Kim Kardashian Thanks Governor For Releasing Sex-Trafficked Teen Killer From Prison
Jan. 8 2019, Updated 2:47 p.m. ET
After serving 15 years in prison for killing a man who hired her for underage sex, Cyntoia Brown has been granted clemency, and her supporters could not be more ecstatic. As RadarOnline.com has learned, Brown, 30, lived a life of addiction, mental illness, health ailments and neglect from the day she was born. After being given up for adoption by her alcoholic mother, she was allegedly abused by her stepfather and fell into a dark downward spiral of drugs, booze and prostitution. At 16, she agreed to have sex with 43-year-old real estate agent Johnny Allen, who in turn said he would pay her $150. When they met at the man's house, Brown claimed he rolled her over on the bed and reached for what she thought was a gun. It was then that she shot him with hers. Scared, she stole Allen's guns from his room, jumped in his car and drove off. She called 911 and confessed to the murder the next day. Since she admitted to stealing the firearms, prosecutors agreed that the killing could not have been self-defense. Because of this, they sent her to the maximum-security Tennessee Prison for Women and sentenced her to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 51 years served. In 2012, Nashville attorney Charles Bone watched a documentary on Brown's life and took interest in her case. He petitioned a new trial for her and was denied multiple times until in 2017, her case went viral and garnered the attention of many celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Sophia Bush and Jada Pinkett Smith, among others. While serving her sentence, Brown graduated from Lipscomb University's LIFE program and earned an associate's degree. Before her trial this year she was getting ready to complete her bachelor's degree with a 4.0 GPA. She's been called a model inmate who not only pursued education behind bars but also mentored other women. Finally, this year, Brown was given clemency. Click though RadarOnline.com's gallery to see the stars' reactions.
"Thank you Governor Haslam" Kim Kardashian, 38, tweeted this Monday while sharing an article about Cyntoia Brown's clemency.
"THANK YOU Governor @BillHaslam!!!!" echoed Jada Pinkett Smith, 47.
"Yes!!! Cyntoia Brown is granted full clemency!! Thank you, Governor Haslam! Thank you!" wrote Alyssa Milano, 46
"BREAKING: Cyntoia Brown was just granted clemency from a life sentence in prison for killing a man who bought her for sex when she was 16. She'll be release on parole supervision on August 7," tweeted Kelly Rowland, 37, along with a photo of Brown smiling in the courtroom.
"YES!!! YES! This is when our justice system makes me proud. Made my day," Viola Davis, 53, wrote after reading the news.
"It happened!! Thank you to everyone who fought for Cyntoia. Every phone call. Every letter. When you wonder, "I'm just one person, what can I do?" Look at how many of you added up to create a wave of support and get the attention of the powers that be! YES! #CyntoiaBrown" tweeted Sophia Bush, 36, this Monday.
"#cyntoiabrown granted clemency... shout out to the people that used their voice.. it really matters!" wrote Meek.
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