Netflix has unleashed a new true crime documentary, “Tell Them You Love Me,” with Louis Theroux as executive producer, sending shockwaves through viewers who describe it as one of the most unsettling films to hit the streaming platform.
Directed by Nick August-Perna, known for his work with The Swell Season, this gripping documentary revisits the controversial case involving Anna Stubblefield, a former philosophy professor whose involvement with a non-verbal man, Derrick Johnson, led to a criminal trial and a felony conviction.
The story unfolds in 2009 when Stubblefield, then 41, encountered Derrick, 30, through his brother John Johnson, a student in her course at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. John, aware of his brother’s cerebral palsy, sought Stubblefield’s assistance, drawing her into Derrick’s life to improve his communication skills.
Stubblefield, from a family deeply rooted in special education, including parents with Ph.D.s in the field, took on Derrick’s case with what she claimed was a mission to empower him. However, the situation quickly escalated into controversy when Stubblefield asserted that her relationship with Derrick was consensual, a claim contested by Derrick’s mother, Daisy Johnson, who maintained her son’s inability to consent due to his condition.
The documentary, described by Netflix as “scandalous,” delves into the intricate dynamics of race, disability, and power, highlighting the ensuing legal battle that shook Rutgers University and the broader academic community. Stubblefield faced serious charges and initially pleaded not guilty, leading to a highly publicized trial where she was convicted of aggravated sexual assault in 2016 and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
In a surprising turn, an appeals court overturned Stubblefield’s conviction in 2017, citing procedural errors, and ordered a retrial. Subsequently, in 2018, Stubblefield pleaded guilty to third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact, maintaining her innocence throughout the documentary.
Viewers, deeply affected by the documentary’s revelations, have taken to social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to express their shock and discomfort. One viewer described “Tell Them You Love Me” as “one of the most unsettling documentaries I’ve ever watched on Netflix,” emphasizing its intense impact and controversial subject matter.
Another viewer commented, “Just watched Tell Them You Love Me, and I really want to have a conversation about it. I’m so conflicted because I can see both ends of the spectrum,” reflecting the documentary’s ability to provoke nuanced discussions about consent and disability rights.
Amidst these reactions, a third person expressed feeling “very uncomfortable” after watching, underscoring the documentary’s ability to unsettle and challenge viewers’ perceptions.
Louis Theroux’s involvement as executive producer adds further gravity to the documentary, elevating it beyond a mere recounting of events to a deeply introspective exploration of justice, morality, and the complexities of human relationships.
