# When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story
*When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story* is a 2017 American made-for-television drama on the TV One network, directed by [Tasha Smith](https://www.edgepedia.org/tasha-smith), that dramatizes the true story of Falicia Blakely, an Atlanta teenager who became a stripper, prostitute, and ultimately a convicted triple murderer under the control of a pimp who claimed to love her.[1](https://www.prweb.com/releases/tv_one_unveils_public_service_announcement_to_accompany_debut_of_original_film_when_love_kills_the_falicia_blakely_story_on_monday_august_28/prweb14635712.htm) It premiered on Monday, August 28, 2017, at 9 p.m. ET and became the highest-rated original movie premiere in TV One's history.[1](https://www.prweb.com/releases/tv_one_unveils_public_service_announcement_to_accompany_debut_of_original_film_when_love_kills_the_falicia_blakely_story_on_monday_august_28/prweb14635712.htm) • [2](https://tvone.tv/60523/when-love-kills-is-the-1-original-premiere-of-all-time/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Network and premiere | TV One, Monday, August 28, 2017, 9 p.m. ET[1](https://www.prweb.com/releases/tv_one_unveils_public_service_announcement_to_accompany_debut_of_original_film_when_love_kills_the_falicia_blakely_story_on_monday_august_28/prweb14635712.htm) |
| Director / writer | Tasha Smith (feature-length directorial debut); screenplay by Cas Sigers-Beedles[1](https://www.prweb.com/releases/tv_one_unveils_public_service_announcement_to_accompany_debut_of_original_film_when_love_kills_the_falicia_blakely_story_on_monday_august_28/prweb14635712.htm) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/when_love_kills_the_falicia_blakely_story) |
| Cast | Niatia "Lil Mama" Kirkland as Falicia, Lance Gross as Dino, Tami Roman as Stacey, Tiffany Black as Pumpkin[4](https://tvone.tv/46544/about-when-love-kills/) |
| Source material | Inspired by an episode of TV One's true crime series *For My Man*[1](https://www.prweb.com/releases/tv_one_unveils_public_service_announcement_to_accompany_debut_of_original_film_when_love_kills_the_falicia_blakely_story_on_monday_august_28/prweb14635712.htm) |
| Production company | Swirl Films (producers Eric Tomosunas, Keith Neal, James Seppelfrick)[2](https://tvone.tv/60523/when-love-kills-is-the-1-original-premiere-of-all-time/) |
| Premiere audience | 1.2 million unique viewers; 1.6 million for the night; TV One's #1 original movie premiere of all time among all key demos[2](https://tvone.tv/60523/when-love-kills-is-the-1-original-premiere-of-all-time/) |
| Rating and runtime | TV-14; 95 minutes per IMDb, listed as 1h 24m by Rotten Tomatoes[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6250060/) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/when_love_kills_the_falicia_blakely_story) |
## Spoilers
### Plot and subject
The film follows Falicia Blakely, a 16-year-old mother in Atlanta who is at odds with her own mother and begins working at a strip club, where she meets Dino, a local pimp she believes is the man of her dreams.[4](https://tvone.tv/46544/about-when-love-kills/) Dino pulls her into a life of stripping, prostitution, robbery, and ultimately murder, presenting each step as proof of love.[1](https://www.prweb.com/releases/tv_one_unveils_public_service_announcement_to_accompany_debut_of_original_film_when_love_kills_the_falicia_blakely_story_on_monday_august_28/prweb14635712.htm) TV One's synopsis describes his "empty promises of a life together" turning Falicia into "a pawn in his dangerous games," forced to prove her love "at the expense of innocent lives."[6](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/when-love-kills-the-falicia-blakely-story/cast/2030236203/)
The film was adapted from a one-hour segment of *For My Man*, TV One's true crime series about women brought down by their partners.[1](https://www.prweb.com/releases/tv_one_unveils_public_service_announcement_to_accompany_debut_of_original_film_when_love_kills_the_falicia_blakely_story_on_monday_august_28/prweb14635712.htm) • [7](https://www.essence.com/entertainment/tv-one-film-explores-saving-our-girls-when-love-kills/) Screenwriter Cas Sigers-Beedles had written a script about Blakely a decade earlier and had visited her in prison, but the project only moved forward after the *For My Man* episode aired.[8](https://atlantablackstar.com/2017/08/31/love-kills-falicia-blakely-story-forces-us-pay-attention-girls/)
