Photo Credit: Splash NewsAre we nuts or does Ozzy Osbourne have a vague resemblance to Michael Jackson in this photo? Maybe it's because we've never seen Ozzy's hair in such a perfect flip. He's all dressed up because he's filming a documentary about himself.
Photo Credit: Pacific Coast NewsMichael Jackson walked around Beverly Hills holding his nose today. His appearance was significant for several reasons. First, he is no longer in a wheelchair. But he is carrying a black umbrella (on a sunny day) that can be used as a cane - or a weapon. Most important of all, Michael has resigned himself to middle age - he has reading glasses hanging off his neck.
So what if we've never seen Pamela Anderson wear anything by Vivienne Westwood? There she was in the front row of the Westwood show for London's fashion week and naturally she brought along a cute guy. The whole place was buzzing that her white companion was Michael Jackson, but we don't think so. If you look closely the guy seems healthier and sturdier than Michael, who was last seen in a wheelchair. And taller,too. Still, it would have been a brilliant publicity stunt for Michael.
Michael Jackson and his kids paid a secret visit to the Midwest and stayed overnight at the fancy Gold Coast hotel in Chicago. Despite the lush accommodations, they brought their own organic food and bed linens and towels. The next day they drove in several SUV's with blacked out windows to Gary, Indiana and Michael showed his kids where he grew up. Michael's father has been working with the city to open a Jackson Museum and Cultural Center to honor the city's most famous family but, according to Sun Times columnist Bill Zwecker, plans are on hold because of "financial problems." Apparently the Jackson family can't come up with enough money. Michael seems not to care - he'd rather watch cartoons with his kids.
Photo Credit: Buzz Foto
Love, love, love, this classic photo by Brad Elterman! It's around 1979 and Michael Jackson and Tatum O'Neal were "dating," and they went to some kind of party together. Michael is wearing a Florida souvenir shirt with all the cities' names on it and rhinestone palm trees. Tatum is around 16 and Michael's around 21 in this photo. Michael claimed Tatum tried to seduce him and Tatum insists she did NOT. Who do you believe? Incidentally, we hear that Debbie Rowe just did some sort of magazine interview that might clarify the genetic composition of Michael's kids with her. Hard to believe, however, since her income is directly related to keeping her mouth zipped up.
THIS could be the reason why no one's hiring Michael Jackson to perform in Las Vegas. What's with the wheelchair? Jackson is claiming back problems like his friend Liz Taylor, but he is rather young for this. And Liz does NOT wear pajamas when she goes out. Michael took his three kids on a jaunt to a toy and book store in Las Vegas and he made an about face by NOT draping the kids in burkas - instead he covered himself up. His arrival was far from subtle - he came in four cars with eight security guards. Yet he managed to spend two hours in the shop, which was open to the public, and nobody bothered him. He looked too intimidating.
Norm Clarke in Las Vegas says Michael Jackson is close to buying a house there and we can't figure out HOW this could happen when Michael has such bad credit! Didn't his other two houses barely escape bank repossession? Michael has been renting a home in a fancy Las Vegas suburb and his neighbor tattled that there was a Christmas tree in his window for MONTHS after the holidays were over. Michael's dream of having a spectacular show built around him like Celine Dion are shattered because no one wants to invest millions to create a big show around Michael when he may not be healthy or dependable enough to do it. So who's going to buy this house for him?
Photo: WENN
Michael Jackson was the surprise guest (he didn't sing) at the huge birthday party of Ed Hardy designer Christian Audigiers at the Peterson Auto Museum last night. Britney Spears was also there also in another too-tight outfit. It was a fashiony crowd and Michael looked sadly dated in his satin embroidered shirt and shiny pants. Christian Audigiers has a major celebrity following (that means he gives them loads of free clothes.) Remember - he used to be the designer for Von Dutch. A few years ago, it was revealed that the original Von Dutch - a rockabilly hot rod customizer from the 50's - when he was alive, was an alleged racist and nazi sympathizer! Christian bolted from that company name and started his own Ed Hardy line, based on a tattoo artist with no known negative attributes.
