Netflix viewers left ‘disturbed’ after 'making the mistake' of watching documentary with sickening plot details
Topics: Documentaries, Louis Theroux, Netflix, Sky, True Crime
Kya Buller
Featured Image Credit: Netflix
Topics: Documentaries, Louis Theroux, Netflix, Sky, True Crime
Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault which some readers may find distressing.
A documentary executively produced by Louis Theroux and scooped up by Netflix has left viewers sick to their stomachs after sitting through the gruesome details.
The streaming giant is no stranger to delivering hard-hitting subjects to viewers.
In recent times we've had the startling watches The Asunta Case, What Jennifer Did and The Outreau Case: A French Nightmare to contend with.
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But many viewers are declaring that the latest addition as one of the most hard to watch of all time.
The documentary, directed by Nick August-Perna and exec-produced by Theroux, originally aired on Sky Documentaries before being added to Netflix in the US.
It's called Tell Them You Love Me, and you can watch the trailer below:
The documentary chronicles the incredibly chilling story of Anna Stubblefield and Derrick Johnson.
At the time of the shocking events, in 2009, Anna was a 39-year-old married white professor who offered to help Derrick, a 28-year-old non-verbal Black man with cerebral palsy, with his communication.
Ultimately, Anna went on to claim the two had fallen in love and had embarked upon a sexual relationship.
His mother, Daisy Johnson, was outraged.
Then came the struggle for justice.
Theroux noted to Netflix's Tudum: "I came to this story originally via a New York Times article, maybe 10 years ago, and I was riveted by it.
"It sat on the fault lines of so many big social questions — around race, sexuality, and, yes, disability.”
Tell Them You Love Me hears testimony from those at the centre of the sexual assault case: Stubblefield, Daisy Johnson, and Derrick's brother John, though notably not Derrick Johnson, who is unable to speak up for himself.
Dr Howard Shane uses his time on screen to note that Derrick had the mental capacity of a six- to 12-month-old child.
In 2015, Anna was eventually convicted of the sexual assault of Derrick and sentenced to 12 years - though she only served two after a successful appeal.
She was granted a new trial and pleaded guilty to third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact.
She was sentenced to time served, but placed on the sex offenders register for life and banned from contacting Derrick ever again.
In heartbreaking details, his mother Daisy Johnson stated in court that her son lacked the ability to partake in physical or emotional intimacy, adding that his capacity to communicate in the way that Anna claimed wouldn't have been possible without her manipulating his hands.
Anna's ex husband appears on screen to label her as a 'pathological liar and narcissist'.
People have not been able to hold back their reactions to the disturbing watch.
One person said: "This Tell Them You Love Me documentary on Netflix is so disturbing. I’m absolutely disgusted that y’all allowed this lady to sit up here and portray herself as a saviour… and she’s giddy while talking about her preying on a disabled young man! Disgusting."
Another added: "Made the mistake of watching Tell Them You Love Me on Netflix wow my mind is blown."
While a third said: "I’ve watched A LOT of documentaries but Tell Them You Love Me on Netflix was truly some of the sickest s**t I’ve ever seen."
Tell Them You Love Me is available to stream on Netflix in the US, and on Sky and NOW TV in the UK.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays.