In the documentary Ask E. Jean, journalist and author E Jean Carroll provides an unflinching account of her life, career, and groundbreaking legal victories against former President Donald Trump. The film, directed by Ivy Meeropol, offers an intimate look at Carroll's journey from advice columnist to a central figure in the #MeToo movement.
A Defiant Stand Against Defamation
One of the film's most striking moments is Carroll's deposition from 2022, made public for the first time. When asked by Trump's lawyer Alina Habba why she chose to sue Trump, Carroll responded firmly: “Because he called me a liar. He called me a liar. And I couldn’t let it stand.” This exchange encapsulates Carroll's determination to defend her credibility against Trump's repeated denials and insults.
Carroll, now 82, is the only woman to have beaten Trump in court, and she did so twice. In 2019, she alleged that Trump raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the mid-1990s, leading to two landmark defamation cases. In 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, awarding Carroll $5 million. A second jury in 2024 awarded her $83.3 million for defamation after Trump continued to attack her on social media. Despite these victories, Carroll has not yet received any payment as Trump's lawyers seek to overturn the rulings.
A Life of Resilience and Wit
Carroll's story is not just about her legal battles. The documentary explores her upbringing as a member of the “silent generation” of women who were taught to endure predatory behavior with a smile. “I was born in 1943,” she explains. “We are the chin-up, move-it-on, grin-and-bear-it generation. We didn’t complain.” This conditioning shaped her initial response to the assault: she confided in friends but buried the memory for decades.
Carroll's career was groundbreaking in its own right. She was a former Miss Indiana University and Miss Cheerleader USA, the first female contributing editor at Playboy, and wrote the popular advice column “Ask E Jean” for Elle from 1993 to 2019. She also hosted a cable TV show, wrote for Saturday Night Live, and authored an unauthorized biography of Hunter S Thompson.
The Making of the Documentary
Director Ivy Meeropol, known for her documentary on Roy Cohn, initially faced resistance from Carroll. “I’d rather eat my shoe,” Carroll told her agent. But after watching Meeropol's film Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy Cohn, Carroll agreed to participate. Meeropol discovered a woman who is energetic, eccentric, and fiercely independent. “She needs her time alone; she’s a writer,” Meeropol says.
Securing funding was a challenge. Studios cited Trump fatigue or Carroll's lack of fame. The film eventually secured independent equity in 2023 with a budget under $2 million. Meeropol and her team rescued boxes of VHS tapes from Carroll's storage unit and basement, including episodes of her 1990s TV show. The footage reveals Carroll's radically progressive advice for the era, encouraging women to pursue careers and reject societal pressures.
Reframing the Narrative
Meeropol was determined not to portray Carroll as a victim. “She rejects those terms herself – even ‘survivor’,” Meeropol says. Carroll embodies the flip side of shame, openly discussing her flirtation with Trump and her love of men. The director hopes the film speaks beyond one woman's experience. “We can’t let these stories be buried,” she insists. “Put things out and show the truth.”
Ask E. Jean is currently playing in New York and will open in Los Angeles on 29 May, with a UK date to be announced.