Those secondary Jacksons are desperate to drum up publicity for themselves, so they've just moved into a rented summer home in a tiny coastal village in the UK where the locals are THRILLED out of their minds to have the famous family in residence. (Even if Michael and Janet aren't included.) Tito and Jackie moved into the relatively modest five bedroom house in the village of Appledore, and residents there gave them a warm reception. The fish n' chip shop had a party for them, and a reporter interviewed them. Mom Katherine arrived to add to the excitement and Jackie and Tito are, of course, filming everything for a reality show. At last, they're learning the joys of being big fish in a little pond, instead of the opposite in LA.
Johnny Depp LOVES a challenge. We were flabbergasted to learn that Johnny really hopes to play Michael Jackson when a movie is made of the bizarre singer's life. Actually if you picture Johnny's "Edward Scissorhands" character, it DOES seem plausible. Depp probably could pull off playing Michael after Thriller - when he started turning white - and Johnny DOES have a tiny nose. Michael should be flattered at the prospect.
It was prematurely reported that Michael Jackson's former home Neverland was saved at the last minute, and will not be auctioned off as planned. Actually, according to Fox's Roger Friedman, Michael did NOT work out a deal with Fortress Investments - he only got a two month extension on the Neverland auction. That's ALL that has changed. The auction is now scheduled to take place May 14. Why does he continue to live in such chaos?
Photo Credit: Splash News
Michael Jackson's mother Katherine and other family members no doubt heaved a sigh of relief when mortgage payments were made at the LAST minute on their Encino home. The family compound has narrowly avoided foreclosure several times before. Michael's mother has been the most steady resident since the house was purchased in the 70's. Besides being the location for dysfunctional family get-togethers, it's like a hotel for Michael's less successful brothers when they get divorced or hit hard times - not to mention their wives, ex-wives and large assortment of children. Even LaToya moves in once in awhile. The not so wealthy family members have always had the house there when they needed a place to sleep - what'll they do when it's gone? The loss of this house would be more tragic than the Neverland ranch.
Photo Credit: Splash News
Our accomplished colleague Cindy Adams of the NY Post, detailed MORE of the reasons why Michael Jackson failed to appear on the Grammys to promote the 25th Anniversary of Thriller. Not only did Jackson demand a one-of-a-kind, once in a lifetime AWARD, but he wanted to select the A-list celebrity to present it to him. Of course he demanded special security and accommodations that would make all the other participants on the show feel cheated. He wanted the entire evening to be about and structured around HIM. Best of all, he wanted to be referred to as the King of Pop no less than THIRTY times on the show! The Grammy people backed off.
Photo Credit: Splash News
This is the first time we've gotten a reasonably good look at Michael Jackson's kids (Paris and Prince shown in Las Vegas) and - are we imagining things, or do they look kinda skinny? Years ago, when Michael turned white and had plastic surgery, he also became a vegetarian and lost a lot of weight. He was obsessed with being thin like a fashion model and was horrified at the idea of gaining an ounce. Since then, he's deviated from the vegetarian path somewhat by indulging in Kentucky Fried Chicken. The kids copy everything Michael does, chances are they're vegetarians too.
Ebony magazine is TOO kind to Michael Jackson! Michael had a recent photoshoot with the magazine and they generously retouched his face to make him look YEARS younger, and they even gave him a more normal looking shade of skin. His augmented hair doesn't look as wiggy as usual either. Compare the altered picture with a recent paparazzi shot of Michael and the difference is staggering.
Michael Jackson's financial situation is getting worse every day and he's not doing anything to fix it. According to Roger Friedman in his Fox 411 column, Jackson has 90 days to pay back a 23 million dollar loan or he will lose Neverland, which he used as collateral. Right now Michael is living in an expensive rental in Washington DC and Neverland is vacant. Last summer Michael tried to weasel out of contracts he signed by claiming he was under the influence of prescription drugs. We wonder if Mickey Fine Pharmacy in Beverly Hills, who also sued Michael, ever got THEIR money. Somehow we doubt it. Insiders are speculating that Michael might file bankruptcy in the next 90 days.
