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Lia Marie Johnson

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Lia Marie Johnson
Johnson at the 2014 VidCon at the Anaheim Convention Center
Born (1996-11-23) November 23, 1996 (age 27)[1]
San Diego, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Internet personality, actress, singer
Years active2007–present
Spouse
Charlie Hudson
​
(m. 2023)​

Lia Marie Johnson (born November 23, 1996) is an American internet personality, actress, and singer. She first received recognition for her work on YouTube, rising to fame for creating skits and song covers, and for her appearances in the Fine Brothers web series Kids React (2010–2011). She then played Terry the Tomboy in the sketch comedy series AwesomenessTV (2013–2014) and the Nickelodeon television movie Terry the Tomboy (2014).

Johnson self-released her debut single "Moment Like You" in 2015, and signed with Capitol Records the following year. She then starred in the YouTube Premium films The Thinning (2016) and The Thinning: New World Order (2018), and in the web series T@gged (2016–2018). She independently released her debut extended play Pomegranate in 2024.

Early life

[edit]

Johnson was born in San Diego, California, but moved to Wahiawa, Hawaii at six months old.[2] She has four sisters and a brother. Her family eventually settled in California. In 2012, in a combined episode of Teens React and Elders React about the 2012 United States presidential election, Johnson stated that she was a Democrat.

Career

[edit]

Johnson's YouTube account was created in 2007, with videos uploaded by her mother which featured her performances at talent shows,[3] and church recitals.[4] After two years, Johnson began to control the output of the channel, creating content that has come to include personal commentary, sketch comedy, and musical performances.[3] Between 2009-2011, Johnson released music as part of the girl group Pink Army.[2]

In 2010, Johnson began to work with the Fine Brothers as a recurring guest on their Kids React series.[5] This exposure increased the traffic to her own channel and became an early source of her online fame. In the aftermath of the initial series episodes, she was surprised by the phenomenon of strangers knowing her and approaching her as fans, and remarked "I think Kids React was my very first viral video, 'cus everyone knew my name after that."[3]

In 2011, Johnson was added to the recurring cast of the spin-off series Teens React, and in 2014 was moved again to the newly established YouTubers React, which featured herself and various well known YouTube personalities. In 2014, Johnson appeared at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards,[6] and starred in Terry the Tomboy, a spin-off film based on the eponymous character she portrays on the Nickelodeon sketch comedy series, AwesomenessTV.[7] She was profiled by Adweek in 2014 as one of the "biggest young stars on YouTube".[8]

In 2015, she covered the single "Latch" by Disclosure, singing with Alejandro Luis Manzano of Boyce Avenue, and released it on YouTube. The song was originally performed by singer Sam Smith. Johnson has also been featured on the covers of Adweek and BYou Magazine.[4][7] On January 9, 2015, Johnson released her first single, "Moment Like You", along with a music video which can be found on her YouTube channel.[9] She appeared in the music video for Post Malone's single "Go Flex", which was released on April 28, 2016.

On September 28, she explained to her fans that she had signed to Capitol Records, and was continuing to work on the music album she had been recording for the previous two years.[10] The following month she released her first single produced by Howard Benson through Capitol Records titled "DNA"[11] which surpassed 1 million Spotify streams. In November of that year, she interviewed then-current president Barack Obama.[12] On February 17, 2017, Johnson released her second single "Cold Heart Killer". The music video for the song was released on March 10, 2017. A year later, Johnson debuted her third single "Champagne" on May 17, 2018.

Starting mid November 2019, Lia teased a new project on her Instagram page, with one promotional photo being posted every day.[13] Seven days later, Lia announced her fourth single titled, "Moonflower," on November 23, 2019. Johnson released her fifth single, "Like a God", on March 12, 2020.

In the first half of 2021, Johnson began posting personal videos and covers on her YouTube channel again after four years of inactivity.[14] She released the single "Lifts" on January 1, 2021, followed by "Nectar" on March 19 and "Venus Sunrise" on April 30. An accompanying music video was issued for all three songs.[15][16][17]

In October 2022, Johnson started teasing upcoming music that she had been preparing for 2023.

Personal life

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On January 2, 2020, Johnson streamed on Instagram Live what appeared to be her intoxicated in a room. During the live stream, an older male alleged by those close to Johnson as being her producer since she was 15, Steven Wetherbee, is heard talking and seen wrapping his arms around Johnson and kissing her.[18] The older male then repeatedly asks Johnson whether or not she is on Instagram, warning her to stay off of it as it could damage his career. In a stream later the same evening, a male voice asks about Instagram again, then Instagram Live, and then takes Johnson's phone away. His face is briefly on the stream before it is paused and eventually ends.

