WWE star Ashley Massaro died by suicide in May 2019 at 39. On Saturday, her suicide prevention PSA premiered via Facebook.
The music video for “Choose Song”—an inspirational ballad which features vocals by ‘90s rock stars Brendon Brown (Wheatus), Kevin Martin (Candlebox), and Vinnie Dombroski (Sponge)—shows Massaro apparently playing herself, struggling with depression, and ultimately meeting friends at a brewery after a long day. The song was written by Massaro’s former co-worker Brian Orlando; both hosted radio shows on Long Island, New York rock station 94.3 the Shark.
The video was filmed in January 2019, according to the New York Post, and premiered this weekend after Massaro’s family reportedly gave it their blessing.
Massaro in 2005 won World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) “Diva Search,” and posed for Playboy in 2007. But her three years in pro wrestling proved traumatic: In 2017, Massaro revealed that she was raped during a tour in Kuwait by a member of the U.S. military. According to her lawyer, she was told to keep the incident quiet by management, including WWE CEO Vince McMahon. WWE denies this.
In 2016, Massaro joined a class-action lawsuit against the WWE alleging she wasn’t protected from brain damage-causing injuries.
“A few weeks before we were set to launch the entire thing, Ashley fell victim to her battle with depression,” Orlando told the Post. “I was crushed that I lost my friend and the entire project just felt gross at that point.”
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, as many Americans work through mental health issues, the creative team behind “Choose Song” revisited the video.
Orlando wrote “Choose Song” following the death by suicide of Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell.
For more information about suicide prevention or to speak with someone confidentially, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (U.S.) or Samaritans (U.K.).H/T New York Post
