Former En Vogue member Dawn Johnson is speaking out about the hardships she has endured over the past three years, revealing that she has been homeless and living in her car due to a failed relationship with her former manager.
In an emotional Instagram video, Johnson detailed how she initially moved to Los Angeles, expecting to stay with her then-manager. However, she discovered he had no space for her upon arriving, forcing her into a precarious situation.
Although he began paying for a hotel, he simultaneously prevented her from securing her own apartment, leading to a prolonged period of instability that ultimately left her without a home.
A Series of Broken Promises
Johnson recounted her experience, explaining how she was left in limbo as her former manager consistently obstructed her attempts to secure stable housing.
“For the past three, almost three years, I have been living in my car,” Johnson confessed. “I said it. Oh my God, it’s out. I’ve been living in my car.”
The singer recalled how she was staying with her parents in Las Vegas after conducting numerous interviews in 2020. However, tensions arose between her and her mother, prompting her decision to leave.
“I love my mom, but she became very angry, and a lot of her anger she was taking out on me,” Johnson shared.
Seeking a fresh start, Johnson accepted an offer from her then-manager to move to Los Angeles. She was assured that space would be made for her, but upon arrival, she found herself without a place to stay.
“It turned into, ‘Okay, well, I’m going to put you in a hotel for the night,’ and that one night turned into eight months,” she recalled.
Despite her persistent efforts to find an apartment, her manager would refuse to meet her at viewings or disapprove of the neighborhoods she selected.
Financial and Emotional Struggles
As time passed, Johnson became increasingly distressed over the financial strain her situation placed on her former manager, who was paying both his own $1,700 monthly rent and over $3,000 per month for her hotel stays.
“Every week, I was like, ‘Oh my God, can you afford it? Are you okay?’ And he’s like, ‘No, I can’t, but I’m getting it together,'” she said. “You’re the one who said to go to the hotel, and you’re not approving any of the apartments. Like, what’s the problem?”
Her experience is evidence of the vulnerability many artists face when dealing with personal and professional relationships in the entertainment industry.
Despite her struggles, Johnson remains resilient and is using her platform to share her truth.
