Rowe happy with custody deal with Jackson’s mum
Jul 31, 2009 Michael Jackson
Debbie Rowe has spoken positively of the arrangement she has reached with Katherine Jackson over the custody of her two children with Michael Jackson.
Rowe gained visitation rights with the two children she had with Jackson, Prince Michael I and Paris Katherine. “I am encouraged by the way things are working out,” she said in a radio interview.
CKNBC reporter Chuck Henry said Rowe told him she had not received any money and that the deal was not and never was about the folding stuff. Rowe is also said to have sought a psychologist’s assistance for the children to help them adjust to her.
Rowe told Henry she will not attend a court hearing set to take place in Los Angeles on Monday.
Under the new arrangement, Katherine Jackson will maintain custody of the three children. She has had temporary guardianship of them since her son’s death on June 25.
The singer specified he wanted her to become their permanent guardian in his will, which made no provision for Rowe, who gave up her custody rights in 2001. She regained them in part three years later.
Henry said Rowe told him forming a relationship with the children “will take time”.
Source: Splash News
Tags: Chuck Henry, CKNBC, debbie rowe, Paris Katherine, Prince Michael I
Michael Jackson’s dietician says singer desperate for sleep not drugs
Jul 30, 2009 Drugs, Michael Jackson
The nurse and dietician Michael Jackson consulted before his death has commented on his medical condition in a new interview.
Cherilyn Lee said that it was sleep not highs, Jackson was seeking when he sought out drugs.
“Mr Jackson did not present himself as a drug addict and from January to April, I didn’t see that in him. Even when it came to the Diprivan, he was looking for something that was going to help him sleep.”
Lee said the beleaguered pop singer even asked her to sit in with him while he tried to sleep. “The night I stayed with him. He said, ‘I want you to see how I sleep, ’cause I want you to see that I don’t fall asleep. Or I fall asleep, it takes a while, but then I wake up after a couple hours.’ And that was before he started talking about the Diprivan.”
“He said, ‘Once it hits my veins, I’m knocked out. And I wake up the next morning I feel good, I’m full of energy. He was very excited about it – ‘Please find me someone’.”
Lee also speculated that the track marks that were alleged to be on his arms were the result of shoddy treatment, suggesting they were not those of a drug addict. “When I was drawing his blood, his veins were awfully, awfully small. And he said, ‘Oh my goodness, I have these little squiggly veins,’ and he just started laughing about it. He said, ‘Doctors always have a hard time finding my veins.’ And later it kind of dawned on me — why would doctors be looking for veins? Basically it’s nurses [that deal with veins]. I’m sure people kept missing when they were doing whatever and that’s why it looked like he had track marks.”
Source: Splash News
Tags: Cherilyn Lee, Conrad Murray, Diprivan, Michael Jackson
Janet Jackson Staying Away from Performing
Jul 29, 2009 Michael Jackson
It is being said that Janet Jackson will not be performing at the tribute concerts scheduled for August 29th and 30th at London’s O2 Arena to honor her brother, the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Friends close to Janet say that she is much too busy with her shooting schedule for the new Tyler Perry movie ‘Why Did I Get Married Too?’ while other sources claim that the singer just wants to “separate her life from her brothers”. So far, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon Jackson have all signed on to participate in the concerts, one of which would have been on the day of Michael’s 51st birthday.
Tags: Concert, Janet Jackson, London, Michael Jackson, O2 Arena, Pop, Singer, Tribute, Tyler Perry
Rihanna sings her cares away in NY karaoke bar
Jul 28, 2009 Rihanna, Sean Kingston
Rihanna has come out on the other side of her troubled relationship to sing her cares away in a karaoke bar in Shanghai Square in New York.
The flawless star has emerged from Chris Brown’s court case and spent time stealing the show at a London film premiere before she popped up in New York at a karaoke bar with some of her friends.
