The couple found fame online after a guest wore a dress to their wedding that sparked debate over its true colours – black and blue or white and gold – but, behind the scenes, Grace feared for her life
The man who shot to viral fame after a dress bought for his wedding “broke the internet” has pleaded guilty to endangering his wife’s life – after admitting to strangling her in a “terrifying” ordeal.
Keir Johnston pleaded guilty to the attack on his wife that left her “fearing for her life” at an appearance at the High Court in Glasgow today. The 38-year-old, who will now be remanded in custody until he is sentenced in June, lived on the Isle of Colonsay with wife Grace following their 2015 marriage.
The couple found fame online after Grace’s mother wore a dress to their wedding that sparked a global debate over its true colours – black and blue or white and gold. Nicknamed ‘The Dress That Broke the Internet’, it became a social media storm when it was first shared on Tumblr by wedding guest Caitlin McNeill.
Caitlin initially posted to ask for help in deciding what colour the dress really was, and the image went viral. Celebrities including Kim Kardashian and Ellen DeGeneres were caught up in the colour debate, with the latter even inviting the pair on her talk show, where they were handed $10,000 and a trip to Grenada.
But in their married life, Grace was left fearing for her safety. Johnston turned on his wife at their home on the remote Scottish island on 6 March 2022 and threatened her, saying: “Someone is going to die.”
Johnston had originally attended the High Court last July where he faced allegations that he had conducted a nearly 11-year campaign of serious domestic violence and coercive control towards his wife – but denied all charges against him at the time. However, today the High Court heard how Johnston had a history of domestic abuse towards his wife.
Chris MacIntosh, prosecutor for the Crown, told Lady Drummond and the court how Grace lived in fear of her abusive husband. He said: “There is no permanent police presence on the island, and she was in a situation where she felt trapped.”
Grace had defied her husband’s demands not to attend a job interview on the mainland and just days later found herself in a life-threatening situation. On the day of the attack, Johnston was drinking at a pub quiz and sent several messages to his spouse, with one reading: “You should support me but you do not.”
Concerned for her husband, Grace later returned home where Johnston awoke from his sleep and announced he would be leaving her. The pair then headed outside of their cottage before Johnston grabbed Grace and threw her to the ground.
Mr Macintosh said: “Johnston woke up and said that he was going to leave her. She went outside the property to stop him leaving. He followed her and pinned her to the ground.
“He placed both knees on her arms, so she was unable to move. He then began strangling her with both his hands. She was initially able to scream and feared for her life and believed Johnston intended to kill her as he was very forceful.”
Despite suffering severe bruising from the attack, Grace didn’t require any medical treatment. Defending lawyer Marco Guarino told how Johnston had accepted responsibility for the assault.
However, Lady Drummond denied Johnston bail and placed him in custody, telling him: “I have no need to tell you that this is a serious and violent offence. “You repeatedly strangled her, injured her and put her life in danger in what must have been absolutely terrifying circumstances for her.
“I am afraid, Mr. Johnston, that your status has now changed, you have been convicted of a very serious crime and you will be remanded meantime.”
Sentencing will be made on 6 June following reports.
For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk. If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk.
