Some true-crime stories don’t feel like “entertainment.” Netflix’s Tell Them You Love Me has unsettled many viewers because it centers on consent, vulnerability, and power—then asks you to sit with the discomfort.
Key takeaways to know up front
- The documentary follows a real legal case involving disability, authority, and consent.
- It focuses on Anna Stubblefield, a former philosophy professor, and Derrick Johnson, a nonverbal man with cerebral palsy.
- The story includes a criminal conviction, an overturned verdict, and a later plea deal.
- Viewers report the film is emotionally intense and hard to watch.
The case at the center of the film
In 2009, Stubblefield (then 41) met Johnson (then 30) through his brother, John, who was her student at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. She offered to help Derrick communicate. Later, she said their relationship became sexual and consensual, though she was married.
Derrick’s mother, Daisy Johnson, argued her son could not consent due to his condition. A trial followed that raised broader questions about race, disability, and power.
What happened in court
Stubblefield was found guilty of two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault and sentenced to 12 years. In 2017, the conviction was overturned and a new trial was ordered. She later pleaded guilty to third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact, received time served, and was released—while still disputing wrongdoing.
Practical checklist before pressing play
- Choose a time you can pause and decompress
- Watch with someone if heavy topics hit you hard
- Plan a short break afterward
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating it as casual background viewing
- Assuming consent questions are simple
- Skipping the legal outcomes and context
If you watch, go in prepared: this is less about shocking details and more about difficult questions with no easy emotional exit.