## The true story behind the film
In August 2002, Falicia Blakely, then 18, shot and killed three men in Atlanta: Raymond Goodwin, 34, Claudell "Doc" Christmas, 35, and Lemetrius "Meechy" Twitty, 29, accompanied by her friend Ameshia Ervin.[9](https://www.oxygen.com/snapped/crime-news/atlanta-stripper-falicia-blakely-kills-robs-3-men) The women robbed the men of cash, and Twitty's gold [Nissan Maxima](https://www.edgepedia.org/nissan-maxima) was taken; police connected the crimes through .32 caliber shell casings found at two scenes.[9](https://www.oxygen.com/snapped/crime-news/atlanta-stripper-falicia-blakely-kills-robs-3-men) Ten days after the murders, police found Blakely and Ervin hiding in the bathroom of a Mrs. Winner's Chicken & Biscuits restaurant, along with a third woman, after a series of armed robberies at the chain's locations; one gun hidden in the toilet tank matched the murder weapon.[9](https://www.oxygen.com/snapped/crime-news/atlanta-stripper-falicia-blakely-kills-robs-3-men)
Blakely admitted the killings in a statement a prosecutor described as "remarkably candid," and told police her pimp, Michael "Dino" Berry, had forced her to rob and kill the men.[9](https://www.oxygen.com/snapped/crime-news/atlanta-stripper-falicia-blakely-kills-robs-3-men) She had met Berry a few years earlier as a pregnant dancer; he was 11 years her senior and, in her account, gave her love, gifts including coats and cars, and the promise of a family.[10](https://www.essence.com/love/lessons-tv-ones-when-love-kills-falicia-blakeley/) • [9](https://www.oxygen.com/snapped/crime-news/atlanta-stripper-falicia-blakely-kills-robs-3-men) At her January 2004 plea hearing, she testified that Berry ordered her and Ervin to rob and kill the men or be killed herself.[11](https://creativeloafing.com/content-171323-trial-set-for-co-defendant-of-teenage-triple)
To avoid the death penalty, Blakely pleaded guilty in January 2004 and received three sentences of life without parole.[12](https://creativeloafing.com/content-171458-alleged-pimp-accused-of-ordering-killings-is-jailed) One account states that at the time she was the youngest woman in Georgia to face the death penalty.[13](https://www.traciycurryreyes.com/2026/09/falicia-blakely-ameshia-ervin-when-love-kills-true-story-real-dino-michael-mike-berry.html) Ervin also took a plea deal and received a life sentence; Creative Loafing reported in 2005 that she would be eligible for parole in 2024, while Oxygen later reported 2027.[12](https://creativeloafing.com/content-171458-alleged-pimp-accused-of-ordering-killings-is-jailed) • [9](https://www.oxygen.com/snapped/crime-news/atlanta-stripper-falicia-blakely-kills-robs-3-men) Berry was investigated for ordering the killings, but DeKalb County prosecutors said they lacked sufficient evidence, and co-defendant Ervin did not corroborate Blakely's accusations; he was never charged in connection with the murders.[11](https://creativeloafing.com/content-171323-trial-set-for-co-defendant-of-teenage-triple) • [9](https://www.oxygen.com/snapped/crime-news/atlanta-stripper-falicia-blakely-kills-robs-3-men)
The film changes some details: Blakely's son is depicted as a daughter, and the character Dino is a fictionalized version of Berry.[8](https://atlantablackstar.com/2017/08/31/love-kills-falicia-blakely-story-forces-us-pay-attention-girls/) • [4](https://tvone.tv/46544/about-when-love-kills/) Blakely later collaborated with author Sereniti Hall on the book *A Treacherous Hustle*, which she described as more graphic than the film and covering her childhood and sentencing day.[14](https://nappythoughts.com/falicia-blakely)
## Cast and production
**Casting.** Rapper and actress Niatia "Lil Mama" Kirkland plays Falicia, with [Lance Gross](https://www.edgepedia.org/lance-gross), known for *House of Payne*, as Dino and *Basketball Wives* personality [Tami Roman](https://www.edgepedia.org/tami-roman) as Falicia's mother Stacey.[4](https://tvone.tv/46544/about-when-love-kills/) The supporting cast includes Tiffany Black as Pumpkin, Walter Fauntleroy as Q, and appearances by [Floyd Mayweather Jr.](https://www.edgepedia.org/floyd-mayweather-jr) as "Punch," Big Freedia as Tam, and Lil' Zane as DJ Pierre.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6250060/) • [6](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/when-love-kills-the-falicia-blakely-story/cast/2030236203/)
**Direction.