Ed Piskor, the creative force behind acclaimed comic books such as Hip Hop Family Tree and X-Men: Grand Design, passed away on April 1, 2024, at the age of 41. The news was shared by his sister, Justine Cleaves in a Facebook post, however, the cause of death has not been disclosed. Piskor had recently been caught up in controversy following accusations of alleged s*xual misconduct by two women.
In a five-page statement shared on his Facebook page, the late artist contested the allegations leveled against him, detailing the impact they had on both his personal and professional life. The note also reportedly hinted at Piskor’s intentions to take his own life.
Ed Piskor Passed Away Amid S*xual Misconduct Allegations
Ed Piskor’s sister has shared the heartbreaking news of his passing on Facebook and requested prayers for their family as they navigate through this incredibly difficult time. The cause of his death has not been revealed, however, he has posted a lengthy message on his Facebook, which appears to be a suicide note.
In the note, the artist denied the allegations made against him, which were revealed a week ago. Artist Molly Dwyer accused him of allegedly attempting to “groom” her into getting s*xual favors when she was 17 years old while referring to him as a “creep.”
She provided screenshots of conversations between them, showing Piskor allegedly inquiring about her age. Soon after this another woman Molly Wright came forward accusing Piskor of allegedly soliciting inappropriate actions in exchange for his agent’s contact information.
These allegations sparked a significant backlash. In the wake of these accusations, Piskor’s upcoming art exhibition at the 707 Penn Gallery in Pittsburgh was canceled. After this, the Cartoonist Kayfabe co-host Jim Rugg also broke his professional ties with the cartoon artist.
Ed Piskor Denies Allegations in His Final Message
On Monday, Ed Piskor shared a five-page statement on his Facebook page, saying, “I’m helpless against a mob of this magnitude. Please share my side of things. Sayonara.” In his final message to the world, he addressed the allegations made against him.
He explained that text messages used as evidence had been taken out of context and also refuted accusations made by Molly Wright, referring to her as a “border criminal.” Piskor also revealed the emotional distress caused by these allegations and that he felt betrayed by those he believed were his friends and supporters.
Further into his statement, he mentioned how online harassement and gossip surrounding him contributed to his decision. He also accused those who participated in spreading rumors and engaging in bullying behavior of chipping away at his self-esteem.
“I was murdered by Internet bullies. Massive amounts of them. Some of you out there absolutely contributed to my death as you were entertaining yourself with gossip. I wasn’t AI. I was a real human being. You chipped little bits of my self-esteem away all week until I was vaporized.”
He also expressed hope that his passing might prompt reflection before participating in such destructive behavior and joining “an internet feeding frenzy.” Many comic artists, including Rob Liefeld, have spoken out following Ed Piskor’s passing.
