It seems that the much vaunted and awaited charity single from Michael Jackson for the victims of hurricane Katrina, ironically entitled "What More Can I give?", will not be released.
There is an argument over royalties. It is reported that Jackson insisted on maintaining ownership of the copyright of the song, and had no intention of donating any of the royalties made from the track.
The only money to be donated to charity, if the single was released, would have been from actual CD sales.
Details of this dispute were brought to light by a videotaped statement for the forthcoming lawsuit filed by his former associate Marc Schaffel.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Back To Court
Michael Jackson is going back to court this Monday, or rather his legal team are. This time it is to fight his corner in a case involving Marc Schaffel, an alleged pornographer and ex Jackson associate, who is seeking $3M from Jackson for breach of contract.
Schaffel also alleges that Jackson is broke, and is addicted to painkillers; de rigueur in Hollywood I would have thought.
A quote from Schaffel's trial brief says:
"In the rarefied air of the world Michael Jackson inhabits, sometimes referred to by his closest advisers as 'Michael World' things were different."
Schaffel alleges that Jackson carried no credit cards, cash or cheques, and relied on advisers and others to attend "to his every need."
Schaffel claims that Jackson plays one adviser against another, via "emotional pleas and strident demands."
Jackson's attorneys claims:
"To say that Schaffel is an unsavoury character is an understatement. He is a professional swindler and pornographer with a long history of dishonest, immoral and manipulative behavior."
Why did Jackson become involved with such an unsavoury character then?
Schaffel claims that Jackson hired him to produce two rebuttal documentaries to the British documentary "Living With Michael Jackson."
Jackson's attorneys are counterclaiming for alleged money owed to Jackson.
Schaffel also alleges that Jackson is broke, and is addicted to painkillers; de rigueur in Hollywood I would have thought.
A quote from Schaffel's trial brief says:
"In the rarefied air of the world Michael Jackson inhabits, sometimes referred to by his closest advisers as 'Michael World' things were different."
Schaffel alleges that Jackson carried no credit cards, cash or cheques, and relied on advisers and others to attend "to his every need."
Schaffel claims that Jackson plays one adviser against another, via "emotional pleas and strident demands."
Jackson's attorneys claims:
"To say that Schaffel is an unsavoury character is an understatement. He is a professional swindler and pornographer with a long history of dishonest, immoral and manipulative behavior."
Why did Jackson become involved with such an unsavoury character then?
Schaffel claims that Jackson hired him to produce two rebuttal documentaries to the British documentary "Living With Michael Jackson."
Jackson's attorneys are counterclaiming for alleged money owed to Jackson.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Revenge Is Sweet
Bob Jones, Michael Jackson's ex PR manager, puts the boot into his old boss in no uncertain terms in an interview in The Scotsman.
In it, he notes that Jackson has yet to face up to his past and calls Jackson the "world's greatest manipulator".
Quote:
"He loves people to believe he is a victim and that people have taken advantage of him, but that's bullshit. He has chosen the route he has taken.
I tend to think that we grow through all our situations, but, to be honest, I couldn't say that he will.
He has chosen to be what he is, and, although it is rather sad to see the world's greatest entertainer - and it's undoubted that he has no peer - whatever befalls him, he brought on himself."
Jones was sacked by letter in 2004. As they say, revenge is dish best served cold!
In it, he notes that Jackson has yet to face up to his past and calls Jackson the "world's greatest manipulator".
Quote:
"He loves people to believe he is a victim and that people have taken advantage of him, but that's bullshit. He has chosen the route he has taken.
I tend to think that we grow through all our situations, but, to be honest, I couldn't say that he will.
He has chosen to be what he is, and, although it is rather sad to see the world's greatest entertainer - and it's undoubted that he has no peer - whatever befalls him, he brought on himself."
Jones was sacked by letter in 2004. As they say, revenge is dish best served cold!
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Spoons
World famous spoon bender, and one time friend of Michael Jackson (until he persuaded him to do the Bashir interview), Uri Geller has said that he thinks that Jackson may leave Bahrain for Britain.
However, Geller fears that Jackson will be pursued by the British media.
Quote:
"It is possible. Knowing Michael Jackson, it's definitely possible.
But Michael has been built up and then demolished by the British tabloids so I don't know how easy it would be for him to live there.
He would be hounded and watched all the time. It would be very tough for him."
Geller persuaded Jackson to do the Bashir interview for why then?
However, Geller fears that Jackson will be pursued by the British media.
