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DJ AM’s Death Sees New Legal Light

Emma Renda — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:45:03 +0000

The death of DJ AM, a.k.a. Adam Goldstein, is going to the courts in a bizarre twist of events that links it with the plane crash DJ AM survived in Sept. 2008, according to TMZ.

The estate of Adam Goldstein is filing a ‘wrongful death’ suit against Clay Lacy Aviation, the airline responsible for the jet that crashed with both DJ AM and Travis Barker (of Blink 182) on board. The claim is that Goldstein was terrified of flying, and used drugs to calm his nerves.

The suit in the L.A. County Superior Court notes Goldstein was prescribed a number of drugs to cope with the burns he suffered as well as the distress following the crash. The travel service, Goodyear Tire, Learjet and the estates of the two pilots who were killed in the crash are also being sued by Goldstein’s estate.

Goldstein’s death in August was caused by a lethal cocktail of prescription drugs as well as cocaine.

MTV Will Release DJ AM Doc

Stephen Baldwin — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:06:12 +0000

The regret surrounding the tragic death of Adam ‘DJ YM’ Goldstein will deepen when MTV airs his eight-episode documentary ‘Gone Too Far’ on Monday, October 12th, MTV reports.

The documentary will feature DJ AM’s meetings with addicts, along with their friends and family, discussing the struggles, causes and possible solutions of addiction. The episodes will also reveal the details of his personal addiction, predominantly to crack cocaine.

Goldstein’s mission to blow open the discussion on drug abuse in North America came to a halt when he died of an accidental overdose at his New York City apartment on August 28th. Many suspect that the excessive drug use was linked to the mental and physical trauma he suffered after a plane crash in 2008.

His death may help cement the documentary’s conveyance of the dangerous toll that drugs take on the lives of addicts, and also those around them. He is a living example of that senseless fate.

Goldstein’s success in life after a rough childhood is a beacon of hope for young men and women all over the world, and this success will endure through this MTV series. In a statement by Goldstein’s family, it is evident that the decision to air the documentary wasn’t easy, but necessary: “Adam was fully aware that if it were not for his own sobriety, he never would have achieved the level of success and happiness he had found. Helping people in their recovery was a huge part of Adam’s life. It is our hope through airing this show that people will get to see the side of Adam that we knew and loved, not just the celebrity DJ, but the honest and caring person who gave so much of himself to help others.”

The music of DJ AM will be enjoyed by his fans for many years to come, but it’s the impact Adam Goldstein has on the struggling addicts he helps, that will maintain his spirit.

R.I.P. Adam Goldstein

Michael Jackson’s Life Up For Grabs

Emma Renda — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:34:07 +0000

For a minute there, the entire history of pop music was hanging in the balance of some very unsteady hands. Michael Jackson’s esate, now in the control of his family, is famously known to include the entire Beatles discography but TMZ assures us the Fab Four’s musical history will not be included in a massive auction scheduled for April.

Jackson’s personal effects, many from his fabled Neverland ranch, will be auctioned to boost the assets in order to pay off the debt claimed by a number of creditors, according to the Guardian UK. But the Beatles catalogue, and the rest of Jackson’s publishing catalogue, will stay in the trust of his kids who can expect to profit more from it in the long-term than any immediate return if it were sold now.

In financial reports released in August, Jackson’s bottom line net worth was calculated to be $1,360,839,979, according to TMZ who viewed the documents. Of that, though, $1,150,000,000 is the Sony-ATV Publishing Trust holding the Beatles catalogue. The Jackson trust purchased ATV in 1985, after McCartney turned down the opportunity, and merged it ten years later in a deal with Sony. Now the third-largest music publishing company in the world, it owns the rights to music by Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Eminem, Willie Nelson and Taylor Swift, to name a few.

The Los Angeles auction is the first salee of Jackson’s property actually sanctioned by Jackson himself, after he tried to halt an auction in 2007 of he and his family’s properties acquired by a New Jersey businessman.

In life, the sale would signify Jackson’s departure from the grandeur of his celebrity existence – perhaps in the wake of his aquittal in 2005 of child molestation charges, which was followed by his abandonment of Neverland Ranch.

Now after Jackson’s death, the auction could mean one of two things: either a very poignant glimpse to the extraordinary extent to which Jackson tried to substitute real life with inanimate materialism. Or, it could turn out to be nothing more than a public bone collection of the only tangible remains of the King of Pop.

Neverland Ranch was literally emptied last summer, when Jackson commissioned Darren Julien, a renowned celebrity autioneer, to scrutinise the land. More than 2,000 items were cleared from the premises, including the amusement park that occupied only part of the 38 acres inside the ranch. The iconic gates of Neverland are now leaned against the wall of a warehouse somewhere in Los Angeles.

Julien is forecasting the April auction to be a regular frenzy of a sale as both media and fanatics are expected to flock to the Beverly Hilton event. Jackson’s signature diamond-studded glove that he wore when he married Debbie Rowe was auctioned to Warwick Stone on behalf of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas for a whopping $49,000.

The April auction will feature more than 2,000 items, including exclusive artifacts from Jackson’s Neverland Ranch that have never been seen by the public eye. When Julien and his team were invited by Jackson in 2007 to scrutinise the Ranch, they were astonished at the bizarre accumulation inside.