** The film marked the feature-length directorial debut of actress Tasha Smith, known for *For Better or Worse* and *Empire*.[1](https://www.prweb.com/releases/tv_one_unveils_public_service_announcement_to_accompany_debut_of_original_film_when_love_kills_the_falicia_blakely_story_on_monday_august_28/prweb14635712.htm) • [15](https://www.blackfilm.com/read/exclusive-lil-mama-tami-roman-lance-gross-talk-when-love-kills/) Smith drew on her own past, saying she dropped out of school at 14, was bartending in a strip club at 16, and was stripping by 20: "By the grace of God, I ended up here, but she ended up in jail for the rest of her life."[1](https://www.prweb.com/releases/tv_one_unveils_public_service_announcement_to_accompany_debut_of_original_film_when_love_kills_the_falicia_blakely_story_on_monday_august_28/prweb14635712.htm) Sigers-Beedles said Smith's own hard upbringing and brief strip club stint helped her connect to the character.[8](https://atlantablackstar.com/2017/08/31/love-kills-falicia-blakely-story-forces-us-pay-attention-girls/)
The film was produced for TV One by Swirl Films, with Eric Tomosunas, Keith Neal, and James Seppelfrick producing; it was TV One's first original movie inspired by an episode of one of its own series.[2](https://tvone.tv/60523/when-love-kills-is-the-1-original-premiere-of-all-time/) • [15](https://www.blackfilm.com/read/exclusive-lil-mama-tami-roman-lance-gross-talk-when-love-kills/) It debuted at the American Black Film Festival on June 15, 2017, before its television premiere.[16](https://tvone.tv/55317/when-love-kills-premiere-the-cast-shines-on-the-red-carpet/)
## Reception and viewership
The August 28, 2017 premiere drew 1.2 million unique viewers, 1.6 million for the night including encores, and ranked as TV One's #1 original movie premiere of all time among all key demographics, as well as the network's best Monday prime performance among adults 25-54.[2](https://tvone.tv/60523/when-love-kills-is-the-1-original-premiere-of-all-time/) On Twitter, the hashtag #WhenLoveKills began at #6 nationally and climbed to #1, remaining among the top 10 for 7.5 hours; the film came in at #2 on the Nielsen Social Daily Top Five list, as 54,000 unique Facebook and Twitter posts produced 117,000 interactions.[2](https://tvone.tv/60523/when-love-kills-is-the-1-original-premiere-of-all-time/)
On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a 75% Tomatometer from two critics; a Shadow and Act review called it "the debut feature film of veteran actress Tasha Smith" and praised her "sharp directorial instincts, masterful shots, and nuanced storytelling."[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/when_love_kills_the_falicia_blakely_story) The film received two award nominations, according to IMDb.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6250060/) As of late 2026 it streams in the United States on Peacock and free with ads on Plex and Tubi.[17](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/when-love-kills-the-falicia-blakely-story)
## Social campaign
TV One framed the film as a cautionary tale about abusive relationships and partnered with the National Domestic Violence Hotline to air a public service announcement during the broadcast, reinforcing the message that "real love doesn't hurt."[1](https://www.prweb.com/releases/tv_one_unveils_public_service_announcement_to_accompany_debut_of_original_film_when_love_kills_the_falicia_blakely_story_on_monday_august_28/prweb14635712.htm) Citing statistics from the Hotline, the PSA noted that physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner has touched 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men.[1](https://www.prweb.com/releases/tv_one_unveils_public_service_announcement_to_accompany_debut_of_original_film_when_love_kills_the_falicia_blakely_story_on_monday_august_28/prweb14635712.htm) The network also partnered with Saving Our Daughters, a nonprofit empowering teenage girls, and held screenings with panel discussions in Atlanta, New Orleans, New York, and Los Angeles.[1](https://www.prweb.com/releases/tv_one_unveils_public_service_announcement_to_accompany_debut_of_original_film_when_love_kills_the_falicia_blakely_story_on_monday_august_28/prweb14635712.htm) Lance Gross emailed the real Falicia Blakely in prison after filming and received a reply thanking those involved for raising awareness against domestic violence.[1](https://www.prweb.com/releases/tv_one_unveils_public_service_announcement_to_accompany_debut_of_original_film_when_love_kills_the_falicia_blakely_story_on_monday_august_28/prweb14635712.htm)
