For many 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way viewers, Johny Fernandes might at first seem like a charming and laid-back guy living in Aruba, but beneath that easygoing exterior lies a deeply emotional backstory — particularly involving his relationship with his late mother. What exactly happened to Johny’s mom, and how did it shape the man viewers see on screen? The answer reveals a lot about his vulnerabilities, motivations, and the emotional weight he carries into his relationships.

Johny has spoken openly on camera about how important his mother was to him, describing her as his entire world before she passed away. Long before he met Chloe Fabiano, Johny found himself leaning on his mom in a very real way. After a difficult breakup with an ex-girlfriend — an experience he once described as painful — Johny moved back in with his mother because he had nowhere else to go. In that period, living under her care offered him emotional support and comfort, a safe space to heal.

Tragically, that period of comfort didn’t last forever. Johny revealed that his mom became seriously ill and suffered a heart attack, the effects of which ultimately led to her death. He spent about a year with her during her illness, never knowing exactly when her last day would come. According to him, losing her was the most devastating thing he had ever experienced — far more painful than romantic heartbreak or other hardships. He has said that losing his mother taught him what real heartbreak truly felt like.

This loss seems to be a core part of Johny’s emotional identity. In interviews and confessions on the show, he has described how important his mom was in shaping who he is today. She wasn’t just a caregiver; she was his emotional anchor, someone he leaned on for guidance, comfort, and love. Her absence left a void that Johny has struggled to fill, and this lingering grief appears to influence how he approaches love, attachment, and even loss in the present.

Understanding this context helps explain why Johny sometimes shields himself emotionally or why he might react more sensitively than expected when relationships become complicated. For Johny, romantic love isn’t just about affection — it’s inseparable from deep emotional connection and vulnerability. His mother’s death happened before he met Chloe, but its impact is still present in his behavior and emotional responses. Viewers have seen glimpses of this side of Johny, particularly in scenes where he talks about missing her or reflects on the pain of losing someone so central to his life.

It’s also worth noting how Johny’s backstory has been woven into his current storyline with Chloe. During one of his earlier episodes, Johny explained to viewers that his mother was the last person he lived with before Chloe came into his life. That fact alone showed just how close their bond was — and how much he relied on her during difficult times. When he recalls how deeply devastated he was by her passing, it becomes clear that his emotional foundation was rocked at a formative moment in his adult life.

That emotional foundation also shapes how fans perceive Johny on 90 Day Fiancé. Some viewers connect with his vulnerability and the way he openly mourns his mom. Others argue that he sometimes uses emotional language to gain sympathy or deflect from present issues in his relationship with Chloe. Regardless of interpretation, Johny’s backstory adds a layer of complexity that makes him more than just a “pirate ship entertainer” or a figure in a reality TV romance — it makes him a person with real emotional history and unresolved wounds.

It’s also interesting how this loss contrasts with other family dynamics on the show. Chloe’s mother, Michelle, plays a significant role in Chloe and Johny’s storyline, often offering opinions and judgments about Johny’s living situation, behavior, and future plans. But Johny’s own parental influence is absent — replaced instead by memory, loss, and reflection. This contrast underscores a broader emotional imbalance between the couple: Chloe still has parental guidance and support, while Johny has only the echoes of his mother’s influence.

Some fans have noted that Johny’s emotional depth and vulnerability make him more relatable than other cast members, but others feel that his grief might sometimes be used too heavily as an emotional justification when current issues arise. Regardless of differing opinions, the loss of his mother remains one of the most impactful events in his life — one that clearly shaped his outlook and continues to inform how he handles love and attachment.

What ultimately happened to Johny’s mother is a story of love, loss, and grief that extends beyond the surface drama of 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way. She died after a period of illness that culminated in a heart attack, and Johny spent significant time with her before her passing. That experience left him heartbroken, forced him to confront profound grief, and shaped his emotional landscape long before he ever met Chloe on camera.

In the end, knowing this backstory adds emotional nuance to Johny’s actions and responses throughout the season. It doesn’t excuse every choice he makes, but it provides viewers with a context for understanding why he sometimes reacts the way he does — especially when vulnerable issues like trust, rejection, or fear of loss come into play. Johny’s mother may be gone, but her influence lives on in him, providing a poignant backdrop to his journey on 90 Day Fiancé.