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Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard of Reesa Teesa, the internet's newest main character. Based in Atlanta, of course, Teesa took to TikTok with the captivating 50-part video series “Who TF Did I Marry” about her relationship with a “pathological liar” she calls “Legion.”
The nearly eight-hour play-by-play (yes, that long) has racked up more than 1 million views for each video and has been featured by Rolling Stone, Time Magazine, The Cut, and countless others. HuffPost Audience Editor Cambria Roth says the videos are worth watching.
“She’s a fantastic storyteller,” Roth said. “I listen to it like a podcast.” Some Good Samaritans have taken it upon themselves to write SparkNotes for the rest of the class, but this should be a lesson for all of us to use discernment in our relationships and to pray that we will Actually and accurately know the identity of the people we are getting married.
Teesa called her Legion experience “the United Nation of Red Flags,” and I cannot express how understated that is.
Y'all, someone deleted the cliff notes on “Who Tf Did I Marry” so I took to Facebook to get them back for us – shout out to Janelle Simmons, you're the real thing because I wasn't planning on having a 50th -part Tiktok to get through pic.twitter.com/x4MlmN9rVs
— Kylee💫 (@itsme_Kylee) February 19, 2024
Let me be clear: You will rarely see me, a woman raised in Macon, Georgia, defending a man from Atlanta. However, moving in with someone a month after meeting them isn't the best idea, even if it was at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. But Reesa, girl, if you like it, I love it.
The story is full of twists, deceptions and drama. There's a fake CEO conspiracy, twin brother impersonation, fake bank statements and more. It reminds us of the days when long-running television series were prevalent, before streamers and networks constantly canceled shows after two seasons.
What this really comes back to, however, is Zola.
In 2015, A'Ziah “Zola” King created the Twitter thread format we know and love today. She left so Teesa could run! You may remember when King wrote a viral Twitter thread in 2015 about a wild two-day trip to Florida. This thread became the source material for Janicza Bravo's A24 film “Zola” (2021), starring Taylour Paige, Colman Domingo, Riley Keough and “Succession” star Nicholas Braun.
We hope Teesa receives financial compensation for bravely sharing her trauma online, even as social media users' opinions are divided. Some fear her story will lead to a wave of people looking for business by making up elaborate lies. Others fear making a spectacle out of a black woman's pain.
So Reesa Teesa finally travels to London and Paris and looks at the comments – I don't have a story anywhere near that big, but chili, let me go there and tell my business too pic.twitter.com/4tIJNjSwYH
– CUNTtry TyTy (@tytyissofly) February 21, 2024
It's crazy watching 52 entire parts to hear one person tell you they're a fucking idiot in 52 different ways. But no one is going to take Ls private again when Delta and Hilton give you fucking ugly liars free stuff and announce it to millions
– Rae Sanni (@raesanni) February 22, 2024
ReesaTeesa truly changed the social media game because she invested the world in a 50-part series (approximately 500 minutes) of content about her pathological, lying ex-husband. Absolute queen.
She deserves all the good things, brand offers and compensation.
– DOM 🪄 (@fairybrandmuva_) February 20, 2024
Nobody thinks it's a bit strange how popular a black woman's trauma story is becoming?
– holistic mommy✨ (@LeArielleSimone) February 21, 2024
For many, Teesa's narrative is a masterclass in authenticity, vulnerability and good storytelling. But the jokes and memes are still hilarious.
One Twitter user wrote, “The government saw you all watching 500 minutes of a story on Tiktok and cut off service to everyone,” a reference to AT&T's nationwide outage on Thursday.
But some unique opportunities are already opening up. Susan Yara, founder of skincare brand Naturium, offered to send Teesa to London at her own expense. “There are no strings attached,” Yara said on TikTok. “I just want to treat her!”
Delta Airlines and Hilton Hotels & Resorts commented on Teesa's videos and urged her to claim their free travel and accommodations for the trip. After everything Teesa has been through, she deserves more than a little reward, but the path ahead is entirely hers.
Now that you've thanked your lucky stars that you're not living through their nightmare, sit back, relax and enjoy the latest edition of The Culture Catchall.
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