Latest news with #Malec
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
New details surface in TikTok influencer Kayla Malec's abuse case against ex-boyfriend
Kayla Malec has opened up with her 20 million social media followers about her experiences of domestic violence at the hands of her ex-boyfriend Evan Johnson, in the midst of their Sumner County court battle. Johnson, who also has a large social media following, pleaded guilty and was sentenced May 7 to 18 months in jail for DUI and violation of probation. Additionally, he received 11 months and 29 days of probation for domestic assault against Malec in August 2024, USA Today reported. The pair was together for about a year. In newly obtained court documents, Sumner County Sheriff's Office K-9 Deputy T. Callis detailed two incidents of domestic assault between Malec and Johnson in 2024. They include allegations that Johnson slapped her during a dispute in downtown Nashville and punched her at a Hendersonville home. Malec shared her thoughts following the sentencing in a nine-minute long video posted to TikTok on May 10. "For everyone saying a year and a half isn't enough time, I know, I know, but to know that I'm safe for the next year and a half, I like I can't put it into words. I'm in Tennessee right now, I'm in Nashville, and I'm not scared ... I could go to Broadway and not be scared ... I just feel really happy," she said. "For nine months he won, but now I win." Authorities booked Evan Johnson, 20, into the Sumner County Jail at 5:55 p.m. on May 7 for DUI and violation of probation, with bail set at $30,000. He was arrested earlier this month for domestic assault related to an incident on August 10, 2024. According to Sumner County General Sessions court documents, Johnson pleaded guilty to domestic assault earlier that morning and was ordered to pay a $100 fine. His release or bail hinged on a no-contact order with Malec that outlined several prohibited actions including: More: She went public with domestic violence allegations. It's making a huge impact. Threatening to commit or committing specified offenses. Harassing, annoying, telephoning, contacting or otherwise communicating with the alleged victim either directly or indirectly. Using or possessing a firearm. Possessing or consuming alcohol or controlled substances and more. Johnson was ordered to have no contact with Malec or to operate Facebook, TikTok or YouTube accounts under his name. According to court documents, Johnson was allegedly under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicating substance during at least one incident. The documents also allege a history of domestic violence, noting "multiple domestic in multiple states." Malec told the reporting officer in an April 6, 2025 phone call that she had been assaulted by Johnson in Davidson and Sumner counties in August 2024. On August 9, the two visited downtown Nashville for a night out, according to an affidavit by Sumner County Sheriff's Office K-9 Deputy T. Callis. An argument ensued while the couple rode in an Uber and Johnson slapped Malec in the face. Following the assault, Malec exited the Uber vehicle and found another way home. A second assault occurred between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. on August 10 at a residence in the 200 block of Indian Lake Boulevard in Hendersonville. According to the affidavit, Malec heard Johnson throwing up in the toilet and went to check on him. Johnson then "became mad" and "punched her in the mouth," the report states. Callis said pictures of Malec "holding her lip down and showing a busted lip, bruising and bleeding" are in evidence, following the incident that took place in Sumner County. A warrant for domestic assault was obtained for Johnson due to Malec's injuries. In recent weeks, Malec has taken to social media to chronicle her experiences of abuse with her nearly 20 million followers on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook in the hopes of saving others like her. More than four hours of content was uploaded to her YouTube channel on her split with Johnson. They included videos titled "he doesn't love you. pt. 1." and "he doesn't love you. part 2". The videos, posted on April 4 and 9, shared detailed accounts of her abuse at the hands of her ex-boyfriend. "For the past nine months I have been in arguably one of the worst mentally, physically abusive relationships I could ever imagine," she said. Malec described the ordeal as "something I never thought that I would be experiencing, things I have only seen on TV, things that I've heard stories about and things that I just knew I would never let happen to me." In the emotionally charged video, Malec shares her mission in reliving her trauma online. "I ask the universe everyday, 'Why was I put through this? Why me?' And I truly think that it's to help other people ... at the end of the day this isn't about me, this is such a bigger picture to what millions of women go through ... and I hope that this can help somebody," she said. "If I had seen a video like this six months ago it would have saved my life ... I wish somebody could have done this for me and saved me." The influencer left a stark warning for viewers in what she's dubbed "the most vulnerable video I've ever filmed in my life." "If he can hit you he can kill you," she repeated. Viewers flooded the comment section reiterating the candid point. Her other posts have gone viral in recent days, amassing millions of views. Malec can be seen lip syncing to the song "Jail" by Kanye West in a recent TikTok video as she walks down the steps of the Sumner County Courthouse on East Main Street in Gallatin. The video has amassed more than 15 million likes in four days. She captioned the video, "I'M SOBBING FOR US. WE DID IT. WE DID IT." In a second video posted on TikTok that same day, Malec shared how she was feeling following the conviction. "And just like that, justice was served," she said. "I'm like really happy right now, I'm gonna probably start sobbing ... but I won, I won." Malec shared the extent of the abuse in an Instagram post on April 3: "I will never be able to forget the scars left ... The same man who will look you in the eyes and say 'I love you' and then attempt to kill you is an experience I hope nobody ever has to live," she wrote in the post. "I was silently being abused while posting my life online smiling. It's true you can see it in the eyes. I watch my old videos and see someone I never want to see again. It drained my soul, and ripped apart the strong nature of myself I've had my entire life. I can't put into words the abuse and what it did to me." Katie Nixon can be reached at knixon@ This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TikTok influencer Evan Johnson pleaded guilty to domestic assault, DUI