Fans reacted to the video with calls to action out of concern Johnson was suffering potential grooming and abuse from Wetherbee, due to the vast age difference between the two (Johnson being 23 and Wetherbee 67 at the time) and Johnson's recent risqué streams and apparent intoxicated behavior,[19] as well as her song "DNA" which talks about and has visuals of repeating cycles of alcoholism and domestic violence.[11] However, neither Wetherbee nor Johnson have responded to inquiries regarding the incident. Steve Wetherbee's social media profiles have since been deactivated and Johnson's personal YouTube account saw a hiatus for two years after the incident.[14]

In a video released on January 4, 2023, Johnson discussed repeated abuse she suffered and confirmed her producer at the time was taking advantage of her in the Instagram Live incident. She went on to state she felt trapped in the situation, was lured out of her sobriety by Wetherbee, and went on Instagram Live as a cry for help.[20]

In 2022, Johnson announced she had moved to England to live with her boyfriend, English musician Charlie Hudson.[21] They married in 2023.

Johnson announced that as of March 2023, she was one year sober. She continues to post about her sobriety on her social media pages.[citation needed]

Filmography

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List of acting performances in film and television
Year Title Role Notes
2008 No Man's Land
When Weather Changed History Granddaughter 1 episode
2009 Shattered Allegiance Danielle Rourke (age 10) Short
I Do and I Don't Kim (age 10) Short
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Cheerleader One episode (credited as Lia Johnson)
The Unit Soccer player 1 episode (uncredited)
Collide Little girl Short
Cam Gigandet vs. Twilight Fans Fan #7 Video short
2010 The Ryan and Randi Show Singer Short
Shane Dawson TV Girl watching Degrassi Episode: "Hot Teens Go Wild On Degrassi: Part 2"
2010–2011 Kids React Herself
2010 The Station Bethanny 1 episode
Sidewalk Symphony Female drummer Short
2010–2011 OMGtv!! LIVE Herself 3 episodes
2011 Monster in My Swimming Pool Katie Short
2011–2014 Teens React Herself
2011 The Rehearsal Penny
2012 Nerd Wars! Doris Short
Open Your Eyes Short
It's a Criminal World Segment: "Shattered Allegiance"
Teens Wanna Know Guest 1 episode
Finding Cody Lilli
2012–2014 MyMusic Rayna 14 episodes
2013 Counterpunch Lia
Spirits Kaelyn Farrow 3 episodes
2013–2014 AwesomenessTV Various
2013-2015 Side Effects Susan
2014 Expelled Katie
Terry the Tomboy Terry Television film (Nickelodeon)
React to That Herself
2014–2015 YouTubers React Herself
2015 Everything Before Us Tiff Wong Fu Productions
2016 The Thinning Ellie Harper YouTube Red Original Movie
American Wrestler: The Wizard Kristi Larson ESX Productions
Emma's Chance Meg Bowler Taylor&Dodge
2016–2018 T@gged Hailey Jensen 24 episodes
2017 Ruta Madre Daisy
2018 Bayou Caviar Kat
The Thinning: New World Order Ellie Harper YouTube Red Original Movie
2022 Murder at Yellowstone City Eugenia Martin

Discography

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EPs

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List of extended plays
Title Details
Pomegranate
  • Released: July 19, 2024
  • Label: Independent
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

As a lead artist

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Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Dance
[22]
"Moment Like You" 2014 — Non-album singles
"DNA" 2016 —
"Cold Heart Killer" 2017 —
"The Wave"
(with R3HAB) 		2018 33 The Wave
"Champagne" — Non-album singles
"Moonflower" 2019 —
"Like a God" 2020 —
"Lifts" 2021 — TBA
"Nectar" — Pomegranate
"Venus Sunrise" —
"Euphoria" — TBA
"Sin" 2022 —
"Smoking Gun" 2023 —
"Riverbeds"
(with Charlie Hudson)

[23]

— The Boy III
"Chasing Malibu"
(with Charlie Hudson) 		—
"Event Horizon" 2024 — Pomegranate
"Pink House In Hollywood" — TBA
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
[edit]
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
"Falling For You"
(Norman Doray & Anevo featuring Lia Marie Johnson) 		2016 — Non-album single
"Polarized"
(Alicia Eris featuring Lia Marie Johnson) 		2019 — Universoul
"Dna"
(Heartbrkkidd featuring Lia Marie Johnson) 		2020 — Non-album singles
"Bang!"
(Hues featuring Lia Marie Johnson) 		—
"Up All Night"
(Ryan Bowers featuring Lia Marie Johnson) 		—
"Work for It"
(Ryan Bowers featuring Lia Marie Johnson & Nuthen Nyce) 		—
"Long Road"
(Ryan Bowers featuring Lia Marie Johnson) 		—
"Dreaming"
(Lxmb featuring Lia Marie Johnson, Tay Diddy & Dre Da Kingpen) 		—
"Right Now"
(Ryan Bowers featuring Lia Marie Johnson) 		— Running With Scissors
"I Need You"
(Ryan Bowers featuring Lia Marie Johnson) 		— Non-album singles
"Find No Love"
(Ryan Bowers featuring Lit-One & Lia Marie Johnson) 		—
"Let Me Breathe"
(Ryan Bowers featuring Lia Marie Johnson & Cliff Rich) 		—
"You"
(Charlie Hudson featuring Lia Marie Johnson) 		2021 — The Boy I
"Been Ready"
(Don Lincoln featuring GreatDaeg & Lia Marie Johnson) 		— Non-album Singles
"Free"
(Hues featuring Lia Marie Johnson) 		—
"Fallen"
(Jayr Gidum featuring Lia Marie Johnson) 		—
"Wandering (Don't Go)
(Hues featuring Lia Marie Johnson) 		2022 —
"Blood"
(Charlie Hudson featuring Lia Marie Johnson) 		2023 — The Boy III

