I’ll tell you everything I can about this person who I have come to know as an abuser. What I’m doing, this is hard. There’s nothing in this for me. Trust me. I would love to believe that Aaron Hopkins-Johnson is not a shitbag. I would love for none of this to be true. I would love to not have to expose these horrifying stories, and I would love to not face the fact that some people will still refuse to believe our words, even though there are so many of us. Even though we have proof. I’m scared to have my story read. I’m scared to have people pick apart my words. I can’t stop thinking, why didn’t I realize? Why didn’t I say something sooner? I’m risking a lot by writing this. For one, I’m risking my safety. Below is my full story with enough details for the person to know very well who I am. I have come to understand that this person is dangerous. He could retaliate against me. I have no idea what he’s capable of, and I would sleep a lot easier at night if I had made the ch...
My Aaron Johnson/Lawn Gnome story I was initially hesitant to attach my story to all these allegations when Aaron has done so much worse to others, but I think my experience is an important case study in understanding why it's so easy to be complicit in abuse and how enablers of abuse can also become victims of it. I think when we talk about abuse, it's important to note that it's not always overtly violent or in your face. Oftentimes. it comes to you with a smile and with kind words you want to hear. That doesn't make it any less sinister though. Aaron Johnson started grooming me when I was 18 years old. At 20, we dated for a couple months then broke it off in July 2016. I started working at Lawn Gnome in 2014 during the spring semester of my freshman year at Arizona State University. My best friend helped me get the job and I was just so stoked to not only be working with her, but also be part of something that was bigger than me. At Lawn Gnome, I felt like I belonge...