Thank you so much for this lovely message, and for the condolences. It is truly appreciated more than you can ever know. I honestly don’t think I’ve processed everything yet, because it still doesn’t feel real. I can’t even imagine what this must be like for you, having just found NP and learning about what was happening with Nez. 

Over the past few months, I’ve had a lot of anons and people sending in asks mainly about Nez’s former assistant, and I just felt so burned out on everything that it was emotionally draining to even think of answering anything. So my apologies to the folks who haven’t had their questions addressed, but hopefully what I am about to say will help with that. 

As devastated and heartbroken as I’ve felt all day, both those emotions have been outlined by a steadily increasing undercurrent of anger. I never wanted to answer the asks in the NP inbox without being able to completely confirm what was going on. Right now, we may never have that total confirmation, but from what has been said to NP, it appears Melodie was fired near the end of October and abruptly left the Monkees Farewell tour. Subsequently, the following three things occurred:

1. She was not in attendance at the last show of the Farewell Tour at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. 

2. Micky gave a shoutout to his and Nez's assistants and referred to a woman named Gretchen as being Nez's assistant (no mention of Melodie). 

3. All references to Melodie have allegedly been removed from the Videoranch FB page, from as far back as July (if not farther).

...Most damning, however, is what has happened just recently. First, there was the strange recording that appeared on the Videoranch Facebook, and mere days ago, Melodie went ‘private’ on Twitter. Then there is this, both of which were sent to NP today: 

The top screenshot is of Melodie’s Instagram, on which she changed her profile photo to a picture with Nez. The second screenshot is from her Facebook, of a picture of Nez in the FNB era with the caption “My light xxxx.” And it is the very fact that she would have the unmitigated fucking nerve to post either of these things that is so galling. 

If you are someone who has just been fired from a job where you were accused of elder abuse against your employer, would you post these things? Or would you have to be a psychopath--a cold, remorseless, nasty piece of work who thinks she did nothing wrong--to post these things? There has also been talk of Melodie stealing from Nez/engaging in financial abuse, and no doubt more of this will unfold in the weeks and months ahead as (hopefully) legal proceedings are taken against her. But someone who knows that’s coming would not post these things. Only someone who thinks she’s gotten away with it would. 

It is absolutely frightening. And many of us have felt helpless for so long, because those in a position to speak out were unable or unwilling to do so. While we as fans and friends unfortunately cannot take legal action, I have created this post as part of a social media campaign to raise awareness about what is happening to Nez. I am hoping that people will reblog it and get the word out, because it truly is silence that allows situations like Nez's to perpetuate, and no one deserves to be abused like that.

For those who haven't seen, this is the post @halpeary is talking about, and it's as tasteless and tacky as you might imagine:

There is nothing inherently wrong with listening to Nez's music while high. That by itself is not the problem. The problem is that Melodie has turned this into his entire brand. If you are following the Videoranch social media channels or taking part in the discussion group on Facebook, you would think there is nothing else to Nez's music except pot. And it's deeply ironic that someone who has always been so obsessive (both here on Tumblr years ago and since working for him) about exploring the "dimensions" and having profound discussions about Nez's work has reduced his music to exactly one dimension.

Hi there, Anon. What the heck is going on is pretty much everything you’ve said here in a nutshell, and then some. I’ve been contacted previously by someone else from M’s old friend group who echoed  what you have said here, and deeply regretted ever having been involved with her. So everything you are saying more than checks out.

Yes, she stalked Nez and forced herself into his life, going so far as to move from where she lived to where Nez lives in CA to badger him for a job. Yet ironically, she just instated this as a rule in the VR discussion group...

The irony is almost sickening, really, considering that she has blocked hundreds of fans from the Videoranch social media pages (all of which she has taken over), and from Nez’s personal Facebook profile. This recent ask comes from @halpeary, who reports:

“I can't seem to send u a message...BUT... I did want to tell you that, on a recent IG post, I commented how "alert and vibrant" he was in the clip from FNB days. It was promptly removed. When i posted the same message, it was also removed. Not a big deal but telling in its own way.”

Nez is going on livestreams with her--on Facebook and now Instagram--stoned and possibly also drugged out of his mind. And anyone who makes a comment about it is banned and/or blocked. The NP Discussion Group has become the only place where anyone can safely talk about what is happening--and “safe” is even up for debate, as M stalks and reads the group obsessively. (I am keeping it public because I want people to be able to find the group and get information about what is happening, if for no other reason than to stop normalizing this situation/continue acting like everything is fine, which is what she wants.)

Hello, Anon. Yes, I’ve been receiving a great many number of messages on other social media channels about the story post. I do not believe for a moment that he wrote it, as it sounds like someone desperate to sound like him and failing spectacularly to do so. Nez has never spoken to his fans this way, nor has he ever referred to himself as “Nishwash,” for that matter. And anyone who is “well and healthy and fit” does not need to say that they are well, healthy, and fit. 

(Also the part you mentioned about “My team is watching these particular posters” is meant to sound more frightening than it is, because all it actually means is she is stalking the NP group day and night.) 

But yes, it’s truly appalling to see him being represented in this manner, and his voice being used to bully people. If nothing else, let this convince you that something is deeply and truly wrong.

Screencaps of the story, for those who have not seen it:

Thank you, Anon. This was sent to NP earlier today. For the link averse, this is a blind item from a well-known gossip site:

While information from gossip sites is typically to be taken with a grain of salt, the proprietor of this blog appears to be an anonymous entertainment lawyer, so ostensibly someone who would know better than to publish something that would get him sued. Also, the writing here is sensationalized to an extent--which seems to be par for the course for sites like these--but there are several points that indicate it is indeed very likely about Nez. 

Hi Anon! Sure thing. Nez doesn’t have a fan mail address per se, so everything sent to him goes through Videoranch. 

However, just to warn you: You may have difficulty getting a fan letter to Nez, as his personal assistant--who actually hates the Monkees, strange as that sounds, and by extension Monkees fans--is unfortunately extremely controlling when it comes to anything related to his fans (and is controlling of Nez in general). She has been screening his messages on Facebook and his personal e-mails for a long while now, and it’s come up that she has also screened mail that has been sent to him, to Videoranch. As a result, several fans have had their mail sent back. So unfortunately there is no guarantee that anything you send will be read by him–or, perhaps more alarmingly, not read by her.   But, you can still give it a shot, and fan mail can be sent to the following address:

Michael Nesmith c/o Videoranch 1793 Catalina St. Sand City, CA 93955