Producer and studio executive Jill Messick has died of suicide at age 50. Her family released a statement on Thursday blaming her death on “our new culture of unlimited information sharing and a willingness toaccept statement as fact,” specifically citing the fight between Rose McGowan and Harvey Weinstein that also ensnared Messick. It is printed below in its entirety.
“The Movement” just lost one of its own.
Jill Messick was a mother of two children, a loving wife and partner, a dear friend to many and asmart entertainment executive. She was also a survivor, privately battling depression which hadbeen her nemesis for years.
Today she did not survive. Jill took her own life.
Jill was victimized by our new culture of unlimited information sharing and a willingness toaccept statement as fact. The speed of disseminating information has carried mistruths about Jillas a person, which she was unable and unwilling to challenge. She became collateral damage inan already horrific story.
Jill believed in the Movement. She supported every woman finally coming forward to sharetheir dark truths and expose those who had committed previously unspeakable deeds. She wasloyal. She was strong. Jill was many things, but she was not a liar.
Over the past few months, many women have come out with allegations against HarveyWeinstein, including Rose McGowan, who has repeatedly spoken with the press, striking outagainst not only her alleged attacker, but a great many others. One of them was Jill, who choseto remain silent in the face of Rose’s slanderous statements against her for fear of underminingthe many individuals who came forward in truth. She opted not to add to the feeding frenzy,allowing her name and her reputation to be sullied despite having done nothing wrong. Shenever chose to be a public figure, that choice was taken away from her.Now that Jill can no longer speak for herself, it’s time to set the record straight.
In January 1997, Jill was an entry level manager at Addis Wechsler. One of her first clients wasRose McGowan, and one of Jill’s first duties was to set up a breakfast meeting with HarveyWeinstein during the Sundance Film Festival. Following the meeting, Rose told Jill what hadhappened – that she made the decision to remove her clothes and get in the hot tub with him — amistake which Rose immediately regretted. Rose never once used the word rape in thatconversation. Despite this, Jill recognized that Harvey had done something untoward to Rose, ifnot illegal. She immediately went to her bosses, the partners of Addis Wechsler, to recountRose’s story and to insist that they address the situation. They told Jill that they would take careof it. The ensuing arrangements between Rose and Harvey were then negotiated, completelywithout Jill’s knowledge. At that time, all Jill knew was that the matter was settled and that Rosecontinued making films with the Weinsteins. She never knew any details until recently, whenRose elected to make them public.
Ten months later, in November of 1997, Jill received a call from the Miramax exec VP ofproduction, recruiting her for a job as an executive at Miramax Films working in production inLos Angeles. Jill was hired based on merit and her excellent work of over two years as a youngdevelopment executive working with Woods Entertainment, (prior to her time at Addis Wechsler).
Rose’s most recent round of press to promote her book have included new stories involving Jill.The constant press attention Rose has garnered in print and on National TV led to HarveyWeinstein releasing two documents. One of these was an email which Jill wrote to him monthsprior to the first NY Times piece coming out, and at his request. In this e-mail, Jill offered thetruth based on what she remembers Rose telling her about the Sundance account. In the face of
Rose’s continued and embellished accusations last week, Harvey took it upon himself to releasethe e-mail without her consent.
Five years ago, Jill suffered a manic episode. Anyone familiar with bipolar disorder knows that itis 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 torun the production division for a new entertainment company.
Seeing her name in headlines again and again, as part of one person’s attempt to gain moreattention for her personal cause, along with Harvey’s desperate attempt to vindicate himself, wasdevastating for her. 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 wasthe first person who stood up on Rose’s behalf, and alerted her bosses to the horrific experiencewhich Rose suffered. Twenty years ago, as a very junior person in a management companyhierarchy, Jill exhibited her integrity in doing the right thing – she raised the red flag with theheads of her firm. In the face of inappropriate behavior, Jill handled the situation appropriately.
Hers is one of the only stories that has stayed consistent over time as we watch other mediareported tales morph to beget further attention.While journalists serve an important role in exposing predatory behavior, we are seeingirresponsible choices and an addiction to sensationalism which leads to inconsistent storytelling.
The media is a powerful tool not to be taken lightly. Most individuals would be horrified to havetheir name spotlighted in a major international news story – let alone their photograph. Wecannot forget that the media is a fearsome tool which cannot be used indiscriminately or eveninadvertently to create further victims. There is a responsibility when using a platform toaccurately expose criminals, predators, mistruths and misdeeds while protecting the actual truthof third parties.
As we collectively seek to take action in an effort to right the wrongs so brazenly andinhumanely repeated for a generation, we must not forget one simple truth: words have power.
While we illuminate the dark corners for hidden truths, we must remember that what we say,particularly in the media, can have just as much impact if not more than our actions. We mustask more of ourselves, and of each other. We must take a moment to consider the ramificationsand consequences of what we say and what we do.
Words matter.
Someone’s life may depend on it.
