Cavallari Recap: Kristin’s Ex Johnny Causes Awkward Moments at Live Show
Kristin Cavallari’s public reunion with her junior high school boyfriend, Johnny, took an unexpected turn.
In the Wednesday, June 11 episode of Honestly Cavallari: The Headline Tour, Cavallari shared moments from the latter part of her Chicago stop on her “Let’s Be Honest” live podcast tour, featuring Internet personality and her (possibly) former fling Harry Jowsey along with Johnny.
“The second show’s theme revolves around guests who’ve appeared on my podcast before. Now, I’ll be bringing up Johnny — my very first boyfriend from Chicago. I’ve mentioned him a few times on the podcast,” she disclosed in a confessional. “We were as in love as two kids can be at the ages of 13 and 14.”
However, the reunion didn’t unfold as she hoped when Johnny decided to emulate Laguna Beach star Talan Torriero by publicly teasing Cavallari, 38, discussing their past intimacy and alleging she had an affair with his best friend.
“I anticipated a different experience,” Cavallari disclosed to Us Weekly earlier this month. “That was quite challenging for me. The tour turned out to be much more personal than I expected—much more from my past surfaced, which allowed me to appreciate how far I’ve moved forward.”
Cavallari expressed her disappointment with Johnny’s and Torriero’s conduct.
“I spoke to [Talan] afterward. When someone tries to apologize but offers numerous excuses for their poor behavior, I’m not in a space where I can be gaslit anymore,” she remarked. “I simply don’t care. I’m fine. I don’t need people in my life who refuse to take responsibility.”
The reality star left the experience understanding she had to be “cautious” with her “trust,” asserting, “Trust isn’t granted easily. I’ve always felt this way, and being on TV amplifies that. What was particularly hard for me was having held Johnny in high regard for so many years. Having Talan and Johnny diminish our relationship to just a sexual context was really tough.”
Cavallari added: “Especially since Johnny was my first love. At 14, we had a remarkable relationship. I would wake up to poems on my window; it was so incredibly sweet. I was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, but he kept undermining it, leaving me confused.”
Continue reading for a summary of their awkward interactions on screen and an update on their current status:
Before the Live Show
In the hours leading up to their encounter on stage, Cavallari shared her preparations with Johnny, expressing to her friends, “I think he’s nervous since he’s been asking for every little detail, which I completely understand. This is nerve-wracking for me, and I do this all the time.”
Cavallari expressed gratitude that Johnny agreed to join her. “It’s been 15 years since I last saw him. He’s currently in the midst of a divorce,” she stated. “When I informed my mom, she was like, ‘I know how these things transpire.’ I assured her, ‘No. I’m not going to end up with Johnny.’ I lost my virginity to him; it’s surreal.”
Cavallari was eager to understand Johnny’s viewpoint on their relationship, saying, “It’s complex, and I do question if I’ve altered the narrative in my mind over the years.”
Their Backstory
“Being my first love, I placed Johnny on a pedestal throughout the years. My parents divorced, my dad moved to Laguna Beach, and my mom entered a new marriage. I didn’t feel prioritized during that time,” Cavallari reflected. “Johnny represented my stability, my connection.”
Starting Off Strong
Initially, when Johnny joined Jowsey and Cavallari, they engaged in some playful banter. Cavallari pointed out that Johnny had not changed a bit since eighth grade and then addressed the “heartbreak” she faced after their breakup.
“I was labeled the heartbreaker because I never wanted to feel that pain again,” she explained. “Johnny had a significant impact on my life.”
Taking a Turn
The conversation took a turn when Cavallari inquired whether Johnny believed they were “in love.”
“For as much love as one can feel in eighth grade, I’d say yes,” she said, recalling how Johnny would “sneak into” her room at night. “I’d wake up to find poems on my window.”
Johnny interrupted her, saying she would “wake up next to me” and dismissed her sweet recollections as merely “the podcast version,” implying their actual experiences were much more risqué.
“Just to clarify, you would greet me in outfits like this one,” he remarked. “Seeing you in that is challenging.”
Kristin Cavallari has experienced numerous high-profile romances over the years, from reality stars to NFL athletes. She gained fame on MTV’s Laguna Beach in 2004, during which she dated her high school sweetheart Stephen Colletti. Their real-life romance and the alleged love triangle with Lauren Conrad were central to the show.
Their Split
Cavallari shifted the topic to how Johnny allegedly “hooked up” with her best friend right after their breakup when she moved to Laguna Beach. Johnny had a different perspective, claiming Cavallari was “sampling Barrington” — including his friend Tommy.
“Wow, this did not go as planned. I’m sorry for breaking your heart,” Cavallari retorted. “I’m trying to take responsibility for my actions.”
Johnny continued to throw jabs at Cavallari, asserting that she was “always a heartbreaker” and it didn’t start with him. In a confessional, Cavallari expressed her disappointment in Johnny’s actions.
“Johnny is a huge letdown. It really pains me because I’ve held my relationship with him in such high regard for all these years,” she said. “Seeing him on stage, he was completely different.”
She further commented: “He was the only person I shared the questions with beforehand since he’s unfamiliar with this scene. It felt intentional, like he wanted to undermine me. It has marred the memories I held of Johnny for years.”
Calling Him Out
The following morning, Cavallari remained affected by Johnny’s behavior.
“What happens is these guys get intimidated, and their instinct is to demean me,” she remarked with emotion. “He claimed I was promiscuous at Barrington. I’m like, ‘I didn’t hook up with anyone at Barrington. Not one person. I have no idea who Tommy is.’ The only Tommy I can think of is someone I briefly interacted with later, but I didn’t engage with anyone at Barrington.”
She added: “And I have nothing to conceal. Do you really want to disparage me in front of my audience? It’s truly messed up. It reaches a point where I’m utterly exhausted from men trying to belittle me.”
Where They Stand Now
“This morning [he sent me a text],” Cavallari shared before reading the message, “‘You were fantastic last night. Thanks for such a fun escape from reality. I really needed that. You’re going to absolutely excel in the remainder of the tour. No doubt about it.’”
Cavallari chose not to respond.
“This is a much bigger matter for me,” she confessed. “It represents the overarching theme of my life. No man has ever taken responsibility in my life.”