## Other works of the same name
The title had been used before: CBS aired a four-hour 1993 miniseries, *When Love Kills: The Seduction of John Hearn*, starring [Gary Cole](https://www.edgepedia.org/gary-cole) and [Marg Helgenberger](https://www.edgepedia.org/marg-helgenberger), based on the true story of a decorated [Vietnam veteran](https://www.edgepedia.org/vietnam-veteran) seduced into becoming a killer for hire.[18](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-05-18-ca-36597-story.html) A separate Investigation Discovery series titled *Love Kills* began in 2017.[19](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/love_kills)
## References
1. [TV One Unveils Public Service Announcement to Accompany Debut of Original Film, When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story (PRWeb, August 25, 2017)](https://www.prweb.com/releases/tv_one_unveils_public_service_announcement_to_accompany_debut_of_original_film_when_love_kills_the_falicia_blakely_story_on_monday_august_28/prweb14635712.htm)
2. ['When Love Kills' Is The #1 Original Premiere of All Time, TV One (August 31, 2017)](https://tvone.tv/60523/when-love-kills-is-the-1-original-premiere-of-all-time/)
3. [When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/when_love_kills_the_falicia_blakely_story)
4. [About "When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story", TV One (February 11, 2017)](https://tvone.tv/46544/about-when-love-kills/)
5. [When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story (TV Movie 2017), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6250060/)
6. [When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story - Full Cast & Crew, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/when-love-kills-the-falicia-blakely-story/cast/2030236203/)
7. ['When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story' Review | [site:name]](https://www.essence.com/entertainment/tv-one-film-explores-saving-our-girls-when-love-kills/)
8. [Why "When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story" Forces Us to Pay Attention to Our Girls, Atlanta Black Star (August 31, 2017)](https://atlantablackstar.com/2017/08/31/love-kills-falicia-blakely-story-forces-us-pay-attention-girls/)
9. [Atlanta Stripper Falicia Blakely Kills, Robs 3 Men, Oxygen (Snapped)](https://www.oxygen.com/snapped/crime-news/atlanta-stripper-falicia-blakely-kills-robs-3-men)
10. [Lessons From TV One's 'When Love Kills', ESSENCE](https://www.essence.com/love/lessons-tv-ones-when-love-kills-falicia-blakeley/)
11. [Trial set for co-defendant of teenage triple murderer, Creative Loafing (May 20, 2004)](https://creativeloafing.com/content-171323-trial-set-for-co-defendant-of-teenage-triple)
12. [Alleged pimp accused of ordering killings is jailed, again, Creative Loafing (June 29, 2005)](https://creativeloafing.com/content-171458-alleged-pimp-accused-of-ordering-killings-is-jailed)
13. [Falicia Blakely, Ameshia Ervin: 'When Love Kills' Tragic True-Crime Story, Traciy Curry-Reyes](https://www.traciycurryreyes.com/2026/09/falicia-blakely-ameshia-ervin-when-love-kills-true-story-real-dino-michael-mike-berry.html)
14. [Behind When Love Kills: Meet The Real Falicia Blakely, Nappy Thoughts](https://nappythoughts.com/falicia-blakely)
15. [Exclusive: Lil Mama, Tami Roman and Lance Gross Talk 'When Love Kills', blackfilm.com (August 28, 2017)](https://www.blackfilm.com/read/exclusive-lil-mama-tami-roman-lance-gross-talk-when-love-kills/)
16. ['When Love Kills' Premiere: The Cast SHINES On The Red Carpet, TV One (June 19, 2017)](https://tvone.tv/55317/when-love-kills-premiere-the-cast-shines-on-the-red-carpet/)
17. [When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story streaming, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/when-love-kills-the-falicia-blakely-story)
18. [TV Review: 'When Love Kills' Lurid but Persuasive, Los Angeles Times (May 18, 1993)](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-05-18-ca-36597-story.html)
19. [Love Kills, Rotten Tomatoes (TV series)](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/love_kills)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Crime, thriller, and mystery films (individual works) › 2015–2019 films › Crime drama and neo-noir films*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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