USA Today
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
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@ and @rachelleighhale on X.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Kayla Malec Says She Feels 'Safe' and No Longer 'Scared' After Ex Evan Johnson Was Found Guilty of Domestic Assault
Kayla Malec was named as the victim in domestic assault charges filed against her ex-boyfriend, Evan Johnson on Thursday, April 10 The TikTok influencer announced earlier this week that Johnson was sentenced to one and a half years in prison for the charges after pleading guilty in a Tennessee court "I'm safe for the next year and a half. I like, I can't put it into words," she said in a TikTok videoKayla Malec, a TikTok influencer with 16.6 million followers, is opening up about the case against her ex-boyfriend, Evan Johnson, who was found guilty of domestic violence. On Wednesday, May 7, Johnson pleaded guilty to a domestic assault charge and probation violation for a DUI, according to Sumner County, Tenn., court records obtained by PEOPLE. He was ordered to have no contact with Malec and not to operate TikTok, YouTube, or Facebook accounts in his name, according to NBC News. Malec was congratulated on the verdict after posting a TikTok video filmed outside the courthouse. On Friday, May 9, two days later, she then made a TikTok video detailing the entire experience of her day in court. She confirmed Johnson was sentenced to one and a half years in prison for his charges in Tennessee. Malec alleged that he assaulted her in California, Hawaii and New York as well. She said she is 'currently in the process' of filing felony charges in California. 'Even though it's over in the state of Tennessee, it's not in California. So I still have a lot more f----ing s--- to do,' she said. 'I'm safe for the next year and a half. I like, I can't put it into words. I'm in Tennessee right now, I'm in Nashville, and I'm not scared.' 'I just feel really happy. It doesn't excuse what he did to me, but knowing that he finally got the consequences to his actions, feels really f---ing good,' she said. 'He's in f---ing jail. A win for me is a win for us,' she said, before concluding, 'We f---ing did it bitches we f---ing did it.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Malec first revealed in early April that she was in an "extremely abusive relationship.' She noted that the physical violence had been going on for several months and recalled incidents of abuse in multiple emotional tell-all videos shared on TikTok and YouTube. She was named as the victim in domestic assault charges filed against Johnson on Thursday, April 10. A few weeks later, Malec confirmed that her court day was coming up. Her win in the domestic assault case against Johnson was announced on Wednesday, May 7. If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. Read the original article on People
NBC News
09-05-2025
- NBC News
TikToker Kayla Malec receives outpouring of support after announcing result of domestic assault case
A popular influencer who has been open about her abusive relationship with her ex-boyfriend received an outpouring of support online this week after he pleaded guilty in court. Kayla Malec, who has 16.6 million followers on TikTok and almost 1.8 subscribers on YouTube, first publicly detailed abuse allegations against Evan Johnson in April, uploading a series of emotional, raw videos about their nine-month relationship. The videos, which at times included pictures and videos of injuries she said she sustained from Johnson, generated a sympathetic reaction from many of her followers, who praised her for her vulnerability. Malec's story became the latest saga to captivate people online, as some of her followers began to spread misinformation and condemn another creator who they said appeared to be associated with Johnson. Johnson was charged by officials in Sumner County, Tennessee, with domestic assault on April 7, according to Sumner County Courthouse records obtained by NBC News. On Wednesday, Malec shared 'justice was served,' as she posted videos of herself outside of a courthouse. 'I'm like really happy right now, I'm going to probably start sobbing,' she said in her video, ' ... but I won. I won!' Johnson pleaded guilty to a domestic assault charge on Wednesday, and was also ordered to have no contact with Malec, according to court documents. Johnson was also ordered to not operate TikTok, YouTube or Facebook accounts in his name. He also pleaded guilty to a probation violation for a DUI, according to court documents. A court representative said that Johnson is in custody. Representatives for Malec and Johnson did not respond to requests for comment on Friday. In the lead-up to the court hearing this week, Malec documented her emotions in videos on TikTok, saying she's experienced anxiety and PTSD after coming forward. 'This is the most depressed I've ever been in my life,' she said in a video last month. '... I know it will get better and I know the healing process takes a long time. And there are days when I feel really good and there are days when I wake up ... and I don't want to get out of bed for the rest of the day.' She said she's continued to post to help others who have faced similar situations. 'The one thing that's keeping my head up and getting me out of bed is knowing that I'm doing this for a reason and that I'm doing this to help ya'll,' she said. Malec's celebratory videos collectively received about 20 million likes, as fellow popular influencers — including Haylee Kalil, Jacob Sartorius and Jess DiTirro — commented congratulating her on the verdict. Singer Kesha, who previously brought abuse allegations against her former producer Dr. Luke, also commented. (Dr. Luke, who has not been charged with a crime, has denied all of Kesha's allegations. In 2023, the two reached a settlement in his defamation suit over her allegation that he raped her. 'I'm so proud of you,' Kesha wrote on Malec's video. 'A win for one is a win for all of us.'