An onlooker said: “She came with about six friends and joined about eight more friends who were already there. She didn’t want to be in a private room – she was in the main lounge with everyone else.”
They were not allowed to request any of her songs, however. “She requested Misery Business by Paramore and Bust Your Windows by Jazmine Sullivan. She also sang along with friends to Livin’ On A Prayer by Bon Jovi and Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood. Anytime anyone wanted to request a Rihanna song she said no!” the source said.
Rihanna sipped on Johnny Walker Black with ginger ale. “The group had many of their cocktails comped so the bill only came to about $500 and they left a generous tip. Rihanna looked beautiful.”
Source: Splash News
Tags: Bon Jovi, Bust Your Windows, Carrie Underwoord, Jazmine Sullivan, Karaoke Bar, Misery Business, Rihanna, Shanghai Square
Foxy Brown in Trouble with IRS
Jul 24, 2009 Foxy Brown
It seems that legal drama follows Foxy Brown wherever she goes. The sassy rapper has been slapped with a lawsuit from the IRS for failing to pay over $600,000 in back taxes. According to legal documents, Foxy failed to make tax payments from the years 2003 to 2006. The IRS has already brought the case to a New York court in order to collect the money they are owed from the rapper. If you remember, Foxy served 8 out of a 12 month sentence at Rikers early last year which stemmed from assault charges. You have to wonder where she’s going to get that much money fast.
Tags: Assault, Foxy Brown, IRS, Lawsuit, Legal, New York, Rapper, Rikers, Taxes
Lil Kim Sings
Jul 24, 2009 Cyndi Lauper, Lil Kim
Lil Kim joined Cyndi Lauper for a duet at the concert which celebrated the birthday of Nelson Mandela at Radio City Music Hall in New York City last weekend. And surprisingly, the female rapper’s performance was really awesome. The two artists performed Cyndi’s hit ‘Time After Time’ which they mashed up with Lil Kim’s ‘Lighters Up’. Obviously, Lil Kim is not a singer but the fact actually works to her advantage in the duet. Lil Kim showed something that was raw, vulnerable and pretty about her singing. I think this is probably the most real she has ever been. I wonder if she’s planning to make a new album of her singing like Queen Latifah has done.
Tags: Birthday, Cyndi Lauper, Lil Kim, Music, Nelson Mandela, New York City, Rapper, Singer
Jacko pal Debbie Allen: Michael should be buried at Neverland
Jul 23, 2009 Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson’s longtime friend Debbie Allen has joined the dispute over where the superstar’s final resting place and has said Jacko should be buried at Neverland.
The King of Pop died suddenly in LA, on 25 June, and his family are still split over where his final resting place should be.
Fame choreographer Allen said: “I really wish he could be there [Neverland]. Michael just loved being there. It was his fantasy come true.”
Allen revealed that she had a “great” time with her children visiting the singer at his Neverland ranch.
“We had so many great days there,” she said.
“The movie theatre, the trains, the animals, the lions, the games room, the candy, the popcorn – all these things I can never forget.”
She added: “One time, he [Jackson] took my son on all the rides. They had such a good time on the bumper cars.”
“I really wish he could be [at Neverland], but I have no idea what’s going to happen.”
Source: Splash News
Tags: buried, debbie allen, dispute, final resting place, King of Pop, Michael Jackson, neverland, pal
Tito Jackson Talks Michael’s Kids
Jul 22, 2009 Michael Jackson
Tito Jackson told the Daily Mirror that his late brother Michael is indeed the biological father of his three children. The former Jackson 5 member said “They are all his children. Blanket is Michael’s, I can tell. Those eyes don’t lie. Them eyes are Michael over again. I see a lot of Michael in him. Prince looks just like my grandfather. There’s no question they are Michael’s. They are 100% his. The kids are like three peas in a pod. They remind me of me and my brothers when we were growing up.” Why don’t they all just subject them to a DNA test?
