The recently released Netflix documentary, Tell Them You Love Me, has sparked controversy within the true crime community as many viewers have expressed difficulty in completing the emotionally challenging film.
“Tell Them You Love Me”delves into the disturbing real-life story of Anna Stubblefield, a Rutgers University professor of ethics who was charged with having a sexual relationship with her student, Derrick Johnson. Johnson, who has cerebral palsy and is non-verbal, was the victim in this case.
The true crime case has not only brought attention to concerns about consent and disabilities, but it has also ignited a discussion about the racial implications it raises.
Despite Stubblefield – a white, middle-class woman – claiming that Johnson had the “mental capacity of a six to 12-month-old child,”experts such as Dr. Howard Shane did not view her as a predator.
In addition, Stubblefield is featured in Tell Them You Love Me, where it is evident that she leads a comfortable life and holds firm to her belief that she did not commit any wrongdoing.
Many viewers have found the Netflix documentary to be difficult to watch for this very reason. One individual took to Reddit and expressed their frustration, stating, “It is upsetting to see this woman appearing happy and claiming her innocence when she is a predator and a rapist.”
“Under the pretense of offering assistance, she took advantage of a disabled Black man and his family in a low-income area (Irvington, NJ). It should be noted that she was a philosophy professor and not a healthcare practitioner.”
They added that they were barely able to get through the documentary because of how furious they were.
“One person stated, ‘I am not viewing this through the perspective of an SLP, but rather as a sister of someone who is unable to communicate verbally.’”
“I’m feeling extremely ill and we’re only 10 minutes into the conversation. I had to pause and call my mom. It’s unbelievable that this rapist has the audacity to claim innocence within the first five minutes.”
“My family’s greatest fear is that my sibling will fall victim to abuse from a sick individual.”
“Another person also shared, “I found it difficult to watch. I was close to stopping after 15 minutes. The multiple individuals who supported the delusion were hard to stomach, causing my stomach to churn.”
Many are angered by the trial’s conclusion. In 2015, Stubblefield was convicted of sexually assaulting Johnson and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Despite the initial verdict in 2017, her sentence was ultimately reduced to time served due to a technicality. As a result, she now lives her life out of the public eye as a free individual.
One Redditor expressed their belief that the outcome of only two years was a significant miscarriage of justice.
During Stubblefield’s appearance in Tell Them You Love Me, another person commented, “She had a smile on her face as she talked about their love and intimacy.”
“Even after all this time, you’re still smiling? Despite going to prison and losing your family? Are you really smiling about what you’ve done? It just brings back all the anger I felt before.”
Currently available on Netflix is the true crime series Tell Them You Love Me. If you’re interested in similar content, you can also learn about the Carter family’s story, watch the Herb Baumeister documentary, and find out if Sam and Nia Rader from Ashley Madison are still a couple.
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