So, you’re scrolling through your feed and suddenly remember that guy Garrett Tanner. You know, the "hot felon" from the very first season of Love After Lockup?
He was the one who had Johnna DiGrigoli basically planning a whole wedding and a white-picket-fence life while he was still behind bars. If you’re like most fans, you probably haven't thought about him in a minute, but man, his story since the show has been a wild ride. It wasn't exactly the "happily ever after" Johnna had in her head. Honestly, it was never going to be.
The Johnna Era: Why It Was Doomed
Let's be real for a second. Johnna and Garrett were the blueprint for the Love After Lockup disaster formula. She was hyper-organized, intense, and ready to settle down in a house she already bought. He was... well, he was a guy who hadn't been free in seven years.
Garrett was serving time for a laundry list of charges: burglary, grand theft, and credit card fraud. When he finally walked out of those gates in Tampa, the tension was immediate.
Johnna wanted a husband. Garrett wanted a party.
The breakup wasn't just inevitable; it was messy. Shortly after filming, the engagement was called off. Johnna eventually moved on and left Florida behind, but Garrett? He leaned into the newfound fame. He became the face of the "bad boy" archetype that the show loves to cast, but his life off-camera kept getting more complicated.
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Where is Garrett Tanner Now?
People always ask if he went back to jail. It’s a fair question considering his history. While he hasn't returned for a massive seven-year stint, he hasn't exactly stayed out of the headlines either.
A couple of years ago, fans were shocked when Garrett appeared in a "Where Are They Now?" special with a massive, fresh gash on his face. He looked like he’d been in a serious brawl.
His explanation? He claimed he passed out in the bathroom and fell face-first into the tub.
Fans didn't buy it. Not for a second. The internet was buzzing with theories—everything from a bar fight to a confrontation with an ex. Regardless of how it happened, it was a reminder that the "charmed" life he tried to project on social media often had a darker, more chaotic side.
The Revolving Door of Relationships
After Johnna, Garrett’s love life became a bit of a revolving door. For a while, he was dating a woman named Nellie (often referred to as Remi on social media). They were all over Instagram, posting the kind of "power couple" photos that make you roll your eyes.
But as of 2026, things look different.
- The Breakup with Nellie: That relationship fizzled out quite some time ago. It followed the same pattern: high intensity, lots of public affection, and then a sudden scrubbing of photos from his profile.
- Current Status: Garrett has kept his most recent romantic life a bit more low-key compared to the Johnna days. He has been linked to a few different people in the Florida scene, but he seems more focused on his own "brand" and his daughter.
- Fatherhood: One thing that has remained constant is his role as a father. He frequently shares updates about his daughter, showing a softer side that we rarely saw during the height of the show's drama.
The "Hot Felon" Brand and Social Media
Garrett is one of the few cast members who actually managed to keep a following long after his season ended. He’s active on Cameo, where he charges fans for personalized videos. It’s a hustle. You’ve gotta give him that.
He still leans into the "Florida Man" vibe. You’ll see him on bikes, at the beach, or just hanging out in Tampa. But the reality is that the fame from Love After Lockup is a double-edged sword. It gave him a platform, but it also means every time he slips up, thousands of people are watching.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Garrett
The biggest misconception is that he was just a "villain" who used Johnna. While he definitely didn't handle that relationship well, the transition from a seven-year prison sentence to reality TV stardom is a recipe for a mental health crisis.
He was a kid when he went in and a "celebrity" when he came out. That doesn't excuse the cheating or the behavior, but it explains the total lack of stability.
What You Can Learn From the Garrett Saga
If you’re following the lives of these reality stars, there are a few takeaways that are actually pretty practical for real life.
1. Don't build a future on a "prison version" of someone.
Johnna fell in love with the guy who wrote letters. When he got out, he was a stranger. If you're dating someone in a transition phase, wait for the dust to settle before buying a house together.
2. Social media is a curated lie.
Garrett’s Instagram often looked like he was living the dream. The "Where Are They Now?" episodes showed the blood, the bruises, and the actual chaos. Don't compare your behind-the-scenes to someone else's highlight reel.
3. Patterns are hard to break.
Garrett struggled with the same "fast life" temptations that got him in trouble originally. Real change takes more than a camera crew and a new girlfriend; it takes years of boring, consistent work.
The best way to keep up with Garrett these days is through his social media, but take everything with a grain of salt. He’s a survivor of the reality TV machine, and in 2026, he’s still out there, for better or worse, living his life in the Florida sun.