Johnny Manziel opened up about the emotional toll of his split from ex-wife Bre Tiesi in the newest season of Selling Sunset on Netflix, which premiered on Friday. In season 8, episode 6, Manziel and Tiesi sat down for a candid conversation while Tiesi, a real estate agent and cast member on the show, helped her ex-husband look for a house in Los Angeles.
Tiesi, known for her humor and quick wit, introduced the situation lightheartedly. “My ex-husband Johnny Manziel reached out because he’s looking for a house in L.A. I’m going to help him find something, but we’re going to make sure he lives very far from me,” she joked during a confessional, setting the tone for what would become an unexpectedly heartfelt exchange.
The pair’s relationship ended in March 2019 after just one year of marriage, with reports at the time suggesting that Manziel, the former Cleveland Browns quarterback, had cheated on Tiesi. Their split was highly publicized, but this episode marked the first time the two publicly addressed the breakup in detail.
During their conversation, Manziel reflected on the mistakes he made during their marriage. “In the long run of things, I still won,” he said jokingly, trying to ease the tension, but Tiesi wasn’t letting him off the hook that easily. Laughing, she shot back, “Yeah, because you lost me, so it’s a loss.” The playful banter was accompanied by more serious reflections as Manziel admitted to the darker side of their relationship.
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“Life goes the way it’s supposed to go,” Manziel explained. “You are in a position now where you got exactly what you wanted in life. And I’m proud of you for that and I’m happy for you.” He went on to reveal how lost he felt during their time together, acknowledging the toll his lifestyle took on their relationship. “I learned a lot about what I handled wrong. I was a lost, depressed kid running around the Hollywood Hills, getting drunk every night, living in a nightclub. And a lot of that time was probably behind your back as well.”
Tiesi, always quick with a sharp retort, added, “Oh, you spent a lot of time with someone else on their back, but yes, it’s fine. Still love ya.” Her humor, though biting, didn’t mask the pain of their past. Manziel, visibly remorseful, responded, “I still feel bad to this day for treating you like that. Getting divorced and going through our breakup was probably one of the hardest points in my life, and I cried, I begged, I pleaded.”
In a confessional later in the episode, Tiesi expressed that their conversation gave her a sense of closure. “I’m happy to hear that J can recognize the hell that he put me through, and that tells me at least the effort I put in was recognized, and it’s not all completely in vain.”
Despite the serious moments, the conversation had its lighter side, with the two exes exchanging playful jabs. At one point, Manziel joked about Tiesi likely selling something of his for “cracker jacks,” to which she coyly responded, “I did,” while looking straight at the camera, leaving viewers wondering if she was serious.
Their conversation was sprinkled with cheeky comments, including when Tiesi teased Manziel about her blonde hair as they met to tour the house. “Do you like my blonde? I wore it just for you because I know you love blondes so much. Do you think it’ll help my sale today?” she said, alluding to the fact that Manziel’s current girlfriend, model Josie Canseco, is blonde. Manziel shot back, “Yeah, of course. Thanks for the condescending tone to start the day,” to which Tiesi quipped, “Aw, you missed me.”
Though the two seemed to have moved on from the pain of their breakup, the episode provided a rare glimpse into the vulnerability behind their public personas. Manziel, who is currently dating Josie Canseco, opened up in a way that many fans hadn’t seen before, while Tiesi, who welcomed her son Legendary Love with Nick Cannon in July 2022, seemed content with where her life has led her. Though believed to be single, Tiesi has remained focused on her son and her thriving career in real estate.
This episode of Selling Sunset was not only a moment of humor and heartache but also a chapter of healing for both Manziel and Tiesi, as they showed the world that even after a painful split, understanding and growth can emerge.
