She went public with domestic violence allegations. It's making a huge impact.
She went public with domestic violence allegations. It's making a huge impact.
Kayla Malec posted a 15-second TikTok clip outside the Sumner County courthouse in Tennessee on Wednesday, May 7, announcing that she won her domestic assault case against her ex-boyfriend Evan Johnson.
'I WON,' the influencer wrote over a video of her singing the lyrics to Kanye West's song 'Jail,' mouthing 'Guess who's going to jail tonight.' 'I'M SOBBING. FOR US. WE DID IT. WE DID IT,' she continued in the caption.
Fans of Malec were closely following the case after the 20-year-old in April shared she was in an abusive relationship. The move to go public about the abuse she experienced sends a powerful signal to young women and resonated with her audience. The video had more than 1.7 million likes within an hour of its upload and has since been viewed more than 85 million times. Thousands of commenters added their support on the video.
'All of the girls who never got justice for their abusers are sobbing while we clap so loudly for you,' one TikToker commented. Singer Jacob Sartorius added, 'KAYLA YOU DID IT!!!!!!!!! I AM SO PROUD OF YOU,' followed by a stream of red heart emojis. Even pop star Kesha said, 'I'm so proud of you. A win for one is a win for all of us.'
'And just like that, justice was served,' Malec said in a second video. 'I'm like really happy right now.'
Malec did not respond to request for comment.
Johnson, also an influencer, was sentenced to 18 months in jail for a DUI and violation of probation followed by 11 months and 29 days of probation for a domestic assault charge, according to the The Sumner County Sheriff's Office. The sentence followed Johnson's arrest on April 6; he was released on bail the same day. Court records confirmed Kayla Malec was listed as the victim.
Malec's videos on the court case and what she experienced help young women and all survivors open up a conversation about domestic violence, says Melvin Williams, associate professor of communication and media studies at Pace University.
'When a celebrity discloses abusive experiences of any kind, floodgates gush as fellow survivors enhance the celebrity's public conversations with their own stories, complex perspectives and healing resources,' Williams says.
What did Kayla Malec share about domestic violence?
At the beginning of April, Kayla Malec revealed in two YouTube videos titled 'he doesn't love you' that she was part of an abusive relationship over the course of nine months. Across the two videos that spanned four hours, she alleged her ex-boyfriend, who she identified only as Evan, tried to kill her multiple times. The post included videos recorded in real time during the physical and emotional abuse
'I will never be able to forget the scars left. i will never be the same girl i was before this. the same man who will look you in the eyes and say 'i love you' & then attempt to kill you is an experience i hope nobody ever has to live,' Malec wrote on a note posted to her Instagram and TikTok directing her followers to the YouTube video.
Malec was first linked to Johnson after the pair met via a friend in May 2024, while he lived in Tennessee and she in California. She claimed in the YouTube video that he first abused her in August, which continued through January of 2025.
'This is probably one of the hardest things I've had to talk about in my life,' she shared in the first video, where she explained she wanted to talk about what she experienced to prevent other women from going through the same thing. 'At the end of the day this isn't about me, this is such a bigger picture to what millions of women go through.'
'I can't express how much a video like this would have saved me,' she added. 'If I would have stayed in this situation, I would have died.'
Intimate partner violence affects more than 12 million people every year. One in four women and one in seven men aged 18 and older in the U.S. have experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
The series depicted the dark reality of her alleged intimate partner violence, murder fears, suicidal ideations and violence she experienced, which Williams says dismantled the online facade of the internet couple's presence when they were together.
What did James Charles say about Kayla Malec and Evan Johnson?
The situation escalated further when beauty influencer James Charles, who has previously been embroiled in controversy over sending inappropriate messages to minors, was accused of having relations with Johnson. On April 29, influencer BeeBetter (real name Markos Bitsakakis) posted a YouTube interview titled 'Investigating James Charles' with Zach Sellers, the ex–best friend of Evan Johnson. In the video, Sellers alleged Johnson had a romantic relationship with James Charles.
Charles addressed the rumors in a May 7 TikTok where he denied having any romantic involvement with Johnson, with whom he said he shared a 'brief friendship.'
@jamescharles
filmed this yesterday, but I promised privately that I would wait for the court case to be over before speaking publicly. happy kayla got the justice that she deserves 🤍 ♬ original sound - James Charles
'I do not support Evan Johnson in any way, shape or form,' Charles said in the video. 'I don't support him, I don't support violence against women, and I sure as hell do not support the disgusting, deplorable, heinous acts he (allegedly) committed against Kayla Malec behind closed doors.'
He shared he tried to get in touch with Malec, who was 'unwilling' to have a conversation with him, and said he planned to pursue legal action against Sellers.
Malec briefly responded to one of the comments on her account directing her to Charles' video: 'i saw! respectfully i'm making today about WINNING. FOR US. FOR US💜 WE DID IT WE DID IT,' she wrote.
As online influencers continue to portray their relationships online, Williams says Malec's 'he doesn't love you" videos will endure as a means of community discussion and protection for survivors of intimate partner violence.
Those looking to support survivors of domestic abuse should listen without judgement, validate feelings and respect the boundaries of their loved ones, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788.
Rachel Hale's role covering Youth Mental Health at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal Ventures and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input. Reach her at rhale@usatoday.com and @rachelleighhale on X.
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