A powerful statement from the family of a Hollywood producer who committed suicide shows a different side of the #MeToo movement
- Jill Messick, film producer and executive, died on Wednesday in what her family has said was a suicide.
- In 1997, Messick was actress Rose McGowan's manager, the same year McGowan alleges Harvey Weinstein raped her.
- In January, Weinstein made public an email that Messick sent him, in which she wrote her account of what McGowan told her in 1997. In the email, Messick said McGowan never mentioned rape.
- Messick's family released a powerful statement criticizing McGowan and Weinstein, and addressing the dangers of the #MeToo movement.
On Wednesday, Hollywood film producer and executive Jill Messick died in what her family has said was a suicide.
Her family released a powerful statement criticizing Rose McGowan and Harvey Weinstein - and offering a different perspective on the #MeToo movement.
"As we collectively seek to take action in an effort to right the wrongs so brazenly and inhumanely repeated for a generation, we must not forget one simple truth: words have power," the family wrote in the statement.
Messick, 50, was actress and activist Rose McGowan's manager in 1997, at the time that McGowan alleges Weinstein raped her at the Sundance Film Festival. That same year, McGowan reached a $100,000 settlement with Weinstein, according to The New York Times. Messick then worked as an executive at Harvey and Bob Weinstein's studio Miramax from 1997 to 2003.
After McGowan went public with her allegation of rape, Weinstein released an email he'd received from Messick (before the New York Times exposé). Weinstein had asked Messick to tell him her account of what McGowan told her after the incident in 1997. Messick told Weinstein that McGowan said she took her clothes off and got into a hot tub with Weinstein. According to Messick's email, McGowan did not mention rape.
In Messick's family's statement, they said that though McGowan didn't mention rape in 1997, Messick recognized Weinstein's behavior was inappropriate and reported the incident to her superiors.
"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," the family wrote.
Messick's family said she was battling depression and had bipolar disorder. According to Messick's family, Weinstein did not consult Messick before making her email public.
"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 wrote. "It broke Jill, who was just starting to get her life back on track."
Here is the full statement from Messick's family:
"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 a smart entertainment executive. She was also a survivor, privately battling depression which had been 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 to accept statement as fact. The speed of disseminating information has carried mistruths about Jill as a person, which she was unable and unwilling to challenge. She became collateral damage in an already horrific story.
Jill believed in the Movement. She supported every woman finally coming forward to share their dark truths and expose those who had committed previously unspeakable deeds. She was loyal. 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 Harvey Weinstein, including Rose McGowan, who has repeatedly spoken with the press, striking out against not only her alleged attacker, but a great many others. One of them was Jill, who chose to remain silent in the face of Rose's slanderous statements against her for fear of undermining the 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. She never 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 was Rose McGowan, and one of Jill's first duties was to set up a breakfast meeting with Harvey Weinstein during the Sundance Film Festival. Following the meeting, Rose told Jill what had happened - that she made the decision to remove her clothes and get in the hot tub with him - a mistake which Rose immediately regretted. Rose never once used the word rape in that conversation. Despite this, Jill recognized that Harvey had done something untoward to Rose, if not illegal. She immediately went to her bosses, the partners of Addis Wechsler, to recount Rose's story and to insist that they address the situation. They told Jill that they would take care of it. The ensuing arrangements between Rose and Harvey were then negotiated, completely without Jill's knowledge. 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.
Ten months later, in November of 1997, Jill received a call from the Miramax exec VP of production, recruiting her for a job as an executive at Miramax Films working in production in Los Angeles. Jill was hired based on merit and her excellent work of over two years as a young development 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 Harvey Weinstein releasing two documents. One of these was an email which Jill wrote to him months prior to the first NY Times piece coming out, and at his request. In this e-mail, Jill offered the truth 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 release the e-mail without her consent.
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.
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. 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. Twenty years ago, as a very junior person in a management company hierarchy, Jill exhibited her integrity in doing the right thing - she raised the red flag with the heads 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 media reported tales morph to beget further attention. While journalists serve an important role in exposing predatory behavior, we are seeing irresponsible 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 have their name spotlighted in a major international news story - let alone their photograph. We cannot forget that the media is a fearsome tool which cannot be used indiscriminately or even inadvertently to create further victims. There is a responsibility when using a platform to accurately expose criminals, predators, mistruths and misdeeds while protecting the actual truth of third parties.
As we collectively seek to take action in an effort to right the wrongs so brazenly and inhumanely 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 must ask more of ourselves, and of each other. We must take a moment to consider the ramifications and consequences of what we say and what we do.
Words matter.
Someone's life may depend on it.