Chad Johnson Breaks Silence, Thanks Fans for Keeping Him "Afloat" Amid Domestic-Violence Fallout

Former Miami Dolphins wide receiver takes to Twitter for the first time since being arrested for allegedly head-butting ex-wife Evelyn Lozada

By Alexis L. Loinaz Aug 15, 2012 8:52 PMTags
Chad Johnson Mugshot, Chad OchocincoBroward Sheriff's Office

Things are coming to a head for Chad Johnson.

As the former Miami Dolphin continues to hemorrhage both public goodwill and endorsement deals, the 34-year-old took to Twitter for the first time since being arrested Saturday for allegedly head-butting ex-wife Evelyn Lozada.

In a tweet he posted on Tuesday, Johnson—aka Ochocinco—wrote, "I haven't had to tread water in a long time...special thank you to my fans...family...friends for keeping me afloat..."

He'll need all the support he can get: In the wake of his arrest, Johnson's backers have been defecting in droves, and the fallout from his arrest continues to escalate.

On Sunday, the wide receiver was dropped by the Miami Dolphins, and footage from his dismissal was captured by the HBO show Hard Knocks, which aired it on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, Lozada filed for divorce Tuesday, just 41 days after the couple tied the knot in a lavish ceremony that had been chronicled by their reality show, Ev and Ocho, which has since been pulled down by its network, VH1.

And on Wednesday, coconut-water brand Zico deep-sixed its endorsement deal with Johnson.

In a statement, the company said: "In light of recent events involving Mr. Johnson, we have decided to terminate our relationship. The values we espouse, through our employees, our customers and our brand, are central to our mission. We have taken this proactive step to demonstrate just how important those values are."