Tags: Daily Mirror, DNA, Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, Tito Jackson
LL Cool J Quarantined
Jul 21, 2009 Rapper
LL Cool J was recently quarantined when a flight that he was on also carried someone so ill that all the passengers had to be quarantined when the plane landed. That wasn’t the only trouble that the rapper experienced on that flight. Before the quarantine, the flight from LA to St. Louis, had to make an emergency landing in Kansas City after passengers smelled smoke and realized that the jet reeked of gas. That was when the quarantine order came when one of the passengers who recently returned from a trip outside the US got very sick. They were quarantined for 3 hours. After that, LL opted not to re-board the plane and opted to hire a car service to get him to St. Louis instead.
Tags: Emergency, LA, LL Cool J, Quarantine, Rapper, St. Louis, US
Tyler Perry taking kids in private club dispute to Walt Disney
Jul 21, 2009 Actors
Tyler Perry will try to make up for an alleged insult borne by a group of children at a Philadelphia day camp.
Perry said on his website on Sunday that he would send the Creative Steps campers on an all-expenses-paid trip to Walt Disney World in Florida.
“I want them to know that for every act of evil that a few people will throw at you, there are millions more who will do something kind for them,” Perry wrote.
Creative Steps, meanwhile, is planning to file a federal lawsuit against the Valley Swim Club in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, alleging breaches of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The club allegedly barred some 65 children from swimming in its pool after a visit in June.
The centre had contracted the pool during summer, but it now alleges the club cancelled and returned its cheque for $1,950 – with no explanation given.
Source: Splash News
Tags: Creative Steps, kids, Lawsuit, snub, Tyler Perry, Valley Swim Club, Walt Disney World
Common Accused of Plagiarism
Jul 20, 2009 Common
Rapper Common is being accused by a pair of songwriters of plagiarism. Andrew Marks and London McDaniels recently filed a lawsuit claiming that the rapper stole their song ‘When Will the Day Come’ in his tune ‘Take it EZ’. There’s an interesting twist though. Common gives the two writers some credit on the downloadable version of his song, with the tag saying “Contains samples from: ‘When Will the Day Come.’” But the problem is, the credit doesn’t exactly pay the rent. The two writers are now suing the rapper for unspecified damages. Common should have just given them credit from the very start.
Tags: Common, Credit, Lawsuit, Plagiarism, Rapper, Songwriter
Motown memorial and burial for fans’ tributes planned
Jul 17, 2009 Michael Jackson
The tributes of Michael Jackson fans will be buried in the heart of Motown in a unique memorial to the pop star.
Flowers, letters, cards, photos, stuffed animals and other items placed outside Motown Museum will be given an official burial ceremony at a Detroit cemetery.
Spokeswoman for the museum, Sharon Banks, said, “the memorial is being dismantled today and will be taken at 10 am Friday by two hearses donated by James H. Cole Home for Funerals to Woodlawn Cemetery.”
The service will include a brief remembrance and a prayer for the tribute items. Banks said can attend the service at Woodlawn which has donated two burial plots. There would be no processional from the museum to the site, she said.
The museum is the former Motown Records studio which signed Jackson when he was fronting the Jackson 5, his band with his brothers.
Source: Splash News
Tags: James H Cole Home for Funerals, Motown Museum, Motown Records, Sharon Banks, Woodlawn Cemetery
Willow Smith does a star turn – as her dad
Jul 16, 2009 Hollywood, Movies
Will Smith couldn’t have said it better himself. The Hollywood action star’s eight-year-old daughter Willow, a budding actress, has shown an early talent for mimicking her dear old dad.
She revealed the skill when talking about the advice Will gave her as she started out on her latest acting foray, a role for television.
“He’s giving me advice like ‘Willow, stay in the moment! You have this, you got it down. Just stay in the moment. OK, now go out there and kill it,’” she said in an interview, taking off her father’s voice.
