Netflix has recently unveiled a new true crime documentary, executively produced by Louis Theroux, which has left viewers describing it as one of the most unsettling films they’ve watched. The documentary, directed by Nick August-Perna of The Swell Season, delves into the controversial case of Anna Stubblefield, a former philosophy professor who faced criminal charges related to her relationship with a non-verbal man with cerebral palsy.
In 2009, Stubblefield, who was 41 at the time, met Derrick Johnson, then 30, through his brother, John Johnson, who was attending one of her courses at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. Derrick, affected by cerebral palsy and non-verbal, was introduced to Stubblefield by John, who was concerned about his brother’s condition.
Stubblefield, whose parents both held Ph.D.s in special education and had extensive experience with people with disabilities, offered to assist Derrick in enhancing his communication skills. This relationship soon led to Derrick attending a class at the university. At the time, Stubblefield was married and later described her relationship with Derrick as a consensual sexual relationship. However, Derrick’s mother, Daisy Johnson, contested this, stating that her son was incapable of physical or emotional intimacy.
The new Netflix documentary, titled Tell Them You Love Me, explores the intricate layers of this relationship and the subsequent legal battles that followed, resulting in Stubblefield’s felony conviction. The film is depicted as ‘scandalous’ by Netflix and delves into themes of race, disability, and power.
After originally pleading not guilty, Stubblefield was convicted in 2016 of aggravated sexual assault and sentenced to 12 years in prison. The conviction was overturned by an appeals court in 2017, which called for a retrial. In the following year, she pled guilty to third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact but maintained her innocence in the documentary, claiming she was “not guilty of a crime.”
The documentary has sparked a significant reaction from viewers on social media. One user on X (formerly known as Twitter) expressed, “Tell Them You Love Me might be one of the most unsettling documentaries I’ve ever watched on Netflix,” describing it as ‘insane’. Another viewer shared their conflicted feelings, stating, “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.” Additionally, comments about the documentary being disturbing and making viewers feel ‘very uncomfortable’ have surfaced, highlighting its impact.
If you’re intrigued by the story and its complex themes, the trailer for Tell Them You Love Me can be viewed on Netflix, where the full documentary is also available for streaming.