Other appearances

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Title Year Other artists Album
"By The Bank" 2020 Ryan Bowers Running With Scissors
"Locked Up"
"I Don't Need You"
"Don't Go Nowhere"
"Withdrawals"

Music videos

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Year Song Original Artist(s)
2015 Let's Roll Trevi Moran
"Moment Like You" Herself
2016 "Youth" Troye Sivan
"Go Flex" Post Malone
"DNA" Herself
2017 "Cold Heart Killer" Herself
2018 "The Wave" R3hab, Herself
2020 "Up All Night" Ryan Bowers, Herself
"Anymore" Ryan Bowers
2021 "Lifts" Herself
"Nectar" Herself
"Venus Sunrise" Herself
2022 "Sin" Herself
2023 "Smoking Gun" Herself
2024 "Event Horizon" Herself
"Pink House In Hollywood" Herself

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref
2015 Woodie Awards Social Climber Woodie Herself Nominated [24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Lia Marie Johnson: Movies, Photos, Videos, News & Biography - eTimes". The Times of India. Archived from the original on September 5, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Army, Pink. "Pink Army | San Diego Reader". www.sandiegoreader.com. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Lia Marie Johnson (interview participant) (August 22, 2012). YouTube Cutie Lia Marie Johnson Talks Past, Present, & Future (Video podcast). Santa Monica, California: Fanlala, Inc. Archived from the original on August 24, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2014 – via Youtube.
  4. ^ a b T.L. Stanley (March 9, 2014). "Meet 12 of the Biggest Young Stars on YouTube". Adweek. LV (10). Photography by Karl J. Kaul. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on August 13, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  5. ^ Gallagher, Michael Aaron (July 12, 2012). "Lia Marie Johnson always wears her sunshine (Exclusive Interview)". stayfamous.net. Archived from the original on August 9, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  6. ^ Oliver, Dana (March 30, 2014). "Kids' Choice Awards 2014: Hollywood's Youngest Stars Do Crop Tops & Cutouts (PHOTOS)". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on August 4, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  7. ^ a b Lia Marie Johnson (interview participant) (May 27, 2014). Lia Marie Johnson Talks About Working with BYOU Magazine (Video podcast). Santa Monica, California: Fanlala, Inc. Archived from the original on January 24, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2014 – via Youtube.
  8. ^ Stanley, T.L. (March 9, 2014). "Meet 12 of the Biggest Young Stars on YouTube". Adweek. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  9. ^ "Lia Marie Johnson - Moment Like You (Official Music Video)". January 9, 2015. Archived from the original on September 17, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2015 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ "Lia Marie Johnson announces album". Archived from the original on September 30, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2016 – via Youtube.
  11. ^ a b "Lia Marie Johnson "DNA" Available Now". Capitol Records. Archived from the original on September 17, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  12. ^ Brandle, Lars. "Lia Marie Johnson Interviews President Obama: Exclusive Video". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  13. ^ "7 days". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  14. ^ a b "liamariejohnson's Channel". YouTube. Archived from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  15. ^ "Instagram post about release of "Lifts"". Instagram. January 1, 2021. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  16. ^ "Instagram post about release of "Nectar"". Instagram. March 19, 2021. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  17. ^ "Instagram post about release of "Venus Sunrise"". Instagram. April 30, 2021. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  18. ^ Tenbarge, Kat. "Fans of YouTube 'Kids React' child star Lia Marie Johnson are worried after a disturbing Instagram Live". Insider. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  19. ^ Tenbarge, Kat. "YouTube created a viral child star with a bright future. Now the internet is exploiting her as she's unraveling in front of millions". Insider. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  20. ^ Cao, Steffi (January 7, 2023). "YouTube Star Lia Marie Johnson Says "Love" Saved Her From Drug Addiction After "Kids React" Fame". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  21. ^ Maldonado, Daisy (January 11, 2023). "YouTuber Lia Marie Johnson Opens Up About Past Suicide Attempt, Drug-Induced Psychosis and Abuse". E!. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  22. ^ * "The Wave": "R3HAB Dance/Electronic Chart Hisoty". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  23. ^ "Riverbeds - Single". music.apple.com.
  24. ^ "The 2015 mtvU Woodies: See The Full Winners List". MTV News. Archived from the original on February 6, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
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