Willow is set to play a younger version of True Jackson in True Jackson VP, a television story about a teen fashion entrepreneur. Keke Palmer will play the part of an older True.
“I like TV because they laugh and then I laugh and then I do it again. It’s a big happy family,” Willow said.
She also said she really wants to “do this again because it’s really, really easy to work and have fun at the same time”.
Willow appeared with child acting sensation Abigail Breslin in Kit Kittredge: An American Girl and with her father in I Am Legend.
Nickelodeon’s True Jackson VP will air on July 25.
Source: Splash News
Tags: Abigail Breslin, Keke Palmer, Kitt Kittredge: An American Girl, Nickelodeon, True Jackson, VP, Will Smith, Willow Smith
Michelle Obama ‘more excited’ by Harry Potter film set than meeting the Queen
Jul 16, 2009 Barack Obama, Movies
Harry Potter star Emma Watson has revealed American First Lady Michelle Obama said coming to the set of the film was "more exciting" than meeting the Queen.
Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia visited the set of the final film – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which the cast are currently shooting.
Watson, 19, told BBC Radio One: "Michelle Obama came to set recently with her children, which was amazing. Harry Potter is so universally adored but the day I really realised that was when she came to set.
"She said it was more exciting than meeting the Queen, which is insane! The children were obviously big fans, they were really inquisitive and asked loads of questions."
Watson, who stars as brainy witch Hermione Granger, recently had to film a kissing scene with co-star Rupert Grint, 20, and she admitted the pair of them were nervous: "It’s awkward for both of us because we are like siblings, we’ve grown up together."
Source: Splash News
Tags: emma watson, harry potter, meet, michelle obama, more exciting, Queen, set
BB King has a Lot of Money
Jul 15, 2009 Blues, Money, Singer
BB King is being sued by his former manager Floyd Leiberman, who claims that he helped the blues singer make a massive $100 million from 2000 to 2008, only to be left high and dry when it came to getting his cut of the profits. In the lawsuit, which was filed in Supreme Court on New York, Floyd also lists a tone of other ways that he’s been cut out of BB’s vast fortune. Floyd is suing the legendary singer for at least $1.5 million. You helped him make $100 million and you’re only asking for $1.5 million? He obviously doesn’t believe he’s worth more than that.
Tags: BB King, Blues, Floyd Leiberman, Lawsuit, New York, Profit, Singer, Supreme Court
LaToya Jackson Thinks Michael Was Murdered
Jul 15, 2009 Michael Jackson, Singer
LaToya Jackson recently gave a no holds barred interview to the UK’s Daily Mail last weekend on how she believes that the people surrounding her brother Michael Jackson before his death were solely out for the late singer’s money and not his well being. LaToya said “Less than a month ago, I said I thought Michael was going to die before the London shows because he was surrounded by people who didn’t have his best interests at heart. Michael was worth more than a billion dollars. When anyone is worth that much money, there are always greedy people around them. I said to my family a month ago, ‘He’s never going to make it to London.’ He was worth more dead than alive.” After LaToya’s questions were dodged by the King of Pop’s live-in doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, she was more than certain that her brother’s death wasn’t an accident. She said “I believe Michael was murdered, I felt that from the start. Not just one person was involved, rather it was a conspiracy of people.”
Tags: Conrad Murray, Daily Mail, Interview, LaToya Jackson, Michael Jackson, Murder, Pop, Singer, UK
Led Zeppelin and ABBA Take Michael Jackson’s Place
Jul 14, 2009 ABBA, Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson
Could a tribute show and ABBA be able to replace Michael Jackson’s 50-date residency at London’s O2 Arena? What about a tribute show, ABBA and rock legends Led Zeppelin? The word is that AEG Live has offered both Led Zeppelin and ABBA a lot of money to play alternating nights at the arena in place of the late King of Pop. A source said “Only Michael Jackson could sell out 50 nights at such a big arena, but Led Zeppelin and Abba combined might just rival him. There is huge money on the table.” Money really talks the language of a lot of people.
