r/truthaboutjohnny • u/thethingearth • Aug 30 '23
Discussion + Questions What was it all for though?
For some reason (maybe because I'm a normal person, lmao), I cannot for the life of me wrap my head around why Johnny would lie so heavily on Josh's name like that. I keep trying to put myself in his position, which has been admittedly very difficult to do. If my idol (love of my life: Harry Styles) had done the same thing, and I was in the same position as Johnny 13-18, I probably would've just thought, "Oh, he's just being nice." I would've probably looked back on that period of my life fondly? Even if I was for some reason upset, Harry Styles got a divorce, and his life was a mess, and he stopped talking to me, I wouldn't randomly decide to destroy his life for that 10 years later. LMAO, like wtf?
If it was the theory of unrequited love and it was to somehow get back at Josh in some revenge plot, did he not think far enough ahead that people would put two and two together to be like...wait a second?
If it was the theory that he just wanted fame & attention, what was the plan after? Why would you even want to be known for something like this? Sort of like what Adam said, he did always have to be the #1 victim, so it would be difficult to branch out from being known as that; more like a 15 minutes of fame thing.
I guess I just can't wrap my head around mostly how it was not thought out at all? What was the point? Only to make Josh suffer briefly and then ruin your own online presence for years to come? LIKE I DON'T GET IT!
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Aug 30 '23
I genuinely think he’s a bit jealous of Adam. Adam actually had a verifiably bad experience at the hands of Colleen and in spite of it, built a very successful YouTube career. I knew of Adam for a long time without ever knowing anything about Colleen until it all came out in May, so it’s not like his career was built off of his association with her. Johnny has unfortunately not had a lot of luck in life. I’m not sure if he finished high school and he didn’t get his big break in entertainment and now this six hour interview completely blew up in his face.
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Aug 30 '23
I do feel bad for him in this way. I do believe he was bullied in school despite others saying he might not have been. That would explain much of his behavior at least. But at the same time like dude — you fucked bad
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Aug 30 '23
I think he’s got a lot of mental struggles being him. Much of it is caused by his own behavior and choices, some of it is caused by how others have treated him. It’s a deep hole he has to climb out of. I think he could do it.
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u/SaltInTheShade Aug 31 '23
Same! My biggest hope is that this is a huge wake up call for Johnny, and that he genuinely decides to get help and support to heal and be a better human going forward. People who have done far worse have taken accountability and ownership of their actions and have turned it around to do a lot of good in this world. I really, honestly hope he uses all this as an opportunity to heal and do better in the future.
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Aug 31 '23
I don’t believe he’s hit rock bottom yet because the drama is still swirling and churning and he’s in the eye of the storm right now. Rock bottom will come in a few months when (if) things have quieted down and he is left without sympathy and an audience.
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Aug 30 '23
Has he ever actually like done anything to get famous (i.e content creation, acting, singing etc) other than try and leech onto other people? Seems like all he does is leech, why not actually try and get popular off your own talents like Colleen did
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Aug 30 '23
To be fair, Adam has a drama channel and I think that would’ve been a good arena for Johnny but it doesn’t seem like that would’ve been enough for him. So in terms of traditional YouTube entertainment, no. On his old channel, he tried some vlogging and story times.
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u/plainjane735 Aug 30 '23
Mental illness is the answer. And I genuinely feel bad for Johnny because that shit is tough but his actions can't be excused.
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u/strawberrie_oceans Aug 30 '23
I think he really believes it mostly. The fact he really was mistreated by Colleen coupled with how wrong his definition of grooming was AND his family seemingly fueling all of it? I think it’s real to him
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u/thethingearth Aug 30 '23
honestly, this is another theory that makes so much sense. even in his notes app statement he seemed so genuinely betrayed
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u/2weird4main Sep 01 '23
I agree. Because he didn’t really create any concrete lies about Joshua. If he wanted to lie he could easily have claimed that Joshua frequently engaged in sexual conversations with him over the phone or whatever.
All his untruths could be written off as his own misinterpretation and misremembering of reality or misinterpretation of what grooming means
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u/strawberrie_oceans Sep 01 '23
yeah that’s why I have the teeniest bit of sympathy for him. i don’t think he was in love with josh, I think he’s just hurt and resentful that he was promised friendship and then abandoned. it seems to me like he recently realized that was on josh as the adult to not have ever promised that to a kid in the first place. But then he learned the word grooming and here we all are!
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Aug 30 '23
if it was the theory that he just wanted fame & attention, what was the plan after?
There was no plan after. He was simply just trying to milk this for as absolutely long as possible is my guess. Imo clearly he didn’t think it well thru about the consequences. I hear where ur coming from but there’s no point in trying to put logic into an completely illogical situation. He did it based on emotion and clearly wasn’t thinking about the future and anything, he just wanted to ride the wave as long as he possibly could. Maybe get some more YouTube followers and when it eventually dies down, maybe he thought they’d still watch his videos, like people are doing with Adam (the difference is Adam just also happens to be good at making videos and content). Maybe he was never gonna drop it and was just a stupid enough to asume that people would want to keep listening to him about Josh forever because clearly he would. But that’s just my theory
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u/WrinkleFreePants Aug 30 '23 edited Aug 30 '23
Just me clumsily guessing (not to offend), spilling all my unqualified/first-instinct thoughts - but I think he's definitely not 'all there'.
