‘Don’t Date Brandon’: Ex-Wives on Warning Women About Conman Ex

Amber Rasmussen’s life took a dark turn when she met Brandon Johnson on Tinder over a decade ago. At first, she was smitten by him, but soon realized that he was not the man she thought he was. Johnson’s ex-wife, Athena Klingerman, who he had described as “crazy,” turned out to be innocent in the whole ordeal. It was Johnson who was the problem all along.

Paramount’s latest true-crime docuseries, “Don’t Date Brandon,” delves into the twisted web of lies and deceit that Johnson spun. From pretending to work for Nike to faking cancer, and cheating on his wife continuously, Johnson’s true colors were finally exposed. He even went as far as setting up a fake coparenting app to manipulate the situation between Rasmussen and Klingerman.

The three-part docuseries follows Rasmussen’s journey of uncovering Johnson’s lies and eventually leaving him. However, the nightmare didn’t end there. Johnson’s harassment continued even after their divorce, with alleged suicide threats, stalking, break-ins, and GPS tracking. Rasmussen had to secure a protective order against him to protect herself.

In a surprising turn of events, Rasmussen and Klingerman, who were once enemies, joined forces to warn others about Johnson through their podcast, “Ex-Wives Undercover.” The podcast led to more victims coming forward, shedding light on Johnson’s sordid past. In 2023, Johnson was finally arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison for assault, attempted kidnapping with intent to sexually assault, and 10 counts of attempted first-degree theft in a separate fraud case.

In an interview with Variety, Rasmussen and Klingerman discussed their decision to turn their podcast into a docuseries despite the potential backlash from Johnson. They expressed their determination to expose Johnson’s true nature and help others who might be in similar situations.

As Johnson’s eligibility for parole in 2027 looms, Rasmussen and Klingerman fear for their safety. They believe that Johnson, who still refuses to take accountability for his actions, poses a threat if released. While they acknowledge that prolonging his sentence may not be possible, they hope that the docuseries will at least make law enforcement more vigilant of any future criminal activity.

Ultimately, Rasmussen and Klingerman feel that they have fulfilled their purpose by warning others about Johnson. They hope that their story will serve as a cautionary tale and empower women to recognize the warning signs of abusive behavior. By sharing their experience, they aim to prevent others from falling victim to a manipulative predator like Brandon Johnson.