When it’s all said and done, no other celebrity, this year, has played — or rather been resigned — to the role of public enemy No. 1 more than Chad Johnson — and, well, rightfully so. The former NFL star watched his world burn to cinders after he head butted his ex-wife, Evelyn Lozada, this summer and was subsequently dropped from his Miami Dolphins contract and several other lucrative deals. But, Johnson says there is no one to blame but himself, and on a recent episode of ESPN’s “First Take,” Johnson admits that the destructive behaviors that destroyed his marriage (infidelity and domestic violence) have plagued him for years.
During the interview, in which Johnson was grilled by three interviewers at once, he admits that it was infidelity that sparked the final argument with Lozada that led to his violent attack.
“That’s where everything stemmed from,” Johnson admitted, adding that it was wrong to ever hit Lozada. “What happened was a mistake. That’s what happened. A mistake that I’ve continuously apologized for with the people that I’ve hurt, including my wife. I think me continuing to say ‘sorry’ sort of drowns it out.”
Johnson further explains that his destructive behavior has been going on for years and that it finally caught up to him and cost him everything.
“There was a domestic dispute, for one, which was all my fault, because I’m living life the way it shouldn’t be lived. [That’s] why I lost everything I did,” Johnson claimed. “It is what it is. I made the bed, I’m laying in it. I paid the price for what I did wrong.”
Despite his own violent past, Johnson explains that he believes domestic violence is wrong.
“My stance is it’s wrong. It’s wrong. It’s common sense, but I’ve made mistakes,” said Chad. “Don’t crucify me because we all sin differently.”
Although Johnson has fallen from grace in both the media and in football, he says he hopes to play the sport again.
“I’m going to play again,” said Chad, although admitting that he’s prepared to let go of his sports dreams. “If I don’t, I am fine with walking away. I don’t have a choice. What am I gonna do? Fuss? Knock down the doors? Beg? Chile, please!”
Check out some other apologetic abusers below. –nicholas robinson