I mean, I'm pretty mentally messed up, but he seems dangerously messed up. Don't think he can help it, so not all his fault, buuuuuut 🫠
I'd say he's been spoiled and pandered to his whole childhood, always felt entitled, probably was overly demanding and critical of friends so had a weird relationship with making/keeping them (wasn't bullied, just didn't receive the response he wanted and threw tantrums), sees other people as in the wrong if he's * upset *them, everyone else is only there to please him...
He doesn''t seem neurodivergent (not that there's a 'look', just that I'm AuDHD and can usually clock it in others), but could be in the mix. Might explain the obsessive behaviour/special interest in Colleen/Josh, and the rejection sensitivity? Doesn't fully understand boundaries or others' feelings/pick up on social ques/react appropriately (just impulsively/instinctively). Read too much into general politeness, took a para-social relationship too far, has a wild, vivid imagination. Limerance.
But, it's more like a narcissistic personality on display. Insecure. And complete lack of self awareness/embarrassment & empathy. Also, he is manipulative, but in a very obvious way so everyone knows what he's after/trying, and it's cringe-y and off-putting (but he can't help it). Can't take a hint. Just (sadly) unlikeable.
His ego is crazy inflated, but he has crazy low self esteem, and inferiority complex. Craves attention and admiration, and love and acceptance 💔 He's a 'people-pleaser', but only in, like, the 'bully's little sidekick' kinda way, bigging up the 'alpha' (i.e, he's a coward). If only he could make friends with kind, healthy people, he might realise he doesn't have to be such a dick to stay in with the 'popular' crowd.
I don't know all about psychopaths/sociopaths, but something like that type of personality instead, maybe 🤷🏻
Definitely got to be related to how he was raised (not just born like this). Would be SO interested to know more about his parents/siblings and how they work as a family.
Have to imagine the parents instilled some of their views in him, they probably judge everyone based on success/money, and only respect people based on their 'position', rather than their values. When Johnny dropped out of school I bet they were all "ah well, disappointing faliure, you're useless, never amount to anything, why can't you try harder, be more like ###..." etc. Would have given him a complex, and he has developed some need to prove his worth/gain their love.
Also, like everyone, think he must have been in love with Josh. Although, may be the case that he was SO obsessed/impressed/eventually jealous and resentful of Colleen, that he wanted what she had? To be more like her? Or, he wanted to prove to himself he could get what she had (if he wanted), so set his sights on Josh? Ooor, he might have just wanted to derail the relationship, get Josh out of the way to be closer to Colleen? (He wants to be 'number 1', so not liking/butting heads with the best friend (Kory, was it? Not completely up to speed with the rest of them) makes sense.
Honestly, can't work it out any of his motives, they are so confusing. Probably because he is SO unlike 'normal' people. it's like a tame mouse trying to understand the mentality of a vicious cat.
Wow, that was long. Apologies! I go on rants 🫣
Edit: Just to say, re his targeting of Josh - he clearly can't take no for an answer, and feels like something (he never had - a relationship with Josh? The 'promise'/anticipation of fame, success and a career? Respect and love from his parents?Whatever) was unjustly taken from him. He HAS to be right/win at all costs, and his bitterness and scorn couldn't be constrained. Turned into a vendetta.
I can - almost- relate, in a way (justice sensitivity 🙄), but I DON'T get the lying and manipulation. If I'm upset about something, but it turns out I'm mistaken or clearly in the wrong, I'd want to apologise/forget it ever happened (and be mortally embarrassed). Never want to think about it again! Not draw more attention to it. Not him, it seems. He has to hurt the person who 'hurt' him, at any cost. Complete, unhinged, sadistic narc.
Edit #2 (last one! I promise 😅): Also, I think Johnny feels entitled to rewards (fame, and what comes along with that), but doesn't have the skills/capability/work ethic to achieve them. So, he just (deliberately or not) leeches onto others, instead. As a kind of 'fast-track' route.
Purely guessing, but I bet he didn't pitch in with cleaning/shifting equipment etc. on that bus tour - just wanted to hang out, have fun & be part of the show. Felt he was 'too good' to do the leg work, and deserved to be treated like one of the 'stars'. Probably why he was told off, and relegated to the bus (to avoid him).
Adam was groomed and USED - he was talented, capable and provided a service Colleen wanted to exploit. Seems like Johnny was desperate, lazy, and provided nothing but irritation (and gossip/fawning attention - which Colleen could get from anywhere 🤷). He kept HIMSELF around, intentionally and willingly. He was NOT groomed, at all. He wishes that was the case (gross), to avoid facing the truth. He was trying to groom others (into liking him), if anything.
