In this episode of KARAMO’s “Unlock the Phone” segment, host Karamo mediates a heated confrontation between 60‑year‑old Retta and 38‑year‑old JJ (Jerome Anthony Johnson Jr.). Retta claims she has been in a six‑and‑a‑half‑year relationship with JJ, during which he married another woman, yet she continued to support him financially, even selling her home and moving to Georgia based on his promise of a divorce. She alleges JJ has been texting his ex‑wife, using other women, and exploiting her money. JJ denies many of Retta’s accusations, stating the relationship ended in 2021 and that he never led her on. Karamo challenges both parties, questions their timelines, and points out patterns of manipulation. After a back‑and‑forth exchange, Karamo urges Retta to recognize her self‑worth, journal her experiences, and cut ties. Retta declares she has received her answers, will block JJ’s number, and move on with her life, while JJ maintains he is moving on as well. The segment ends with Retta feeling a burden lifted and committing to a new start.
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Here's an Unlock the Phone story that left everyone talking. 60-year-old Retta says she's been in love with 38-year-old JJ for 6 and a half years, but in the middle of their relationship, he married someone else and she wants his phone unlocked to see what's really going on. When you say you gave your everything, what do you mean by that?
After he got married, we continued to see each other. I never, never, never left.
Why?
As I love him, I'm in love with him.
Whew. Okay.
Whew.
So what'd you do?
I sold my home and moved to Augusta, Georgia while he was still married to this girl off of the account that he would get a divorce when I got there.
Hmm.
And when you moved there, what did he do?
He continued to go back and forth between me and her.
So he didn't get the divorce?
He never got a divorce until the very end of it.
And how long ago was that?
5 or 6 months.
Did you ever hear from his wife?
Me and his wife are best friends today.
Girl, you playing now.
Well, me and the wife just became friends about a couple of weeks ago when a situation went down.
I'm still confused on why you friends with either of 'em. So when was last time you and JJ were intimate?
August the 24th of 2024.
And when was the last time you saw him?
August 24th of 2024.
So are y'all in a relationship right now?
I don't know what the hell you call, I mean, I don't know what to call it.
Now you can be real 'cause I don't know what the hell to call it either. You can be real. My producers who can be shady sometimes said they made a timeline. Okay, so this is what happened. JJ moves in after meeting online. October, he visits his family in Georgia. Then November 2021 is when he marries another woman. Then 2022 is when you sell the house to be with him. August 24th, you two are intimate. And then 3 weeks ago, you visit JJ and buy him groceries.
I know, right?
Okay. So you asked our Unlock the Phone investigator to unlock JJ's phone 'cause you wanted to know if JJ was talking to other women. how JJ really feels about you and if JJ will take this relationship seriously, correct?
Correct.
What happened last night?
We were gonna go out and have some drinks. Well, lo and behold, here go JJ with his BS. He's texting the ex-wife, oh, this bitch trying to come to my room. Oh, this bitch trying to get me to sleep with her.
And you know that because you and the ex are friends?
Yeah, 'cause—
So she told you.
And he's telling her this and stuff. I'm saying this to her, she's sending me every text message.
I think it's time to welcome JJ to the show. So everyone, please welcome JJ. Hey, what's going on? Do you agree with the way Redda describes your relationship?
I mean, I ain't lie about anything.
Okay. Did you ever have feelings for her?
Yeah, in the beginning.
And what happened?
I mean, we separated and I moved on.
That's not true.
Well, gimme your version then.
I mean, she was tearing all my stuff up, kicking me out, just doing all kind of crazy stuff, so I moved on.
Were you doing that?
Yeah, 'cause he was in my house cheating on me.
You agree with this timeline? Did you move in after meeting online in 2019?
Yeah, 2019, yeah, I moved in.
Okay, and then October 2021, you visit your family in Georgia?
No.
Yes, you did.
I moved home.
You moved home?
You went to visit.
I ain't went to visit. How you gonna tell me?
You still had clothes at my house.
Hold on, we got moving graphics up? They don't tell me what's happening here 'cause I'm like, whoa.
We broke up.
So you broke up in October 2021?
Yes.
So you telling me when you left my home on October the 15th of 2021 that me and you was not in a committed relationship? Yes, we were, and you know why we were? Because I called and asked you, was you getting married? And you told me no.
I ain't talk to you.
You did! Stop lying, that's why we're here today.
That ain't why I'm here today, why you here?
If you don't wanna be with me, it's okay. But stop leading me on and stop playing with me, my money, my heart.
I ain't leading you on, nothing.
Yes, you are!
You leading yourself on.
You just texted me 72 hours to 48 hours ago telling me you love me and you wanted to be with me!
