Family of Hollywood producer who died by suicide blames death on Weinstein scandal
Jill Messick, a studio executive, producer, and former manager of actress Rose McGowan, died by suicide, her family confirmed Thursday. She was 50.
In a blistering statement, Messick's family said she had privately battled depression for years, and after her name came up as part of the scandal surrounding Harvey Weinstein and allegations of sexual misconduct made against him, it "broke" her. "Seeing her name in headlines again and again, as part of one person's attempt to gain more attention for her personal cause, along with Harvey's desperate attempt to vindicate himself, was devastating for her," the family said.
Messick was McGowan's manager in 1997, the year the actress alleges Weinstein raped her in his hotel room during the Sundance Film Festival. Messick's family said she learned about an encounter between McGowan and Weinstein, and "alerted her bosses to the horrific experience which Rose suffered." Messick believed the matter had been settled when McGowan continued to make movies with Weinstein, her family said, and "never knew any details until recently, when Rose elected to make them public." McGowan has accused Hollywood of protecting Weinstein and ignoring allegations of abuse against him.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Messick also worked at Weinstein's Miramax from 1997 to 2003 as a production executive, and in January, Weinstein's legal team released a statement that included a quote attributed to Messick, which backed his version of events: that his encounter with McGowan was consensual. "It broke Jill," her family said. Messick is survived by two children and her partner, Dan Schuck.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
UK gynaecological care crisis: why thousands of women are left in pain
The Explainer Waiting times have tripled over the past decade thanks to lack of prioritisation or funding for women's health
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'The Hum': the real-life noise behind The Listeners
In The Spotlight Can some of us also hear the disturbing sound that plagues characters in the hit TV show – and where is it coming from?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: Are we any closer to identifying UFOs?
Podcast Plus, will deals with Tunisia and Kurdistan help Labour? And what next for the Wagner Group?
By The Week Staff Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published