Relationships Talk

We’ve watched her rock the stage as 1/3 of Destiny Child, act in some of Broadway’s biggest shows, and now she’s fallen for the man of her dreams Chad Johnson. The couple sat down with the A-Scene’s Francesca Amiker to discuss their love story, plans for the future, and the marriage advice Michelle received from her Destiny’s Child band mates.

Chad Johnson and Michelle Williams visit ‘Extra’ at Universal Studios Hollywood on November 7, 2018 in Universal City, California. (Getty Images)

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AMIKER: So, I’m very curious. We’re going to just jump right in it here.  You guys met on a retreat. Now, as someone who is single, I’m like, “Girl, is that something that you would recommend?”

WILLIAMS:  You are so hilarious. A few women have been like, “Girl, what’s the name of that retreat?”  So, Chad has a Young Adult retreat every year outside of Phoenix called “REMIX” for his young adults based off of his ministry called Elevate. So that’s how we met. A friend of mine said, “You gotta come to this retreat. It’s gonna change your life.” And of course, I said yes. I love being in church.  That’s how we met.

AMIKER: So, this is really a match made in heaven, a match that will soon be in matrimony. You guys are very faith-based and religious. So, what drew you to her? I heard you made the move.

JOHNSON: I did make the move. I wanted to kinda wanted to test the waters.  She kinda gave me the Heisman, gave me a little stiff arm, but it ended up working out because look what’s on her finger. Persistence pays off.  

WILLIAMS: Sometimes you want a man to be clear on his communication.  So when he first approached me. I said, “I don’t know what you talking about.” That’s pretty much what he meant by the Heisman.

AMIKER: March 21st, and now you guys will be walking down the aisle in your time. I have to ask…reality tv. I didn’t see this coming but you all see it in your future. What made you say let me jump in reality television and showcase my life with my new man?

WILLIAMS: Well I didn’t think reality tv per se, which of course technically that’s what  it is.  I thought lets have the cameras roll on a real pre-marital counseling session because so many people we know or so many people that follow us have told that “me and my husband never did  pre-marital counseling.” And I’m like how? I just don’t think we can be successful without all the tools and pre-marital counseling brings up all the topics you need to talk about now.

AMIKER: So you’re slowing starting to find some things out about Michelle.

JOHNSON: Yeah, and counseling has helped out a lot.

AMIKER: So in this recent episode, it really got heated. You guys have been doing press and of course, you’re talking about it. A lot of people went after Chad when he went after your mental health, and you did come to his defense but why do you think it is important for you to say the thing about the mental health, “did you take your meds”?

JOHNSON: Well it wasn’t important in the moment. That episode is interesting because it captures just a portion of our counseling session and so that specific episode was on communication, and we were talking about how we communicate, the different nuances that we’re learning to understand one another through. And that was one thing that we failed at and we decided to show our failure, and in showing our failure, the world decided to make a story of it.

WILLIAMS: Take it and run with it! And then the crazy thing is. Yes, he asked me did I take my meds.  But in that same episode, if you watched the episode, he says “I apologize, I should have never said that.” But people don’t even know what I was saying in that same disagreement, argument, whatever you want to call it. So, don’t come after Chad. Please don’t do that. I haven’t either in my communication with him. He said it one time. He’s never said anything crazy like that. So, you know, things happen. I just want people at home to search your communication with your parents, with your significant other, with how you treat people at work. I feel like while you’re running your mouth about what Chad said, make sure your communication is crystal clear and perfect too.

AMIKER: And you guys being on this show really do show this new light on interracial dating as well. Have you both ever had a relationship that was interracial?

WILLIAMS: No, I recall trying to date someone outside my race and the person’s mom told him, “No, you can have black friends, but you just can’t date them. I said I want you and your mom to have a relationship so I’m gonna be out. But I was in 7th grade…I was really young. I haven’t thought about it since. You can say when we  got together we didn’t think about race. The world brought it…they think about it.

JOHNSON : It’s not my first time dating outside of my race, but definitely going this far.

AMIKER: And then getting engaged, so when you all have children because we know that is a possibility, do you find that it might be a difficult conversation to have because they need to know?

WILLIAMS: I feel like we can prepare for things. But you won’t know until we’re actually having children when they start asking us questions. I do think that’s when we’ll know the temperament of each child and we’ll, of course, be honest. Yes, mommy is black. Yes, daddy is white. You are beautiful.

AMIKER: What’s been the most difficult thing about shooting this. You are displaying your life in front of the world. 

WILLIAMS:  I will say the shooting schedule is not consistent. Sometimes you don’t know the night before what you’ll be doing.  But I will say the most difficult thing, knowing the intent of the show, our heart was to inspire people let people know don’t just call us relationship goals because of a cute, fly picture you saw on social media. Just know behind that picture is work.  Love is going to win no matter what!

AMIKER: You go, girl!

WILLIAMS: That was the intent of our show and I feel a little bit like man, should we have done it? You know older folks mention the Bible talking about, “Do not let your good be evil spoken of.” We wanted to be good. We wanted to be a light.  We wanted to inspire as a form of ministry. We wanted this platform to speak on the realness of a relationship.

JOHNSON: And I think it’s a joy to show you the reality, because so many people think this love thing, this marriage thing, is all this great fantasy and fairy tale that you see in a Disney film. But the reality is it takes work. You can love each other and still have to work.

WILLIAMS: And it can be a fairy tale when you can get through some of the hard things that I can speak to forever, our engagement to each other did amplify things in me that I didn’t know I was healed from. And you will see that in this show as it plays out.

AMIKER: We have quite a few Michelle Williams fans in the building so they put out one question for you and it was “So you are now engaged to the love of your life, have you received any type of marriage advice from Kelly Rowland and Beyonce?”

WILLIAMS: Of course! Of course! They are so excited. They can’t wait to plan this bachelorette party. I’m like I don’t want…I just want to go to the spa and drink a peach Bellini or something. I just want chill.  I want to go into marriage chill not…it takes too much energy. I’m gonna just let them plan whatever they want. You (pointing at Chad) can’t plan yours though. I’m planning your bachelor party.

AMIKER: Oh, no you’re not! You can’t do that. (laughs)

11Alive’s Francesca Amiker sits down with Michelle Williams and Chad Johnson to chat about their new series “Chad Loves Michelle”

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