NEED TO KNOW
- Netflix’s She the People stars Terri J. Vaughn as Mississippi’s first Black lieutenant governor Antoinette Dunkerson
- In real life, Vaughn has been married to Karon Riley, who also appears in the show, since 2008
- Here’s what to know about the real-life partners of the She the People cast
In Netflix’s She the People, political and family drama are one and the same.
Created by Tyler Perry, the 16-episode series will be released in two parts. The first dropped on May 22, with the second half to follow on Aug. 14.
Terri J. Vaughn stars as Antoinette Dunkerson, Mississippi’s first Black lieutenant governor, who must juggle a sexist boss and her overbearing family.
Off-screen, though, Vaughn’s personal life is far less rocky, as she’s been married to Karon Riley, who also stars in She the People, since 2008, and the couple have welcomed two children.
Many of Vaughn’s She the People costars are similarly in long-term relationships: Jade Novah wed husband Devin Johnson in 2015, while Jo Marie Payton is married to husband Leonard Downs.
Here’s everything to know about the real-life loves of the She the People cast.
Terri J. Vaughn and Karon Riley
Vaughn, who stars in the series as Lieutenant Governor Antoinette Dunkerson, has been married to her husband, former NFL player Karon Riley, since Jan. 19, 2008. He also appears in She the People as Michael.
The couple first met while working on a play. During a January 2024 interview on the Relationships Matter podcast, Riley explained that he was initially drawn to Vaughn’s “light spirit” and the way she didn’t take “herself or her life” too seriously.
Vaughn and Riley have two children, son Kal’El Joseph and daughter Lola. The actress is also a mother to son Daylen Ali, whom she shares with ex-husband Derrick Carolina.
After nearly two decades of marriage with Riley, Vaughn told the Relationships Matter podcast that she appreciates the “consistency of growing together, because we’re not the same individuals that we were when we first met.”
Jo Marie Payton and Leonard Downs
Payton, who plays Dunkerson’s brutally honest mom Cleo, is married to her husband Leonard Downs.
She also has one daughter, Chantale France, with ex-husband Marc France.
In a May 2025 interview with Director’s Cut Radio, Payton praised She the People‘s hilarious family dynamics, which offer a bit of a reversal from the typical mother-daughter relationship.
“[The family] is happy that their mother’s in that position, but we still want to do our thing,” she said. “[My character] still wants to go to the casino, be with my friends, go fishing. I’m retired. I want to have a good time. I don’t want anyone breathing down my back.”
Jade Novah and Devin Johnson
Novah, who plays Dunkerson’s cousin Shamika, has been married to her husband, music producer Devin Johnson, since Dec. 7, 2015.
He produced her 2024 album WHERE HAVE I BEEN? and has been instrumental in encouraging her creativity, as Novah told Essence in March 2024.
“My relationship with Devin was the first time I experienced someone telling me they love me and also validating it with actions, doing things to back it up,” she said.
Johnson explained that he goes “hard for my people.”
“I’m very loyal. And I will put my head down and do whatever needs to be done,” he said. “So, I just like knowing that I’m thought of, and it can be the smallest thing like Jade bringing me a smoothie or just checking in and asking how I’m doing.”
Dyon Brooks
Comedian and actor Dyon “Mojo” Brooks, who plays Dunkerson’s hot-shot driver, appears to be single.
In a 2024 TikTok, Brooks joked about breaking up with his girlfriend after she mistakenly thought the Chicago Bears won the Super Bowl.
Brooks also has a daughter from a previous relationship.
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