Tell Them You Love Me (UK Sky)

[DanaK]

Netflix documentary, originally a UK Sky documentary, that premieres June 14 2024

The film explores the controversial affair between university professor Anna Stubblefield and Derrick Johnson, a non-verbal man with cerebral palsy, that leads to a criminal trial that challenges perceptions of disability and the nature of consent

[libgirl2]

We watched this Friday night and it was disturbing to say the least. I really got Mary Kay Letourneau vibes off of her. Unhappy marriage a dash of savior complex and giving him attributes that he did not have. I don't know if she guided him on purpose or not but he became her "soul mate" etc... just like MKL attributed to Villi. 

I also think his mother and brother let him get into the FC to give him a chance to possibly communicate better. I do agree there really is no way for sure of knowing when someone can't speak. I do think if the mother knew there was more, she would have advocated for it sooner. I was reminded of the movie My Left Foot about Christy Brown. His father and mother saw there was more to him early on. If you don't know about him, look it up. Fascinating. 

[Straycat80]

^^^^Agree with all this. I believe Anna thought she was helping Dman and believed in FC. It was interesting the student helping Dman in class was not guiding his movements with the keys so apparently he was expressing himself in that situation. 
Anna crossed the line with the sex. What was she thinking? She ruined her life plus The Johnson’s. I wish they had said if she has communication with her two children. 
Truly a sad and disturbing story. 
*I think FC is a good thing for non-verbal people as long as a facilitator is not involved.* 

[libgirl2]

14 hours ago, Straycat80 said:

^^^^Agree with all this. I believe Anna thought she was helping Dman and believed in FC. It was interesting the student helping Dman in class was not guiding his movements with the keys so apparently he was expressing himself in that situation. 
Anna crossed the line with the sex. What was she thinking? She ruined her life plus The Johnson’s. I wish they had said if she has communication with her two children. 
Truly a sad and disturbing story. 
*I think FC is a good thing for non-verbal people as long as a facilitator is not involved.* 

I'm not sure how much he was. She was still guiding his movements though. I'm not really sure what to believe. 

Just an overall sad situation. 

Edited June 21 by libgirl2

[Madding crowd]

I read about this case but the documentary added a lot. Anna seemed mentally ill-who would say that someone you barely know was the most important person in your life? What about your children? Then she said DMan talked to her about books; when would he be reading books? She was only with him an hour or two a week. It did not appear he was reading books at home. I thought it was the same thing as that student saying he read all the materials for the class he took-when?

I was a bit concerned when the mom said she had him medicated so he wouldn’t masturbate. Of course he needed to understand not to do it front of people but it’s natural for an adult who doesn’t have a partner. I was impressed with the woman who was an anthropologist; people would likely dismiss her intelligence because of her disability.

Edited June 27 by Madding crowd

[libgirl2]

1 hour ago, Madding crowd said:

I was impressed with the woman who was an anthropologist; people would likely dismiss her intelligence because of her disability.

Yes, so was I. Most people would take her on face value and figured she is mentally disabled as well.