On Her Honor

“Thank you, Rolling Stone. Thank you, Variety. But you have screwed up. I can’t quite understand; it’s all backward because I’m an old magazine writer. From the age of twelve, I was sending off ideas to magazines in New York. And my dream was to write for Rolling Stone, not get an award from Rolling Stone. My dream was to be seen reading Variety in a little coffee shop in the basement of the Beverly Hills Hotel…not getting an award from Variety. Here’s the thing, both those dreams came true.” — E. Jean Carroll

In a full circle moment, E. Jean Carroll, renowned journalist, author and advocate, was honored with the prestigious Truth Seekers Award at the fourth annual Truth Seekers Summit presented by Paramount+ last Thursday. The Summit, produced by Rolling Stone and Variety and held in New York City, celebrates excellence in journalism, documentary filmmaking and investigative storytelling, recognizing those who have made significant contributions to the pursuit of truth in media.

And no one has dedicated her entire life to telling the truth than Carroll.

Carroll’s distinguished career is highlighted by her widely beloved “Ask E. Jean” column, which appeared in Elle Magazine from 1993 until 2019, becoming one of the longest-running advice columns ever. Her sharp, witty, and insightful counsel garnered a loyal following and established her as a respected figure in the world of journalism, as she also penned articles for multiple publications, including Rolling Stone, during her storied career. In addition to her column, the five books she’s written and her journalistic achievements, Carroll made significant contributions to television, including her work on Saturday Night Live, which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for outstanding writing for a variety series.

Carroll’s relentless pursuit of justice and truth, particularly in the face of overwhelming personal and professional challenges, has been well documented. None more notable than her courageous stand against former President Donald Trump, where, in 2019, she wrote an article in New York Magazine revealing that she was battered and sexually assaulted by Trump in 1996. In retaliation, then President Trump called Carroll a liar 26 times. That November, Carroll filed a defamation lawsuit stating her attacker damaged her reputation and caused professional and emotional pain. In November 2022, Carroll sued Trump for defamation again. Carroll was successful in both lawsuits and was awarded $5 million and $83.3 million in damages.

“It was the happiest day of my life,” Carroll said in an exclusive Q&A session after Carroll gave her acceptance speech, spearheaded by Rolling Stone’s Senior Writer, Tessa Stuart, and Carroll’s attorney, Roberta “Robbie” Kaplan, sitting beside Carroll. “I’m still up this high. It was a wonderful moment….A great, great moment.” While the former president will appeal both decisions next month, there is no worry on Carroll or Kaplan’s part. “I’m very comfortable that we have very strong arguments on this appeal,” Kaplan said.

Despite that, Carroll, who plans on detailing both trials in a new book, is ready for her next chapter to be written. “F. Scott Fitzgerald said, ‘After a big news event, four days later, no one remembers it.’ We move so quickly in this country, so fast,” Carroll said. “It’s over, it’s [in the] past and I’m glad we did it, and if it’s any help to anyone, that makes me happy.”

Carroll’s recognition at the 2024 summit is a testament to her enduring legacy in the field of journalism and her unwavering commitment to truth and justice. As the applause echoed through the room, it was clear that her story resonated with many, inspiring a new generation of truth-seekers to continue the fight.

“My life has been extremely happy,” the 80-year-old Carroll said during her acceptance speech. “There have been moments that weren’t so happy, but my idea at the height of happiness and adventure was sitting on a plane and clasping that seatbelt, roaring down the runway, taking off, going to a place I have never been, and writing a story about somebody I had never met. That was life to me.”

And E. Jean Carroll continues to live a life worth living.