Through Deception to Self-Discovery

The continuation of Teresa Johnson's story delves into the emotional aftermath of her marriage to 'Legion'. Teresa discovered his criminal past and the extent of his deception, including pretending to be his own executive assistant. The emotional toll of the miscarriage and the eventual divorce led Teresa to a profound self-reflection and healing process. Despite the pain, she still believes in love and marriage. Teresa emphasizes accountability and self-love, which resonated with millions, and shares her plans to fulfill her dream of visiting London independently. Her story strikes a chord with many, highlighting the importance of honesty and accountability in overcoming personal trials.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Viral TikTok Series

A viral TikTok series refers to content that rapidly gains popularity and spreads across the TikTok platform, often resulting in millions of views, shares, and comments. In the context of the video, Teresa Johnson's series about her experience with a pathological liar, dubbed 'Legion,' became incredibly viral, amassing over 400 million views. This illustrates the power of social media to broadcast personal stories to a wide audience, creating a shared experience among viewers who resonate with the narrative.

💡Pathological Liar

A pathological liar is someone who lies compulsively and habitually, often for no apparent reason. In the video, the man Teresa married, referred to as 'Legion,' is described as a pathological liar. This condition is central to the story, as it details how his continuous lying impacted their relationship, leading to its eventual downfall. The concept underscores the challenges and emotional turmoil faced by those in close relationships with pathological liars.

💡Pandemic Romance

Pandemic romance refers to relationships that started or developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time characterized by lockdowns and social distancing measures. The video mentions Teresa's 'whirlwind pandemic romance' with 'Legion,' highlighting the unique circumstances under which their relationship blossomed. This context is significant because the pandemic created unusual living situations, such as deciding to quarantine together early in their relationship, which intensified their connection in a short period.

💡Red Flags

Red flags in the context of relationships refer to warning signs or indicators that something might be wrong. In the video, Teresa mentions ignoring what she calls 'the United Nations of red flags' during her relationship with 'Legion.' These included his lies about his financial status and past, as well as his erratic behavior. This term illustrates the hindsight recognition of warning signs that were overlooked in the hope of the relationship being true and lasting.

💡Accountability

Accountability in this context refers to Teresa's willingness to acknowledge her own part in the relationship's dynamics and the series of decisions that led to its eventual end. She discusses being accountable for overlooking red flags and making excuses for 'Legion's' behavior. This theme is crucial as it shows personal growth and the importance of self-reflection in healing from toxic relationships.

💡Catharsis

Catharsis refers to the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions. Teresa found recording her TikTok series to be cathartic, helping her process and articulate her feelings about her tumultuous relationship. This concept is essential in understanding how sharing one's story publicly can serve as a form of therapy, helping both the storyteller and the audience heal through shared experiences.

💡Impersonating a Police Officer

Impersonating a police officer is a criminal offense involving pretending to be a law enforcement official. In the video, it's revealed that 'Legion' had a criminal record, including a guilty plea for this charge. This fact serves as a significant revelation in Teresa's journey of uncovering the truth about who she married, illustrating the depth of his deception and the legal ramifications of his actions.

💡Healing and Self-reflection

Healing and self-reflection refer to the processes of recovering from emotional trauma and taking time to understand oneself better. Teresa emphasizes these as key aspects of moving forward after her divorce from 'Legion.' This theme highlights the importance of self-care and introspection following the end of a relationship, especially one marked by deceit and manipulation.

💡Social Media Impact

The impact of social media is demonstrated by the widespread attention Teresa's story received on TikTok. This term reflects the role of platforms like TikTok in facilitating the sharing of personal stories with a global audience, leading to a communal discussion of shared experiences and offering support to those in similar situations.

💡Divorce

Divorce is the legal dissolution of a marriage. In the video, Teresa's decision to divorce 'Legion' after discovering the extent of his lies and criminal behavior marks a pivotal moment in her story. It symbolizes the end of a traumatic chapter and the beginning of her journey towards healing and self-discovery. This term contextualizes the legal and emotional processes involved in ending a marriage, especially one fraught with deception.

Highlights

Teresa Johnson's story of falling in love, marrying, and then divorcing a man she says turned out to be a pathological liar has over 400 million views on TikTok.

Teresa Johnson, known as Risa Tissa on social media, details her whirlwind pandemic romance that she says was filled with love, heartbreak, and alleged deception in a 50-part TikTok series.

Teresa and the man she calls 'Legion' met on Facebook dating and Hinge, which was one of the red flags.

Within two weeks, they decided to quarantine together in Teresa's Atlanta home during the pandemic lockdown.

Legion claimed to have substantial savings from his time playing arena football and took over paying Teresa's household bills.

Legion made promises to buy Teresa things like a luxury car, a house, and a trip to London, but most of them never materialized.

Teresa ignored red flags because she didn't want to be alone, didn't want to look stupid for the relationship ending quickly, and felt that time was running out for her to get married.

Teresa got pregnant but unfortunately suffered a miscarriage, which should have been the end of the relationship but instead made her hold on to Legion even more.

After getting married, Teresa started uncovering an elaborate web of lies from Legion, including that he had a criminal record for impersonating a police officer.

The most painful part for Teresa was when Legion pretended to be his own executive assistant and didn't take her to the hospital when she lost their child.

After just 6 months of marriage, Teresa and Legion divorced, and she felt a huge weight lifted off her.

Teresa believes her story has resonated with so many people because she is being accountable and honest about where she messed up.

Despite the pain, Teresa still believes in love and marriage but says being married to the wrong person is a completely different type of hell.

Teresa says therapy has been key in her journey of healing, self-reflection, and learning to love herself more.

Legion has refuted Teresa's claims, denying financial lies and saying the relationship ended because Teresa allegedly had an affair. He maintains that her story is only being posted now because he's in another relationship.