Lia Marie Johnson Reveals Addiction Journey in New Video

YouTuber and Kids React alum Lia Marie Johnson has returned to YouTube with a new video about addiction, her sobriety, and that creepy viral Instagram live. The 26-year-old musician reveals the dark side of being internet famous at 14 and moving to LA.

The video, titled “This is my story”, has gained over 2 million views with many people praising Johnson for her bravery in speaking about her life.

“My story has been misconstrued, exploited, [and] sensationalized but now I’m taking my narrative back,” she says.

After moving to LA by herself at 17, Johnson began partying and experimenting with drugs and alcohol. This started a cycle of working hard in the entertainment world and then partying even harder. Johnson details being in two abusive relationships that prompted her to go “off the deep end”. She does not reveal the identities of either abuser.

between jeanette mccurdy's book and what happened with lia marie johnson maybe we should stop making children famous for a bit hey

— Maurice, theorytwink ????️‍????????️‍⚧️ (@moaquirk) January 9, 2023

In 2019, while stuck in an abusive relationship and dropped from Capitol Records, she started going on Instagram Live intoxicated. These Lives were shared everywhere on social media.

“It was the downfall of all I had worked for in my life. It was a cry for help. And people did try to help but nobody knew I was being abused and my story got twisted and I was still all alone,” she explains.

The perception of Johnson on the Internet was not kind. Former Kids React members commented about her social media presence saying she was “in her cokehead stage”.

One Instagram Live in 2020 went viral of Johnson intoxicated in a recording studio with an older man. Johnson reveals that she had been newly sober and her producer coerced her to get drunk and then tried to take advantage of her.

did i… just watch… lia marie johnson on instagram live HIGH as fuck and getting fondled by her old ass boomer producer… who got pissed off and took her phone when he realized she was live… like did that actually just happen… h e l p

— alison (@alisuhhhn) January 2, 2020

Things didn’t look up for Johnson until she moved in with a friend and her family. She attributes her sobriety to their support and love.

“The one thing that saved me was love. Real love. That’s why I’m here because love is so powerful. Love is the reason I’m alive”.

so glad that lia marie johnson is in a better place emotionally and physically. feel like i grew up with her (she was def one of my first celeb crushes) and it was so heartbreaking to see how so many ppl in her life took advantage of her when she's clearly so sweet and talented

— kayla bottoms rights ミ☆ (@meanlezbians) January 6, 2023

The video has received massive amounts of support for Johnson from both fans and fellow YouTubers like Ricky Dillion.

i love you so much lia ❤️ i am so proud of you. it makes me so happy that you are in such a good place now. you are an inspiration. i am so ready to stream every song you drop this year!

— Ricky Dillon (@RickyPDillon) January 5, 2023

Johnson now resides in the UK with her partner and is releasing new music.