TikTok star Reesa Teesa opens up on marriage gone awry
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
- ๐ฎ Teresa Johnson's TikTok series detailing her marriage and subsequent divorce from a man she calls 'Legion' went viral, amassing over 400 million views.
- ๐ฉ Throughout their whirlwind romance, Johnson ignored multiple 'red flags' about Legion's truthfulness, driven by her desire for love and marriage.
- ๐ธ Legion allegedly made false promises of buying Johnson luxurious items like a car, house, and a trip to London, but never followed through.
- ๐ 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.
- ๐ต๏ธโโ๏ธ After their marriage, Johnson discovered that Legion had a criminal record for impersonating a police officer and an open warrant for violating probation.
- ๐คฅ Legion has refuted Johnson's claims, denying financial lies and alleging that their relationship ended due to Johnson's affair.
- ๐ฉโโ๏ธ Johnson acknowledges her accountability in ignoring the red flags and her desire to be loved and married, but has sought therapy for healing.
- โ๏ธ Despite the heartbreak, Johnson plans to take herself on her long-awaited trip to London later this year.
- ๐โโ๏ธ Johnson's honesty and accountability in sharing her story have resonated with millions, striking a chord with those who have faced similar deceptions.
- ๐ 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
๐ฑ 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.
๐ 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
๐กViral TikTok Series
๐กPathological Liar
๐กPandemic Romance
๐กRed Flags
๐กAccountability
๐กCatharsis
๐กImpersonating a Police Officer
๐กHealing and Self-reflection
๐กSocial Media Impact
๐กDivorce
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.
Transcripts
now to an ABC News exclusive an
interview with the woman behind it in
incredibly viral Tik Tok video series
that Robin you had a chance to sit down
with her boy does she have a story to
tell Michael 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 we're not naming the man
involved we're using the nickname she
gave him in the videos
Legion with just one question she had
the internet HED
who did I marry in her 50p part Tik Tock
series Teresa Johnson now widely known
on social media as Risa Tissa details
her Whirlwind pandemic romance that she
says was filled with love heartbreak and
alleged deception I'm going to tell the
story of how I met dated married and
divorce a real pathological liar the
viral Saga has garnered more than 400
million views and Counting were you
nervous at all about sharing yes I was
nervous but ultimately I decided if
you're going to tell this story tell the
whole story I also really truly believe
the story will help somebody it cost you
nothing to
verify but it very well may cost you
everything to not verify the narrative
spread out over an8 hourong Tik Tok
playlist part one how'd yall meet so we
actually met on Facebook dating and we
also matched on hinge um I did not
realize that he was on both um under two
different names there are a lot of
things in this story that were red flags
this was probably one of them but we
thought it was hilarious that we matched
on two different sites this was a guy
who I really after having multiple
conversations with felt like wow you
know where have you been within two
weeks she says the couple decided to
quarantine together in her Atlanta home
it was more of a very temporary he's
coming to stay for the lockdown the
lockdown just never ended Teresa says
Legion told her he had substantial
savings from his time playing arena
football and quickly took over paying
her household bills part of the reason
that you stayed was there anything to do
with the fact that he said he had money
or you thought that he had money I
definitely was not with him for the
money but I will admit that there came a
point he was paying all the bills and he
was being as he called a provider and I
had never in my life experienced that
before I really felt like oh thank you
Jesus like I can just exhale yes that
felt good Teresa also says he made
promises to buy her things including a
luxury car a house and a trip to London
what were you thinking when he was
making all of these these promises and
were and when they weren't happening
we're touring houses I physically saw
him put an offer in on a house it is
unfathomable to see someone put an offer
in and they have no money so my mind was
kind of saying okay something isn't
right but you know what you saw the trip
to London he never actually booked it
anyone that knows me will tell you that
she's wanted to go to London since she
was a little kid so that one that was
difficult because
you're you're playing with me in the
series Teresa explains why she
continuously chose to overlook what she
calls the United Nations of red flags
there's something that you said I really
want to I want to get it here a quote
here number one I didn't I don't want to
be alone number two two I didn't want to
look
stupid um by having the relationship end
so quickly for everyone to be like we
told you something was up um
and number three I was ready to get
married I felt like time was running out
I ignored things because I really wanted
it to be my turn you get pregnant and
unfortunately you you lose the baby that
is where I say the relationship should
have ended instead the miscarriage
almost pushed me to hold on to him even
more Teresa claims after they got
married she started uncovering an
elaborate Web of Lies I got married
January
5th by January
31st I knew I was in trouble the
question isn't what all did he lie about
the question definitely became okay what
is actually true what can you prove
every I love you was a lie every I got
you was a lie that does something to you
mentally what was the most painful point
the part that still makes
me that I struggle with is you pretended
to be your own executive assistant when
I was texting you to say I'm in preop so
there was never an executive assistant
you were never in a meeting you just
simply did not take me to the hospital
when I lost our child Teresa says she
discovered he had a criminal record
documents revealing Legion pled guilty
to charges of impersonating a police
officer in 2017 and even had an open
warrant for violating probation after
just 6 months of marriage Teresa and
Legion divorced it was as
if a huge a year worth of weight came
off of me I broke down and I mean I
wailed I heard you say
that you're not who you were before all
this happened do you miss her I do I
do she got
excited I don't really get excited
anymore I am terrified to get excited
because I went through a whole year and
some change of getting excited only for
it to be stripped away I do still
believe in love I do still believe in
marriage I do still want that being
single is not always a great thing but
being married to the wrong person is a
completely different type of hell why do
you think this you your story has
resonated with so many people I do think
being
accountable people appreciate that
there's I have nothing wrong with asking
for Grace if I'm going to be honest and
say this is where I messed up I know I
messed up I'm going to be honest I
really had to kind of repent like I had
to really ask God to forgive me because
I believe that God did everything to
stop me and my hardhead itself was still
like that's not a red flag that's more
pink that was more pink m you know
Teresa says even though recording the
series was cathartic therapy has been
key it is still very much a journey of
healing
self-reflection and simply loving myself
way more than to put myself through that
or anything even like that ever
again
ever we reached out to Legion on several
occasions he declined to respond but he
took to social media refuted the claims
by Teresa including denying that he had
Financial Wes 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
over 400 million views and Counting she
she has really struck a cord with women
and men who have shared similar stories
and part of it is her her accountability
yeah in all of this in honesty I wanted
to be loved I wanted to get married I
thought it was my time you can
understand all those thing yeah and you
know the thing is she's taking herself
to London she is she said she is taking
herself to London later this year I
thought you going pop out with a GMA
giveaway we going to
take I'll beave guess it's going to
happen in what do you mean you're going
to behave you already
misbehaving well hey there GMA fans
Robin Roberts here thanks for checking
out our YouTube channel lots of great
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