Trigger warning: abuse
From the outside, Sarah Johnson appeared to lead a charmed life. A talented photographer and mother of two, she resided on a picturesque hill in Camden, Maine, surrounded by sprawling gardens and serene woodlands. Alongside her then-husband, Jake Harrison, a renowned singer-songwriter famous for his classic hit “Freedom’s Song,” Sarah traveled frequently. However, behind closed doors, her reality was far more troubling. Like countless others, Sarah endured physical, emotional, financial, and sexual abuse.
“I met Jake when I was 27, working as a newspaper journalist. He came to town, and I interviewed him for a feature,” Sarah recalls over FaceTime, gently rocking in a cozy armchair. “Everything progressed so quickly. He invited me to a concert that night, professed his love right away, and flew me out to see him the following weekend. It felt like a whirlwind romance.”
But soon, the facade began to crack. After quitting her job, selling her car, and relinquishing her independence, Sarah found herself trapped as the abuse unfolded.
“The night I moved in with him, I witnessed his temper for the first time,” she reflects. “I felt completely cornered without a job, a car, or my own place. Once I became dependent on him, his anger was evident. Before that, it felt like a fairytale.”
Such behavior is not uncommon among abusers, who often woo their victims with gifts and affection initially. They may express their devotion with reassuring words like “I need you” or “I love you,” which are manipulative tactics. Over time, however, their true nature reveals itself, and the power dynamics shift.
“He punched me, kicked me, and yanked my hair,” Sarah shares. “He had this disturbing habit of squeezing my head as if it were in a vice. That was his signature move. But the emotional abuse was even more damaging. The physical violence was severe, but the emotional scars lasted a lifetime. I was scared throughout our entire marriage. I felt like I was walking on eggshells for 29 years.”
Fortunately, in 2016, Jake was arrested for domestic violence, allowing Sarah to escape.
“The bail conditions prohibiting contact truly liberated me. I finally had the space to clear my mind,” Sarah explains. “I had tried to leave him for a year, but each time, he bombarded me with messages, leaving me no room to think. The arrest was my turning point. With the media spotlight on the situation, I knew I couldn’t go back.”
Unfortunately, the public nature of her struggle came with its own challenges.
“The most difficult part of this ordeal was that he leveraged his fame to spread blatant lies about me,” Sarah adds. “The media reported his statements without reaching out to me for my side of the story. This is a significant issue in celebrity culture; the press often amplifies the voices of abusers, becoming a tool for their manipulation.”
Despite these challenges, Sarah now exudes confidence and joy. She has transformed her pain into purpose. In 2019, she founded a nonprofit organization, Finding Our Voices, aimed at breaking the silence surrounding domestic abuse.
“Finding Our Voices started as a photo exhibit,” Sarah explains. “After everything I went through, I realized change was necessary. I wanted others to see the truth, so I created portraits of 14 women who had suffered abuse, recording their stories. What began as an exhibit quickly gained traction and evolved into a full-fledged nonprofit.”
When asked about advice for those in similar situations, Sarah is candid: “If he’s abusive, he cannot be a good father. That’s a fact. Abuse doesn’t improve. Don’t minimize or excuse their behavior; there is a brighter future ahead. You can escape and find help.”
If you or someone you know is facing immediate danger, please call 911. If you’re not in urgent danger, reach out to a trusted friend, family member, or a domestic violence hotline, or consult the resources at Finding Our Voices. The survivors there are ready to offer support.
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Summary
Sarah Johnson survived nearly three decades of abuse at the hands of her celebrity husband before breaking free and founding the nonprofit Finding Our Voices, which helps others confront and escape domestic violence. Her story serves as a powerful reminder that there is hope and support available for those in similar situations.