Weinstein battle turns to tragedy
THE Harvey Weinstein scandal took a tragic turn when Rose McGowan’s former manager committed suicide after becoming “collateral damage in an already horrific story” surrounding the mogul’s battle with the actress.
Jill Messick, a 50-year-old mother of two, worked as McGowan’smanagerin1997, whenMcGowanhas claimed she was raped by Weinstein. Messick then went onto workat Weinstein’s Miramaxuntil 2003, producing“She’s All That” and“Frida.” Shecommitted suicide on Wednesday after battling depression and bipolar disorder for years, her family said.
In a blistering statement, Messick’s family also said she struggled with being drawn into the McGowan-Weinstein battle. “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 . . . 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 has said that Weinstein raped her after she got into a hot tub with him in 1997 at the Sundance Film Festival. Weinstein released a Messick e-mail, which stated McGowan told her the encounter was “consensual” but that the ac- tress later regretted the incident.
Messick’s family added of the torrent of claims, “Words matter. Someone’s life may depend on it.” The LAPD on Thursday also sent three Weinstein sex-abuse cases to the LA County D.A.’s office, making five Weinstein cases that the office is considering. The mogul has strongly denied the allegations. Weinstein’s attorney Ben Braf
man declined to comment. Plus, amfAR chairman Kenneth Cole resigned Wednesday night after 14 years, following a controversy involving an agreement to give $600,000 of the charity’s funds from an auction to Weinstein’s creditors for the failed musical “Finding Neverland.” Cole hung up on us.