Tags: ABBA, AEG Live, Led Zeppelin, London, Michael Jackson, O2 Arena, Rock
Michael Jackson’s body moved from crypt to basement
Jul 14, 2009 Michael Jackson
The fear that Michael Jackson’s fans might break into his crypt have led his body to be moved into a basement.
Jackson’s coffin was put inside a tomb belonging to Motown founder Berry Gordy after the epic Staples Center memorial service in Los Angeles.
The Jackson family wanted to keep its location secret, but information as to its whereabouts at Hollywood’s Forest Lawn Cemetery was leaked. With a decision about the final resting place still being made, thousands of fans and tourists flocked to the site.
The decision is also said to be delayed by testing of Jackson’s brain that is needed to determine the answer to the riddle of his sudden death at the age of 50.
Disagreement is said to have torn Jermaine Jackson and Michael’s other brothers and Jackson’s mother, Katherine, over where he should be laid to rest. Jermaine favours Neverland Ranch, but Katherine believes it to be too tainted for a burial place.
Jackson lived at the Neverland property from 1988 to 2003 before he was charged with child molestation. He never returned, and his mother thinks that’s how things should stay in his death.
Source: Splash News
Tags: cultural icon, dead, died, Family, funeral, global, heart attack, Jermaine Jackson, king pop, Michael Jackson, Neverland Ranch, painkillers, prescription drugs, superstar, tragic
Michael Jackson ‘had string of gay lovers’
Jul 13, 2009 Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson had a string of gay lovers who he seduced by saying: “The King of Pop is going to lick your lollipop,” according to a new book entitled Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson.
Biographer Ian Halperin, who insists everyone around the superstar knew that he was gay, claims to have spoken to two of the superstar’s male lovers – a Hollywood waiter and an aspiring actor.
One man claims that Jackson would arrange seedy liaisons with him in a cheap motel – arriving there dressed as a woman.
And one of the alleged lovers told the writer: “The very first time he had sex with me, he said, ‘The King of Pop’s going to lick your lollipop.’ I still laugh thinking about that.”
Halperin said: “Virtually everybody I’ve interviewed about Jackson has told me he’s gay. Even those who are his most ardent defenders, people who maintain that he is innocent of the molestation charges, insist that he is homosexually inclined.”
One of Jackson’s alleged lovers said: “He was very shy. But when he started to have sex, he was insatiable.”
Tags: Gay, homosexual, ian halperin, jacko, King of Pop, liaisons, lollipop, lovers, Michael Jackson, motel, nmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson’s ex-bodyguard said star left doctors’ offices “out of it”
Jul 13, 2009 Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson’s former bodyguard had previously told police that the King of Pop would visit numerous doctors – and be “out of it” when he left.
Chris Carter was interviewed by detectives from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department during Jackson’s 2004 child molestation investigation.
Carter said he would drive Jackson to doctors’ offices in New York, Florida and California.
According to Sheriff’s documents: “Carter described Jackson as being sharp and ‘in tune’ prior to the doctor visits and afterwards, he would be out of it and sedated.”
Carter said he was once in a hotel room when Jackson was so intoxicated, he fell on his face.
And he claimed to have confronted Jackson for an hour – but the star denied having a problem.
Carter also says he quit being the King of Pop’s bodyguard because, according to the notes, “Carter said he told Jackson he was not comfortable in getting prescriptions for him.”
The Sheriff’s documents say “[Carter] named Dr. [Arnold] Klein, Dr. [Allan] Metzger, Dr. Barney from Solvang, Dr. Saunders and Dr. Farshchian.”
The notes also say “Dr. Farshchian told him that Jackson was addicted to Demerol, but said he was giving Jackson a placebo to wean him off.”
Source: Splash News
Tags: bodyguard, doctors, memorial services, Michael Jackson