Quote:
"It is possible. Knowing Michael Jackson, it's definitely possible.
But Michael has been built up and then demolished by the British tabloids so I don't know how easy it would be for him to live there.
He would be hounded and watched all the time. It would be very tough for him."
Geller persuaded Jackson to do the Bashir interview for why then?
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Election Day
Voters in Santa Barbara County went to the polls yesterday to elect a successor to Thomas Sneddon, the district attorney who prosecuted Michael Jackson in 2005.
Sneddon, who has held office for six terms, is not seeking reelection.
The three candidates were; Assistant District Attorney Christie Stanley (endorsed by Sneddon), Doug Hayes (endorsed by the North Santa Barbara County Women's Political Committee) and Gary Dunlap (endorsed by the Michael Jackson Fan Club).
In April, Dunlap made a direct appeal to Jackson fans in a letter, warning that if Stanley were to win:
"Michael will probably be best advised to never return to his beloved Neverland.
When I win, I will change that."
How lame to allow one issue to determine who becomes DA.
Dunlap was a consultant to Jackson early on in the molestation trial. Oddly though, before that he had sued Jackson (so he claims).
Common sense seems to have prevailed, and Dunlap came last with 14% of the votes cast; Stanley won with 69%.
Sneddon, who has held office for six terms, is not seeking reelection.
The three candidates were; Assistant District Attorney Christie Stanley (endorsed by Sneddon), Doug Hayes (endorsed by the North Santa Barbara County Women's Political Committee) and Gary Dunlap (endorsed by the Michael Jackson Fan Club).
In April, Dunlap made a direct appeal to Jackson fans in a letter, warning that if Stanley were to win:
"Michael will probably be best advised to never return to his beloved Neverland.
When I win, I will change that."
How lame to allow one issue to determine who becomes DA.
Dunlap was a consultant to Jackson early on in the molestation trial. Oddly though, before that he had sued Jackson (so he claims).
Common sense seems to have prevailed, and Dunlap came last with 14% of the votes cast; Stanley won with 69%.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Pay Up
Doubtless Michael Jackson will be amused to learn that he is not always on the receiving end of lawsuits.
This time the boot is most definitely on the other foot as the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office, which prosecuted Jackson last year, has had a lawsuit filed against it by Annette L. Reichart for back pay for work on developing a database of documents and images in the Michael Jackson child-molestation case.
Her lawyer, Brian Oxman, is reported to have said that Reichert was hired to create a searchable database of evidence for Santa Barbara County District Attorney Thomas Sneddon and his staff.
Oxman, who is rather interestingly an attorney for the Jackson family, said that Reichert performed her duties but was not fully compensated.
Reichert is allegedly owed over $40K, and deserves $100K more for giving up other work; at least that is Oxman's view.
DA Tom Sneddon retorted that Reichert worked on the prosecution's case for a period of time. However, she disappeared in the middle of the prosecution, "leaving us high and dry" he said.
This time the boot is most definitely on the other foot as the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office, which prosecuted Jackson last year, has had a lawsuit filed against it by Annette L. Reichart for back pay for work on developing a database of documents and images in the Michael Jackson child-molestation case.
Her lawyer, Brian Oxman, is reported to have said that Reichert was hired to create a searchable database of evidence for Santa Barbara County District Attorney Thomas Sneddon and his staff.
Oxman, who is rather interestingly an attorney for the Jackson family, said that Reichert performed her duties but was not fully compensated.
Reichert is allegedly owed over $40K, and deserves $100K more for giving up other work; at least that is Oxman's view.
DA Tom Sneddon retorted that Reichert worked on the prosecution's case for a period of time. However, she disappeared in the middle of the prosecution, "leaving us high and dry" he said.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Jackson To Adopt?
Having recently visited various orphanages, while on a tour of the Far East, it is reported that Michael Jackson (evidently treating the visits as some form of shopping expedition) wants to adopt a child and take him/her back to Bahrain.
The fact that he already has three children, two of whom are being fought over with his ex wife Debbie Rowe, seems to have eluded him.
Given that he stood trial for alleged molestation last year, you would have thought that he would have learnt a lesson and avoided "child related matters".
Evidently not!
The fact that he already has three children, two of whom are being fought over with his ex wife Debbie Rowe, seems to have eluded him.
Given that he stood trial for alleged molestation last year, you would have thought that he would have learnt a lesson and avoided "child related matters".
Evidently not!
Monday, May 29, 2006
Jackson Visits Orphanage
Michael Jackson visited an orphanage in Tokyo yesterday, as part of his first set of public appearances since his trial last year.
