Hollywood producer Jill Messick, who has died by suicide, was "collateral damage" in the "already horrific story" of Harvey Weinstein, her family says. In a statement to the Hollywood Reporter, the family of Rose McGowan's former manager describe her as a strong believer in the movement against sexual misconduct who was "victimized by our new culture of unlimited information sharing and a willingness to accept statement as fact." They say McGowan, who accused Messick of failing to support her after she was allegedly raped by Weinstein in 1997, made "inaccurate accusations and insinuations against her," but Messick didn't speak out "for fear of undermining the many individuals who came forward in truth."
The family says Messick stood up for McGowan and alerted her bosses after the actress told her about her experience with Weinstein. They say McGowan "never once used the word rape" in that conversation. Messick, 50, was married and had two children. Her family says she fought to put her life back together after a long struggle with bipolar disorder, but she was devastated when her name and photo appeared in stories about Weinstein's misconduct after he released an email from her without her consent. "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," they say. "It broke Jill, who was just starting to get her life back on track." The full statement can be read here. (More Harvey Weinstein stories.)
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