Don’t Date Brandon drops viewers into a true‑crime story built by women who refused to be isolated. The Paramount+ docuseries tracks Amber Rasmussen and Athena Klingerman as they compare notes on their shared ex‑husband, Brandon Johnson, and methodically document the red flags, threats, and lies that stretched across decades. The title doubles as a warning and a thesis for the series.
Premiere date, episode count, and where to watch
Don’t Date Brandon is a three-part Paramount+ docuseries that premiered on October 28, 2025, and streams on Paramount+. The series is directed by Grace Chapman and grew out of the 2020 podcast Ex-Wives Undercover created by two of Brandon Johnson’s ex-wives, Amber Rasmussen and Athena Klingerman.
What Don’t Date Brandon covers
The narrative follows more than 20 years of alleged deception, intimidation, and fraud tied to Washington native Brandon Johnson. PEOPLE reports that Johnson pleaded guilty in 2023 to assault and attempted kidnapping with intent to rape and is serving a 10‑year prison sentence. A concurrent fraud case carried a 36‑month term. He is a lifetime registered sex offender.
Amber Rasmussen and Athena Klingerman recount harassment, stalking, and threats that led multiple women to secure protective orders. Rasmussen says in the series, “We always talk about Brandon being a hurricane — you’re stuck in the eye of the storm and can’t see out, but everyone else can see in.”
Reality Blurred highlights how the show centers the women’s perspective and solidarity rather than glorifying the perpetrator. Eve Batey calls it “an engaging look at female solidarity and toxic masculinity,” and recommends viewers “WATCH.”
Key timeline and confirmed details
- 1992: While at Aberdeen High School in Washington, Johnson began dating a classmate, who recalls possessive behavior.
- 1997: The first restraining order against Johnson was filed at age 19. Over the years, more than 17 protective orders from six women were filed.
- 2007–2012: Johnson met his first wife, Athena Klingerman, on Match.com in 2007. Their daughter, Sydney, was born in 2009. They married in 2011 and divorced in 2012.
- 2013–2019: Johnson met his second wife, Amber Rasmussen, on Tinder in 2013, proposed in January 2014, and they married in May 2017. On February 14, 2019, when Rasmussen said she wanted a divorce, he allegedly threatened to kill Klingerman and himself and was later arrested. A court barred contact with both women for five years.
- 2019: Police pursued Johnson after he picked up Sydney from school; officers halted a high‑speed chase fearing for her safety. He later left her at a pizza restaurant.
- 2020: Rasmussen and Klingerman launched the Ex‑Wives Undercover podcast to warn others and to collect more accounts.
- 2023: Johnson pleaded guilty in the sex‑crime case and admitted to 10 counts of attempted first‑degree theft in a separate fraud case. Sentencing included 10 years for the sex‑crime case and 36 months for fraud.
- October 28, 2025: Paramount+ premiered Don’t Date Brandon in the U.S.
Cast & key players (complete from sources)
- Brandon Johnson — Washington native; raised by Barbara Tolomei; subject of the docuseries.
- Amber Rasmussen — Second wife; Portland‑area subject featured in the series.
- Athena Klingerman — First wife; Seattle‑area subject featured in the series.
- Sydney — Daughter of Johnson and Klingerman.
- Lexus — Klingerman’s older daughter referenced in the series.
- Grace Chapman — Director of the docuseries.
- Wag Entertainment — Production banner credited with the series.
- Paramount+ — U.S. distributor and streaming home.
- Ex‑Wives Undercover — 2020 podcast by Rasmussen and Klingerman that inspired the series.
Methods of manipulation described on‑screen
Accounts in the docuseries and contemporaneous reporting describe patterns that include fake medical claims, GPS tracking, identity deception, and coercive control. One example involves a shared “family wall” scheduling platform on which Johnson allegedly posed as an ex to inflame conflict.
Another refrain is the “crazy ex” narrative used to isolate partners. The result, as the series shows, is a web of secrecy that extended from Seattle to Portland and “girlfriends up and down the coast.”
Critical reception
Reality Blurred calls the pacing “speedy and engaging,” notes that viewers likely “haven’t heard much about this case,” and says the conclusion is “so very satisfying.” The review recommends “WATCH.”
Decider’s Stream It Or Skip It column frames the show as a compelling team‑up between two ex‑wives who warn others. The verdict is to stream it.
The Daily Campus emphasizes how awareness and solidarity help break cycles of abuse without resorting to sensational pain.
Where Brandon Johnson is now
As of October 29, 2025, Brandon Johnson is incarcerated in California on a 10‑year sentence for assault and attempted kidnapping with intent to rape. A fraud sentence of 36 months was also imposed. Parole eligibility is listed in reporting as 2027; he is required to register as a sex offender for life.
Analysis: what the documentary adds
Don’t Date Brandon avoids mythologizing a perpetrator. The series documents how victims compare notes, build a record, and change outcomes through media like Ex‑Wives Undercover. That emphasis on community, not spectacle, aligns with the review’s focus on “female solidarity.”
How to watch
All three episodes stream on Paramount+. Subscribers can find the title on the service’s October 2025 slate, alongside new films and returning series.
Full credits & companies
- Series: Don’t Date Brandon — Wag Entertainment for Paramount+.
- Director: Grace Chapman.
- Subjects: Amber Rasmussen, Athena Klingerman, Brandon Johnson.
- Origin: Inspired by the 2020 podcast Ex‑Wives Undercover.
Conclusion: why Don’t Date Brandon matters
Don’t Date Brandon shows how coordinated action by survivors can expose patterns that might otherwise remain isolated. For viewers seeking a thoughtful true‑crime approach, this Paramount+ entry belongs on the list. The result is a firm “stream it,” and a clear warning embedded in the title itself: Don’t Date Brandon.
With a collective experience in film analysis and entertainment journalism, our team, comprised of avid movie buffs, has always been on the frontline of exploring cinematic universes, from the enchanting realms of Disney to the action-packed scenes of the MCU.
Our passion has led us to exclusive interviews with notable figures, early access, and active participation in the industry.
Recognized by the press, we dive deep into various genres, including drama, cartoons, comedy, and foreign films, always eager to bring fresh insights to our readers.
Connect with us or explore our journey to learn more about our adventures in unraveling the magic of the big screen.
