'Bachelorette' alum Chad Johnson speaks out after arrest: 'I have never laid hands on a woman'
Chad Johnson, who appeared on Joelle "JoJo" Fletcher's season of The Bachelorette in 2016, is speaking out after Monday's arrest. In a lengthy video on Instagram, the reality star explained what happened with ex-girlfriend, Annalise Mishler, that caused him to get hauled in by the LAPD for domestic violence and robbery.
"Hey everyone, this is Chad Johnson and I want to take a second to talk to you about the current situation you’ve probably seen going on in the press with me arrested for robbery," he began. "So, me and my girlfriend broke up the other night and I was devastated. It was like losing my best friend. So I did what I haven’t done in two months and something I promised I wouldn’t do anymore and that was to drink alcohol... as most of you know, that's been a bit of an issue in my life. Whenever I do drink, I don't act right."
Johnson, who also appeared on Bachelor in Paradise, has often been portrayed in the villain role on the ABC dating shows. In a Feb. 3 post on Instagram, the reality star revealed he was 35 days sober.
On Sunday, Johnson and Mishler got in a disagreement. The former couple lives in the same apartment complex, but not together. Johnson said he went over to Mishler's apartment "to talk things out."
"Initially, we had worked things out and we were back together and everything was fine until she discovered that I had, in between us breaking up and me drinking, downloaded a dating app and I had started to receive messages on there," he continued. "So, we had some arguments. She was yelling, I was yelling."
Mishler posted videos on Instagram Sunday after the arguments. In one picture, a hole can be seen in the wall which she claimed was caused by Johnson. Another video, according to TMZ, allegedly showed Johnson yelling profane things to her.
"I wasn't mad at her, I totally understand why she did that. I still love her very much," Johnson said of Mishler posting the videos.
On Monday, Johnson went back to try and talk to Mishler again.
"I tried to talk things out and we still had the issues with the dating app," he explained.
Mishler supposedly went over to Johnson's apartment where she started recording him again.
"I was very down at the time, I was very upset and I just didn’t want to be recorded, so I made a stupid decision and I grabbed her phone and I just threw it," he recalled. "I threw it outside."
Johnson went over to his ex-girlfriend's apartment to apologize and at some point, one of their neighbors called the police. He said that when there's a domestic disturbance call in California, the law states "someone has to go to jail."
TMZ cited law enforcement sources who claimed when officers responded, Mishler had visible red marks on her face so he was arrested. The robbery charge stemmed from when Johnson threw her phone; however, the reality star maintained he never got physical.
"There was never any domestic abuse of any kind," he said. "I have never laid hands on a woman anytime in my entire life. I was in the Marine Corps... I have a sister, I am a very overprotective brother. If she ever felt in danger I would want her to call — if any women out there ever feel they are in any danger, I urge you to call 911."
Johnson continued, "I can totally understand why Annalise felt threatened whenever I took her phone, but I am a hundred percent confident any type of domestic abuse charges are going to be dropped beccause there was never any type of domestic abuse at all, whatsoever. Never laid my hands on a woman."
He apologized to his ex-girlfriend.
"I'm sorry for the entire situation. I'm sorry for anyone who had to see it who's been triggered by this. I am so sorry to Annalise for feeling threatened," he concluded. "I'm working on myself to get better. That’s all I can do, is put my best foot forward and try to be a better person every day from here on out and make less mistakes in life. I hope everyone out there can not be so quick to take judgment. Hopefully this explains a little bit of the situation and there can be some understanding."
Listen to Johnson's explanation in full below:
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