Having battled his way past hundreds of screaming fans, he then went inside where 160 orphans were waiting to see him.
Jackson, who accepted the Japan M-T-V video music award the previous night, will be in Japan for six days.
Having battled his way past hundreds of screaming fans, he then went inside where 160 orphans were waiting to see him.
Jackson, who accepted the Japan M-T-V video music award the previous night, will be in Japan for six days.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Jackson Goes To Tokyo
Michael Jackson will make his first public appearance, since his trial, at a ceremony in Tokyo to accept MTV Japan's "Legend Award".
That at least is the story according to his spokesman, Raymone Bain.
Jackson will attend the award ceremony, tomorrow, at Yoyugi Olympic Stadium. This will be the launch pad for an Asian tour encompassing; Singapore, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Jackson also plans to visit some orphanages when in Tokyo.
Jackson is quoted in the media as saying:
"I look forward to seeing old friends and saying hello to my huge fan base in Japan who, like my other fans around the world, have for so many years consistently shown their love and support to me and my family."
Bain also claims that Jackson is still working on the song he planned as a charity fundraiser for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Remember that?
That at least is the story according to his spokesman, Raymone Bain.
Jackson will attend the award ceremony, tomorrow, at Yoyugi Olympic Stadium. This will be the launch pad for an Asian tour encompassing; Singapore, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Jackson also plans to visit some orphanages when in Tokyo.
Jackson is quoted in the media as saying:
"I look forward to seeing old friends and saying hello to my huge fan base in Japan who, like my other fans around the world, have for so many years consistently shown their love and support to me and my family."
Bain also claims that Jackson is still working on the song he planned as a charity fundraiser for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Remember that?
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Janet Arvizo To Stand Trial
Janet Arvizo, whose son accused Michael Jackson of child molestation in 2003, will be standing trial for welfare fraud and perjury in Los Angeles.
Arvizo waived her right to a preliminary hearing in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday.
She is charged with accepting about $8,000 in welfare cheques, despite having over $30,000 in her bank account.
Ironically this alleged fraud was unearthed during the Jackson trial, when Arvizo refused to answer questions about her personal finances and pleaded the Fifth Amendment.
She also managed to piss almost everyone off in the court, with her attitude and behaviour.
I doubt that the diehard Jackson fans will be too upset to hear that she is standing trial.
Arvizo waived her right to a preliminary hearing in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday.
She is charged with accepting about $8,000 in welfare cheques, despite having over $30,000 in her bank account.
Ironically this alleged fraud was unearthed during the Jackson trial, when Arvizo refused to answer questions about her personal finances and pleaded the Fifth Amendment.
She also managed to piss almost everyone off in the court, with her attitude and behaviour.
I doubt that the diehard Jackson fans will be too upset to hear that she is standing trial.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Bombshell Revelations
David Gest, the estranged husband of Liza Minnelli, is planning to reveal some "bombshell revelations" about Michael Jackson in his forthcoming autobiography.
Gest has collaborated with Mark Bego to write the book, which include stories about Debbie Reynolds, Dionne Warwick, Esther Williams, Cyd Charisse, Martha Reeves and Smokey Robinson.
Bego claims that:
"He (Gest) knew a teenage Michael Jackson and he knows some bombshell revelations.
He knows where a lot of the skeletons are buried in that particular story."
I wonder if there really can be anymore "revelations".
Gest has collaborated with Mark Bego to write the book, which include stories about Debbie Reynolds, Dionne Warwick, Esther Williams, Cyd Charisse, Martha Reeves and Smokey Robinson.
Bego claims that:
"He (Gest) knew a teenage Michael Jackson and he knows some bombshell revelations.
He knows where a lot of the skeletons are buried in that particular story."
I wonder if there really can be anymore "revelations".
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Mutual Admiration
Lebanese singer Ragheb Alama received an unexpected compliment, when he realised that Michael Jackson was attending a recent concert that Ragheb was holding in Bahrain.
It is reported that Jackson listened to the concert, and exchanged greetings with Ragheb after the show.
Jackson admired Ragheb's talent, and Ragheb told Jackson that he had hoped to have the opportunity to meet him. Ragheb described Jackson's music as a source of inspiration.
It is reported that Jackson listened to the concert, and exchanged greetings with Ragheb after the show.
Jackson admired Ragheb's talent, and Ragheb told Jackson that he had hoped to have the opportunity to meet him. Ragheb described Jackson's music as a source of inspiration.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)