Elisabeth Moss is set to play former Congresswoman Katie Hill in a new movie about the ex-lawmaker, who resigned in disgrace after someone leaked a nude photo that confirmed she had been involved in an inappropriate relationship with a young female staff member.
Hill, 33, won a surprise victory in the 2018 midterm elections against an incumbent Republican from California, but then resigned in 2019 after it was revealed that she and her husband had previously been involved in a “throuple” polyamorous relationship with a 22-year-old female campaign staffer. Hill was also accused of having an affair with a male congressional staffer, which she has denied. If true, it would have been a violation of House ethics rules.
The movie will be based on Hill’s memoir, “She Will Rise: Becoming a Warrior in the Battle for True Equality.” According to Variety, the memoir recounts Hill’s experience as a “young woman with no prior political experience whose charm, and common sense won over the people in her district and thrust her into the halls of power in Washington. While her brash confidence won her powerful allies and infuriated her enemies, it was privately concealing a cycle of domestic abuse she was trapped in at home, infamously culminating in the release of intimate photos and the revelation of her own admitted personal mistakes that would eventually result in her stunning fall from grace.”
Hill will also serve as a producer on the film.
It seems Hollywood has already forgotten the lessons of the #MeToo movement and Harvey Weinstein. Not that long ago, it was considered a bad thing when an employer used their position of power and authority to get sexual favors from a subordinate employee. And it’s hard to fathom the idea that a Republican male politician would be treated so generously by Hollywood if the situation were reversed. Hill is being glamorized and rewarded with a movie based on her telling of events, and a producer credit to boot.
Hill announced the project on her personal Twitter. She wrote:
“I can finally announce another exciting project! I’m so honored to be played by the iconic Elisabeth Moss, and thrilled to work with this incredible team. Guess I’m about to add movie producer to my resume…”
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Old Twitter account hijacked by “former staff” criticizes planned film
A day after the announcement, an anonymous person claiming to be “former staff” hijacked the disgraced congresswoman’s old, official government Twitter account and posted a series of tweets criticizing the project. The account had otherwise been inactive since Hill resigned. The tweets read:
“Katie’s former staff here. Disappointed in so many folks – including Elizabeth Moss, @Blumhouse, & @michaelseitzman – regarding today’s announcement.
“This is an incredibly sensitive situation. We appreciate the instinct to defend our former boss, an LGBTQ+ woman who faced abuse from her husband.
“What happened to Katie Hill shouldn’t happen to anyone. But, this moment requires more nuance, as Katie Hill’s story – our story – is also one of workplace abuse and harassment.
“Katie Hill can be both a victim and perpetrator. And, staff can experience severe consequences for speaking out against their powerful boss.
“No one should have to put themselves in harm’s way for the public to understand a simple truth: Katie Hill is not a hero for women. We deserve heroes who embody our values even in the most difficult moments.”
“Katie Hill was never investigated by the House Ethics Committee, nor has she been held accountable by anyone other than herself. We encourage everyone to reflect deeply before taking her word at face value.
“Katie took advantage of her subordinates. She caused immense harm to the people who worked for her, many of whom were young women just beginning their careers in politics.
“Workplace abuse and harassment can take many different forms, but one thing is certain: it is never okay, even if your boss is a woman and/or a survivor.
“Believe us when we say: it’s not only about who starts it, it’s also about who ends it. And, while Katie is certainly the survivor of abuse, we are not confident that she sufficiently acted to end her own patterns of inappropriate and abusive behavior.
“Enough is enough. In order to advance the #MeToo movement, we must be willing to acknowledge the problematic behaviors among those in our own communities. Only then will we see true progress. #TimesUp #MeToo”
The tweets have since been deleted. It’s unclear who deleted the messages, as Hill stated on Twitter that she had relinquished control of the account to the House Clerk when she resigned.
Hill responded to the tweets from her personal Twitter account by saying, “Regardless of their author, the content of the hacked tweets is something I have talked about at length in my book, in podcasts and in countless interviews regarding my decision to resign, as well as the constant work and reflection I’ve done since then.” She also said, “I look forward to continuing to have conversations around these issues and using my platform to support women in any way possible.”
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