When the hell that was? Hey, I don't know about this, I'm not. Okay.
August 2024, were y'all intimate?
No, sir. I don't know nothing about that. We wasn't together.
Did you ask her for money?
I mean—
Every day! Every day! And you better not lie. Every day!
I don't know nothing about that right now.
Every day I give you. Every day you call me, I'm there for you. Anytime you need anything, I'm there for you. Don't you dare. I gave up everything I had for you because you told me you were getting a divorce.
I ain't tell you anything.
You did, Jerome Anthony Johnson Jr. Now today is the day. Today is the day.
Miss, sit down.
I ain't sitting nowhere. I done sat down long enough and I ain't voiced my opinion for 6 years. Today I'm gonna say what I need to say to him.
Get out my face, sit down.
I ain't getting out your face. I should have been on your neck.
That's a lie, girl, you ain't.
I should have been on your neck.
Mm-hmm.
You didn't give up anything for me. You didn't sell nothing for me. I don't call you and ask you for nothing. What I ask you for is your loyalty and your respect. Did you call that other woman? Did you call that other woman? Did you call that other woman?
Is we together?
Who did you call? Is we together?
JJ, let me ask you a question real quick. Do you think you use women?
No.
Yes.
Nope.
I would advise you to answer that question right. I'm gonna tell you a new shit on this stage.
Well, this the thing right here. This the thing right here. I can already track behavior. I know you do use women. I can already tell from this, for the fact that if you're saying, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, and then you get the audacity to ask her for groceries, I know that you use women. So that's already evident to me. So you can just own it and say, I do.
I don't.
But you do. Listen, we unlocked your phone, JJ. So, well actually, hold on, actually my producer tell me we actually did not unlock 'cause you have a confession.
Greta, I'm not unlocking my phone, period. We are just friends. Our relationship ended 2021. We will never be in a relationship ever again. I appreciate everything you done for me, but I'm moving on. You already did. You already did.
JJ, what has been happening the last 3 years?
I mean, we wasn't together in the last 3 years.
Okay, you got your answers?
Yes, I do.
Okay, so I'm gonna ask you this, 'cause this whole thing right now, talking about you in love with this little boy right here is silly. I'm gonna ask you really quickly, so at what point did your self-esteem get broken that you felt like this is what you deserve? Because that's the real question we gotta talk about here. Because all these antics, all I heard was either a young woman that was hurt, never healed, and also you think That's what I heard both times. Like, don't do this. I'm not on your side.
I'm just saying, I'm just like—
Don't do it. I ain't on your side. I ain't on your side. You use women and you do some deceitful stuff and you gotta grow through that. You understand?
I said I don't use 'em. You—
That's a good point.
So I'm gonna ask you again, at what point did your self-esteem break that you stopped understanding what you deserve?
I don't know.
Okay, so that's the first place we gotta start.
I don't know.
Because for any grown woman who, I see the passion, I understand the hurt, but the choice to sell your house was not a JJ choice, that was a you choice. And that is a choice, that is a choice of somebody who doesn't understand their own worth, their own security, what they have to do for themselves. If you could easily give up your own security for a man because that tells me something about your emotional and mental state. And that's what needs to be fixed. And until you face up and say you gotta do that work, this gonna keep happening. And I really need you to buy a journal and journal from the age 5 and up. What were the moments that you felt that life told you you didn't deserve better? Can you promise me you'll leave here and go do the work?
I promise you.
Please.
I promise.
The truth always comes out here, whether it's on this couch or when the guests step off stage. Take a look at this.
I feel much better. I got my answers. I'm ready to begin my new journey in life without Jerome Johnson.
Yeah.
I'm okay. As soon as I get my phone, I'm gonna block his number. I'm gonna take him out my phone. I'm not gonna respond to any text messages, any phone calls. I'm not showing up. I'm not giving him any more access to me. His access to me now is denied. I gave him money. I took care of him.
Thank you.
I feel like a burden has been lifted off my shoulder. I feel like I can now go on with my life. I know where I stand at in his life. And I'm okay with that. That's all I ever wanted to know. Why do you handle me the way you handle me? And I found out today that I'm not who he wanna be with and I'm not who he chooses. And that's okay. I just wish he would've told me a long time ago. I went to the bare edge where I settled because I, I just wanted to be with somebody. And he was there and I went full force. Hi, JJ. This will be the last time you have any talking, any communication with me, any access to me. I'm gonna now move on with my life as you have with your life. I just wish you would've told me when you decided to move on with your life so I could've moved on with mine and not continue to hold on to someone that didn't want me. So after saying all of that, I will wish you the best in your life and best on your journey. God bless you and take care.
When you come to my show, just know we've got cameras everywhere. You're welcome.
