Interracial relationships are mostly welcomed with conversations about race and social standards, but viewers of Michelle Williams’ reality show with fiancé Chad Johnson were confused over the many layers of their interesting union.
Over the weekend, the second episode of the OWN series Chad Loves Michelle aired and centered on the topic of their interracial relationship. The singer began dating the pastor in the summer of 2017 and have faced a lot of battles including Williams’ bout with depression. In the second episode, Johnson brought up her mental health after the two argued over race.
“I said something to him on the lines of, ‘Well, Chad, because you are not Black you would not understand why I communicate the way I do. Maybe because you didn’t grow up around a lot of Black people.’” she explained to their therapist Dr. Thema. “And this is not to justify it, but yesterday when we had the disagreement, he said, ‘Did you take your meds today?’”
Johnson tried to apologize to Williams, explaining how race shouldn’t be a factor in every topic. He also talked about the topic with another interracial couple that felt more like white tears than white concern.
“For me, it’s about what is a desirable culture we want to establish in our home in our reality and how we want to raise our kids because so much of our communication doesn’t necessarily go back to being black or white,” he said. “[As white men] you feel like everything you say is gonna be ‘you don’t understand, you don’t get it.'”
In the end, the two plan on working on their perspectives on race relations as their union moves forward. “Race is an uncomfortable thing Chad and I don’t like to talk about, but we’re learning that we have to talk about it,” she said.
The two also took a trip to Colorado, where they met his family.
The dust might be settled on this topic between the two, but social media (like Williams predicted) wasn’t as forgiving to Johnson.
Michelle Williams husband threw jabs at her Mental health because he got mad because she brought up race?! Girl you Better Bash Mista head in and think about Heaven later pic.twitter.com/6Mfrb5j9xv
— DKT (@darleneturner53) November 12, 2018
So Michelle Williams' PASTOR fiancé got mad when she mentioned race, AND took a shot at her using medication for mental health? It is a NO from us all. pic.twitter.com/4jt4087Vkr
— Nicole Vassell (@nicolevassell) November 12, 2018
Michelle Williams having her very recent mental health issues be used against her by a significant other literally hurts my heart for her. I know that feeling way too well and it causes so much more damage than people realize.
— Lindsey India (@LindseyIndia) November 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/SkipBaeless/status/1061840475450212352
Michelle Williams is depressed and dealing with what seems like a shitty partner and now she gotta deal with the internet finding out about it. We gotta keep our girl uplifted in prayer.
— Pimp B (@FLOCKAfierce) November 12, 2018
The couple hasn’t commented on the backlash from the episode. Chad Loves Michelle airs Sundays at 9 pm ET.
READ MORE: Michelle Williams And Chad Johnson Discuss Their Road To “I Do”