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Kayla Malec Reveals Outcome of Her Domestic Assault Case Against Ex Evan Johnson in Emotional TikTok
On Wednesday, May 7, influencer Kayla Malec, 20, posted a 15-second TikTok to reveal that the domestic assault case against her ex Evan Johnson resulted in conviction. Malec previously revealed that she had been in an abusive relationship in early April. Her announcement on TikTok about her courtroom victory earned over 6.4 million views and 1.6 million likes within an hour of its Wednesday, May 7, Kayla Malec posted a TikTok filmed outside of the courthouse to announce a win in the domestic assault case against her ex, Evan Johnson. In her video, the influencer, 20, can be seen enthusiastically lip syncing to Kanye West's 2021 song "Jail." She smiled as she threw her hand up in celebration, mouthing along to the lyrics, "Guess who's going to jail tonight?" (Johnson's sentence was suspended, meaning he will not spend time in prison.) The overlaying text states the outcome: "I WON," she wrote alongside the 15-second clip. Less than one hour after its upload, the video already had over 6.4 million views and 1.6 million likes. In her caption, Malec continued, in all capital letters, "I'M SOBBING. FOR US. WE DID IT. WE DID IT." Related: Evan Johnson Arrested on Charge of Domestic Assault Days After Ex Kayla Malec Claimed to Be in an Abusive Relationship The creator first revealed that she was in an "extremely abusive relationship" in early April. She noted that the physical violence had been going on for several months and recalled incidents of abuse in multiple emotional tell-all videos shared on TikTok and YouTube. Social media users speculated that Malec's stories were connected to her ex Evan Johnson, who was arrested in Sumner County, Tenn., on a charge of domestic assault and a violation of his probation on April 7. He was later released on bail that same day, though police did not identify the victim at the time. Johnson did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment at the time of his arrest. PEOPLE later confirmed that Malec was named the victim in Johnson's case on domestic assault charges filed on April 10, per the Sumner County online court records system. On April 25, Malec shared that her court day was coming up in a couple of weeks. In a TikTok update, she said the prospect of further legal action felt both "really exciting" and "really nerve-wracking" at the same time. The vlogger noted that it would be her first time back in Nashville "since everything." Related: Kayla Malec Reveals Upcoming Court Appearance Weeks After Ex Evan Johnson Was Charged with Domestic Assault Two weeks out from her court date, Malec admitted that she'd been "the most depressed" she's ever been, and shared that she's been having "so much anxiety" the past two weeks. "Ever since I started talking about this stuff and reliving it, every day I wake up at 6 a.m., I have an anxiety attack, I run into my kitchen, I chug an entire bottle of water and then I go back to bed," the online personality said. "This is the most depressed I've ever been in my life," she continued. "I know it will get better and I know the healing process takes a long time. And there are days when I feel really good and there are days when I wake up... and I don't want to get out of bed for the rest of the day." She added, "But I know that it's normal, and I know that it's a part of healing, and it's a part of PTSD." Related: Russell Brand Granted Bail by London Court Over Rape and Sexual Assault Charges She reiterated that her purpose for her sharing so honestly was to prevent others from finding themselves in similar abusive situations or help those who are in such a relationship right now. "The one thing that's keeping my head up and getting me out of bed is known that I'm doing this for a reason and that I'm doing this to help ya'll," said Malec. She concluded, "It's genuinely what's been keeping me motivated and getting me out of bed." If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. Read the original article on People