Photo Credit: Buzz Foto
FLASHBACK: Nothing in this 1978 photo remains the same. Michael Jackson, barely 20 and carefree, posed for photographers outside Chasen's restaurant in West Hollywood after the Grammys. Michael now has white skin and glamorous Chasen's is long gone. Recently Michael denied rumors that he and his children's nanny Grace Rwaramba were secretly married. From what we hear, Grace is taking over almost every aspect of Michael's private and professional life, so they might as WELL be married.
Families browsing at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles Saturday couldn't help staring when they spotted Michael Jackson and his three children, Paris, Prince, and Michael II. They were whispering and looking at gold and rocks in the Gem and Mineral Hall. Michael wore a fedora and a white surgical mask. The kids all wore black wigs similar to Michael's, but no scarves or masks. They were accompanied by a woman wearing a sari and turban. Museum guards kept an eye on the unique group, but no one approached them.
Michael Jackson took all that money he got from kids in Japan who paid to meet him and flew to London where he checked into the painfully expensive Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel under the name "Ms. Jackson" (We think he hoped to be mistaken for Janet.) He occupied the Presidential Suite (around $5000 per night) with his kids, but took up the entire top floor with his entourage, and brought ten beefy security guards to protect him and make sure no one came up in the elevators. He even brought his own waiter and didn't want any strangers near him. Hotel staffers were terrified of doing the wrong thing. And last we heard, Ms. Jackson didn't leave any tips.
We can't help but notice that those new pictures from TMZ revealing Michael Jackson's kids back up our theory about who the REAL father is. It's been obvious since day one that these kids don't share Michael's genes. Maybe that's one reason he keeps them wrapped in burkas. WE remember the days when Michael was absolutely besotted with Macaulay Culkin - after he saw Home Alone. (see top photo) They became inseparable. Michael didn't have much in common with Mac after he grew up, but they remained friends. When Michael talked Debbie Rowe into having children for him, WE theorize that he also talked young and impulsive Mac into donating the sperm so he could have his own set of Home Alone children. There IS an eerie resemblence.
Michael Jackson has watched with envy while Celine Dion, Elton John, and Prince have negotiated lucrative contracts to perform regularly in Las Vegas. At one time it appeared that Michael had a deal of his own, but it fell through. Michael LOVES the limelight and he really misses being in front of an audience. Why hasn't he made a deal in Las Vegas? We hear it's an insurance problem - nobody wants to insure him because he has a habit of bailing on concerts. Michael has claimed to be sick or injured and missed appearances one too many times - so no one wants to take a chance on him.
We hear rumblings that the Scientologists made an offer to Michael Jackson to buy Neverland. Supposedly they wanted to turn it into a lavish celebrity retreat compound. (Hubbardland?) Our source said that Michael Jackson's family , many of whom are still Jehovah's Witnesses, were unhappy and didn't want them to get it. According to this source, a consortium, led by a Beverly Hills businessman, outbid the Scientologists for the property. We've heard this "sold" rumor before and aren't sure WHAT to think. But one thing we KNOW - there won't be any Scientologists - or anybody else - squealing on the bumper cars or the ferris wheel at Neverland any more. The amusement park rides have been sold to a Japanese company.
Interesting how WOMEN have become more and more influential in Michael Jackson's life.There is no glass ceiling in his world. He's fired nearly all of his male financial advisors and lawyers and his male publicist. His female publicist Raymone Bain has assumed the complex responsibility of running Michael's world, along with Michael's nanny Grace Rwaramba. The two women have become the most important people in Michael's inner circle - Michael depends on THEM for advice, leaving his family out in the cold. Now that Michael is wandering around Europe looking for a place to live, some of his former associates are thinking he might move BACK to Neverland, believe it or not. It's not sold, and the ranch actually earns money for Michael because he leases out acreage to cattle ranchers. There are now cattle grazing on the property. With the expensive frills elimininated, it's certainly a plausible option for cash-strapped Michael.
