• Facebook
  • Google Plus
  • Instagram
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter

Menu

Skip to content
  • About
  • Staff
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
Header image

MyNewsLA.comLogo

Breaking news for greater Los Angeles and Orange County

Menu

Skip to content
  • Crime
  • Government
  • Business
  • Education
  • Hollywood
  • Life
  • OC
  • Riverside
  • Weather
  • City Of LA To Offer COVID Shots To Ages 16+ Tuesday; County Waits Til Thursday
  • SoCalGas Brings Back Fueling Our Communities Food Insecurity Program
  • Missing Elderly Pico Rivera Woman With Dementia Found
  • LA Judge Grants Partial Deal Between Women Players, Soccer Federation
  • County Sued Over Collecting Fees From Restaurants Forced To Close

Home » Hollywood » This Article

Producer Jill Messick, 50, commits suicide; Family blames Rose McGowan-Harvey Weinstein fight

Posted by Debbie L. Sklar on February 9, 2018 in Hollywood | Leave a response
Share this article:
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail
Photo by John Schreiber.

Hollywood studio executive and producer Jill Messick, who suffered from bipolar disorder, committed suicide this week, her family reported, citing Harvey Weinstein and one of his alleged victims, Rose McGowan, as contributing factors in the tragedy. Messick was 50.

Messick, who was married and had two children, killed herself in Los Angeles Wednesday. The method she used was not reported.

A family statement revealed that “five years ago, Jill suffered a manic episode. Anyone familiar with bipolar disorder knows that it is a cruel and vicious disease. With the help of doctors, her family and friends, Jill rebounded. Jill had fought to put her life back together. After a long job search, she was in negotiations to run the production division for a new entertainment company.”

The family said that for Messick, depression “had been her nemesis for years.” The statement also took aim at Weinstein and McGowan, saying Messick had become “collateral damage” in the movement that emerged after allegations of sexual misconduct by Weinstein were reported.

“The Movement” just lost one of its own, began the family statement.

Messick was McGowan’s manager in 1997 when, the actress says, she was raped by Weinstein.

In January, Weinstein’s lawyer published emails from Messick and Ben Affleck and said they proved McGowan’s accusations were a “performance.” McGowan responded on Twitter that her managers, publicists and assistants were all complicit in what had happened to her, according to The Times.

“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,” said the family statement. “It broke Jill, who was just starting to get her life back on track. What makes Rose’s inaccurate accusations and insinuations against Jill ironic was that she was the first person who stood up on Rose’s behalf, and alerted her bosses to the horrific experience which Rose suffered.”

McGowan was one of Messick’s first clients when she was an entry-level manager at Addis Wechsler, according to the family. It was during that period that, at the Sundance Film Festival, McGowan had a sexual episode with Weinstein that she later claimed had been a case of rape, the family statement said. Messick allegedly reported the sexual episode to her managers and insisted they address it.

Like this story? Don’t miss any breaking news from MyNewsLA.com. Sign up here for your free newsletter.

 

“The ensuing arrangements between Rose and Harvey were then negotiated, completely without Jill’s knowledge,” according to The family. “At that time, all Jill knew was that the matter was settled and that Rose continued making films with the Weinsteins. She never knew any details until recently, when Rose elected to make them public.”

Messick executive-produced films including “Baby Mama,” “Mean Girls,” “Hot Rod” and “She’s All That,” The Los Angeles Times reported.

Tina Fey, the writer of “Mean Girls,” told Deadline that Messick was “instrumental in helping “Mean Girls” get to the screen. She was a fiercely dedicated producer and a kind person.”

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office reported, meanwhile, that the Los Angeles Police Department submitted three potential sexual assault cases against Weinstein to prosecutors on Feb. 1 for consideration of possible charges. The D.A.’s Office is also believed to be reviewing two other possible cases previously submitted by the Beverly Hills Police Department.

Weinstein, who has been accused by dozens of women of sexual misconduct or assault, is also being investigated by police in New York and London. He has repeatedly denied having any non-consensual sex.

—City News Service

Producer Jill Messick, 50, commits suicide; Family blames Rose McGowan-Harvey Weinstein fight was last modified: February 9th, 2018 by Debbie L. Sklar

>> Want to read more stories like this? Get our Free Daily Newsletters Here!

Follow us:
Facebooktwitterrss
Posted in Hollywood | Tagged bipolar disorder, family, fight, Harvey Weinstein, Hollywood studio executive and producer Jill Messick, obit, Rose McGowan, suicide

Advertisement

Get The Latest News by Email!

Sign up here for our free newsletters. We’ll send you the latest headlines every morning and every weekday afternoon.

 
FORECAST FOR LOS ANGELES
46°
Clear
Feels like: 46°F
Wind: 3mph E
Humidity: 65%
Pressure: 29.82"Hg
UV index: 0
ThuFriSat
66/50°F
75/48°F
70/48°F
Weather forecast Los Angeles, California ▸

Most Popular Today

  • Torture Terror For Little Girl, 3, Brother, 11, In Temecula: Evil Foster ‘Mom’ Gets 11 Years To Life 4,000 views
  • Eight People Hurt in Head-on Crash in Azusa 3,600 views
  • Driver Killed in Riverside Crash Identified 2,800 views
  • Black Former Administrator Alleges Racism, Discrimination Forced Her to Quit 1,800 views
  • Man Killed During Shooting Involving Police Officers in San Fernando 1,600 views

©2021 CalNews Inc.

Menu

  • About
  • Staff
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service