Content warning: this article contains a conversation regarding domestic violence; please take care while reading.
Ashley Johnson, star of The Last of Us and Critical Role, has filed a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend Brian Foster for alleged acts of terror against herself and her family, including many acts of domestic violence.
While the timeline for the allegations of abuse and terror isn’t clear, Johnson does state that she tried to leave her relationship with Foster for more than two years, finally making a move in May of 2023. Anyone who has ever been in a tumultuous relationship can confirm that it’s nearly impossible to leave them and that often — acts of abuse and terror can make it harder to end a relationship altogether.
Comicbook.com shares the following information that explains a situation taking place on May 15:
“May 15, 2023, the police issued an [Emergency Protective Order] due to [Foster] having attempted to extort $150,000 from me (television/film actress), his history of verbal abuse, his very unhinged mind from his addictive use of narcotics, and several other reasons.”
Johnson also says that she believes Foster is “close to the edge, has the ability to murder, and will cause harm not only to me but to them(her family).” Fearing for her own life is terrible enough, but to have to wonder if he would come after her family, too, is another level of heartbreaking.
Yahoo reports that Johnson also shared that she found items that could have been used to harm her in a bag belonging to Foster.
“Upon his vacating my house (that I solely own) the evening of March 15, 2023, in the presence of LAPD, he did not take his ammo case and bag with him. I immediately opened it up and found a garotte which is a strangulation device and two air-soft guns.”
The publication also shares the following statement from Johnson about a specific incident between herself and her ex-boyfriend. Foster also allegedly changed passwords to Johnson’s cameras, another piece of the puzzle making it impossible for her to feel safe within her own home.
“On April 21, 2023, the respondent locked me out of Internet access to all of my devices; a few weeks or so before that respondent blocked me from Internet access to all of my devices, including my cameras. My mother, my family, my friends, and others contact me out of fear for my life. I was terrified. I vacated my home and stayed with my family.”
Johnson hasn’t just feared for her safety in recent weeks or months; instead, it appears that Foster has kept her in a cycle of mental and emotional turmoil for years. She explains that he would throw things around and call her obscene and offensive names. A formal hearing is slated to take place in June, but for now, the judge granted Johnson the restraining order, which means Foster must stay 500 yards away from her home and 100 yards away from her dogs at all times.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, or if you believe someone you know is being abused, contact The National Domestic Violence Hotline. The hotline can be reached at 1-800-799-SAFE or spoken with online via the hotline’s website. Mobile phone owners can also text “START” to the number 88788.