SC native’s viral Humans of New York marriage, divorce from Tripp Morris, 2026 book

Venus Morris Griffin, whose account of her abusive first marriage became one of the most-read series on the Humans of New York Facebook page, has written a book filling in what she left out. “The Other Side of Perfect” revisits her 20-year marriage to John Evangel “Tripp” Morris III, a former University of South Carolina fraternity president now serving a 45-year prison sentence in Georgia.

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Here are key takeaways:

• The book: Griffin’s memoir “The Other Side of Perfect” expands on the viral story by detailing the abuse she endured from the beginning of the marriage, her troubled childhood in Kershaw and the aftermath of her ex-husband’s conviction, she told The State.
• The viral series: Griffin’s story first reached millions through a 13-part series on the Humans of New York Facebook and Instagram pages, which drew tens of thousands of readers before the final post went up in March 2022.
• The conviction: Tripp Morris is serving a 45-year sentence at Baldwin State Prison in Milledgeville, Georgia, after being convicted of two counts of child molestation stemming from a 2010 incident involving a 5-year-old. He will be eligible to apply for parole in 2037.
• Real estate success: After the conviction, Griffin began selling real estate in Augusta, Georgia, working 70-hour weeks and selling nearly $500 million in homes over 10 years as a top producer.
• A scholarship foundation: Griffin started a foundation that awards $10,000 scholarships to children who have a parent in prison, with her own children selecting recipients and presenting the awards. All proceeds from the book go to charity.
• Her children today: Griffin’s oldest son, 16 when his father went to prison, is now a dentist, and her other children include a physical therapist, a health care executive and a mother of twins, she said.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.

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