Weekend celebrations for the Kentucky Derby appear to have drawn Michelle Williams and her former pastor boyfriend Chad Johnson back together, and fans are not particularly thrilled.
Williams was initially seen at The Trifecta Gala, the annual pre-Derby celebrity event that sees stars rub elbows in black tie and gowns. This year’s event was hosted by Steve Harvey, and Williams and Johnson soaked up performances by Usher, Shirley Murdock, and Zapp on Friday, May 3.
The duo, who famously parted ways in December, was initially captured enjoying dinner and the show with singer Amerie and Chris Tucker. The “One Thing” singer panned her camera around the table to reveal Williams and Johnson sitting side by side at the gala.
By Saturday, the two continued their celebrations at the Derby, posing side-by-side with “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Nene Leakes.
The seemingly sudden reunion of the couple, who met in March 2017 at a retreat Johnson hosted before getting engaged the following April and calling it off before the end of 2018, has jarred fans. They’re issuing fierce warnings to Williams as well as expressing disappointment.
“Michelle, GET OUT.”
“Waste of time after you end an engagement let it go and move on.”
“So they called off the engagement but stayed together đ€ poor Michelle đ€ŠđŸââïž”
“Huh??? I thought Chad and Michelle broke upđ wtf! I ainât got time for this ish at all.đ€Ł Gooodbyeee.”
Despite what fans have to say, an insider alleged to Page Six that the two are back together.
âThey are trying to work on things,â a source told the outlet over the weekend. âThey definitely came together.â
In the wake of her split from Johnson, Williams reportedly struggled. The star, who has been open about her battle with depression, reportedly refused to shoot the remainder of her OWN reality show with Johnson, “Chad Loves Michelle.” She also abruptly bowed out of the Broadway play âOnce On This Island” after doctors ordered her to “take a leave of absence from performing.â
Williams initially revealed she and Johnson were over with a post on her Instagram Story, which she later removed from her account.
âI still remain fearless,â she wrote at the time. âI guess I still remain single! Things didnât work out. The healing that needs to take place is a must! I donât wanna destroy another relationship. Blessings to him, his family and ministry. #FEARLESS.â
The memo came after she and Johnson butted heads on “Chad Loves Michelle,” when the Destinyâs Child singer took issue with how her former fiancĂ© addressed her mental illness.
After the breakup made headlines, the final episode of “Chad Loves Michelle” aired where Johnson said he was “broken up over it.” Williams did not appear on the show and instead issued a statement through her best friend, George. He told viewers Williams was “still very much so in love with Chad.”