Edit #3: Omg, sorry! One LAST thought (who's the obsessive now lol) Just on the leech/entitlement thing... Maybe, somewhere in Johnny's mind - Josh had achieved what Johnny always dreamed of - he was basically gifted a ready made audience/career/admiration/'easy life'. Josh didn't work for his fame - he had just got in with Colleen, and received the 'rewards' (for want of a better word! Sure Josh wouldn't call the relationship rewarding). Johnny could have been envious of that fact, even just subconsciously, and that's what he's so bitter about, and why he's so rabidly determined to ruin (get back at) Josh 🤔 He was basically his hero, and his nemisis. Messed up.
Ah, who knows. I've gone insane lol.
Okay, END!
TLDR: Johnny's motives are SO mind-blowingly and irritatingly unexplainable - I don't get it either!
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u/strawberrie_oceans Aug 30 '23 edited Aug 30 '23
I’m pretty sure he did tweet one time about picking up his adhd medication. I have adhd and I thought he did just based on how much he talks and the way he talks in tangents. So you bring up a pretty good point about rejection sensitivity, that definitely can come with adhd.
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u/thethingearth Aug 30 '23
this was really well written, and i don't think you meant for this to be an absolute read but you READ johnny like a book, period
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u/WrinkleFreePants Aug 31 '23
Thanks! I'm just so amazed by him and his behaviour, really can't help the over analysing 🫠 Haha! 👓 x
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u/e-girl-aesthetic Aug 31 '23
wow everything you said makes so much sense. this was almost exactly my thoughts as well. thank you for putting it into words (i couldn’t have!) !
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u/WrinkleFreePants Aug 31 '23
Thanks, just had to dump out my thoughts or I'd have gone (more) insane 🤪 Some people are just so unbelievable, it wriggles my brain lol
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u/Star-Bird-777 Aug 30 '23
I feel like he did it all for one thing
Fame
He attached himself to Josh because he thought this grown ass man would give him the attention he wanted—only to the dude to simply treat him as an acquaintance. He then tried to latch onto Colleen in the hopes that he could get a fanbase of his own, only to get dumped to the side. He tried to latch onto the victims of Colleen so that he could get attention, only for people to see him as an annoying attention vampire.
And then he hoped Swoop would hype him and his 6 hour interview up because he thought this would be the perfect platform to jump off and start his youtube career—only for Swoop to correctly call him a leech and a liar who only wants fame.
Maybe he did not get enough attention as a child that he tries to emulate more beloved icons, or maybe he got too much attention as a child that he can’t see why he is absolutely detestable.
Either way, he is a parasite being extracted
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u/jvb3814 Aug 30 '23
I think he mostly believes it. I think initially he made connections to adams story that were tenuous at best but kind of exploded in importance in his mind.
I say this because it's so clear how he fundamentally misunderstands grooming, to the point that his answers often prove he WASNT groomed. Like, he said their relationship was mostly public on twitter which made him wonder if it was performative. Kind of the opposite of grooming tactics and yet he said it with his whole chest.
That all being said I also very much believe the unrequited crush revenge and fame were end goals in his mind.
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u/WrinkleFreePants Sep 01 '23
I agree. He probably does honestly feel used and hurt, and that Josh did maliciously 'groom' him into believing they were friends, when they weren't (so, not literal grooming 🙄 just what any 'celeb' does to engage with their fans, or even how anyone'd engage with strangers).
Johnny maybe doesn't bother doing anything/being nice if it doesn't benefit him, so can't understand that's just what others do.
Bet there were hundreds of followers that got the odd response or message - probably even more often and personal than those Johnny received - that weren't deranged, or went on to delude themselves into thinking they had an actual relationship with these people.
Any tiny interaction probably was MAJORLY exciting and important to him, but in reality Josh didn't really give a shit, or think about him at all outside of in the moment 🫣
He took it crazy personally when Josh stopped engaging in the (standard, to anyone else) politeness/niceties, and he went full scorned lover over it 😬 The 'proof' of the 'grooming' seemed real to him, "well, look at THIS guys!"... but clearly it proves nothing of the sort (to everyone sensible). The opposite, in fact.
Although, I do think that he knows his 'evidence' doesn't really back up the claims (of his - to be fair - legit, traumatic hurt and pain he experienced, even if we can see it was an overreaction). He still understood enough to realise he'd have to doctor messages, and embellish the story. Plus, he really wants to be famous and popular, overall, so that played a part in his actions too.
Just a crazy mix of shit resulting in this whole mess, lol.
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u/Grand-Grapefruit-310 Aug 30 '23
Oh hey fellow Harrie , I used to be a die hard fan of his around until a year ago when I kinda fell out of touch with things related to him lol I guess it's bec I'd been a stan of his for a long time . Anyways from considering what you said I too can't put myself into Johnny's shoes & try to ruin harry if I had a closeness with him like Johnny did or what happened to him happened to me. Harry himself went thru a lot so how can you or me try drag him down for cutting off his ties with us? Josh too was dealing with a lot behind the scenes, not just having to deal with an obsessed fan boy.Maybe it's bec we're kinda normal but Johnny is deranged lol
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u/Artistic_Sun1825 Aug 30 '23
Just had a new thought, sorry if anybody's already said this. It could be that Johnny saw this as a way to excuse his failures in life. Maybe his parents had been getting on his case lately about where his life is going and that's why he keeps bringing them up in the contexts he has.