Andrew and Karen, 37, decided to share their journey to freedom after leaving in 2023 an environment that controlled their friendships and the way they dressed.
The couple, who live in Conyers, Georgia, said that from their youth in the Jehovah’s Witness congregation, they faced bans on attending college or freely choosing their friends. Karen explained that even the way she dressed was monitored, forcing her to wear frumpy clothes so as not to stand out physically.
After years of constant surveillance and being separated during their first pregnancy at 17, both managed to distance themselves from the group during the pandemic. They currently run a photography business and enjoy the autonomy to make their own decisions.