The Hollywood Reporter reports that studio executive and producer, Jill Messick has died from suicide on Wednesday. She was McGowan’s manager in 1997, when Rose said Harvey Weinstein raped her.
Jill’s family said in a statement that she suffered from years of depression and was “victimised” when she found herself in the middle of the Weinstein-McGowan allegations. They added that Jill “became collateral damage in an already horrific story.”
Rose had stuck out against Jill with what her family calls “slanderous statements” against her.
“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,” read a part of the statement.