“It seemed as if everything he owned was made of bronze and marble and gold,” said Michael Doyle, a member of Julien’s team according to the Guardian UK.

Along with custom-made crowns and an ornate throne that was part of Jackson’s bedroom decor, vintage arcade games and Jackson’s vast collection of 18th- and 19th century art will be available. Jackson’s stage costumes will inevitably go up for grabs, such as the fedora he wore in the video for “Billie Jean” and outfits dating as far back as his days in the Jackson 5. His personal souvenirs, such as military insignia he gathered during his world travels will go, along with a regal cape his children Paris and Prince Michael gave him as a Father’s day gift.

A large part of Jackson’s personal belongings will not be included in the auction, and only time and financial necessity will determine what other aspects of Jackson’s historic life will be sold to the clamouring hands of his admirers and debt collectors.

Larry Gelbart Passes Away At 81

Joelle Tomlinson — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:41:45 +0000

Writer Larry Gelbart, best known as one of the key creative forces behind groundbreaking TV series M*A*S*H, died today at the age of 81.

According the Entertainment Weekly, his wife, Pat Gelbart, said he died of cancer at his home in Beverly Hills. Hailing from Chicago, the writer/director/producer’s work spanned radio, television, film and theatre. Producer-director Gene Reynolds hired him to write the pilot script for M*A*S*H (based on Richard Hooker’s 1968 novel). Gelbart served as executive script consultant and executive producer of the Emmy-winning Korean War sitcom from 1972-76, and also made a contribution by directing several episodes. He also worked and assisted with After M*A*S*H in the 1980’s.

Some of his notable achievements include, Tootsie, Oh God!, Blame it on Rio and A Funny Thing Happened on the WAy to the Forum.

His talent and significant contribution to the entertainment, film and television community will be sorely missed.

Official Poster for Michael Jackson’s This Is It

Robert Ostfield — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:07:45 +0000

The poster for Michael Jackson’s This Is It has officially been released by Sony Pictures, who are producing the film. This Is It hits theatres on October 28th and features the legendary singer preparing for his last performance which would have taken place beginning this summer starting at London’s O2 Arena. The Estate of Michael Jackson is in full support of the release of the film.

R. Kelly Tries To Be Michael Jackson

Emma Renda — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:55:28 +0000

This news might be a few days old, and it might involve a totally irrelevant celebrity, but it just had to be reported on.

R. Kelly (famous for the one-liner in “Ignition” and a criminal pedophilia lawsuit a few years back) wants to finish the album Michael Jackson had started recording before his death. No lie. You gotta give this guy credit for trying but I think you would agree this is a little tasteful and way too soon.

Further Information About Michael Jackson’s Homicide

Emma Renda — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:43:05 +0000

Michael Jackson’s death was officially ruled a homicide by the L.A. County Coroner, according to TMZ.com.

The cause of death was said to be acute Propofol intoxication. While Propofol and Lorazepam (Ativan) were said to be the cause of Jackson’s death, a host of other drugs were found in Jackson’s system including Midazolam (Versed), Diazepam (Valium), Lidocaine (topical anesthetic) and Ephedrine (used to treat hypotension associated with anesthesia), as listed on TMZ.

Although Jackson’s death has been ruled a homicide at the hands of his doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, it does not necessarily mean criminal charges. Murray is the target of a manslaughter investigation, according to the Los Angeles Times, but Jackson’s history of drug dependency will factor largely into any criminal trial.

Aside from the rumours of who’s to blame for his death, the world has been exposed to a host of whispers about the real paternity of Jackson’s kids.

Most ridiculously, The Sun UK reported Macaulay Culkin (yes, the star of Home Alone and long-time boyfriend of Mila Kunis) donated sperm allowing Jackson to create his youngest son, Prince Michael II (a.k.a Blanket). Culkin is the godfather of Jackson’s two sons, but has not issued a public statement about the claims of parenthood.

Jackson’s brother Marlon released a statement that while Jackson did not conceive his children naturally, “they were Michael’s kids, regardless of where they came from,” according to The Sun UK.

Despite the outlandish rumours, Jackson’s true fans are still pouring out in droves to show their support.

Spike Lee (acclaimed director, including the 1996 music video for Jackson’s “They Don’t Care About Us”) hosted a birthday party in NYC’s Prospect Park where thousands of fans gathered to dance to his hits spun by DJ Spinna, and a number of speeches by Lee, Rev Al Sharpton and Tracy Morgan. Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz attended and declared Aug. 29 Michael “King of Pop” Jackson Memorial Day in Brooklyn.

Ted Kennedy, Last of Kennedy Men, Dies at 77

Emma Renda — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:10:32 +0000

U.S. Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy, the last surviving brother of the political family, died last night after more than a year battling brain cancer, according to CBC. Kennedy, 77, was surrounded by his family in Hyannis Port, Mass. when he passed.

Kennedy was one of the longest serving senators in American history, spending almost a total of 47 years in office. He was originally elected in 1962 when his brother, John F. Kennedy, was president. In 1980, he sought the Democratic party nomination against sitting president Jimmy Carter but his plans were ruined by a scandalous car accident in Martha’s Vineyard in which he pleaded guilty to leaving the scene.

Kennedy then devoted his career to senate work. He was a staunch advocate for universal health care in the United States, and wrote more than 2,500 bills including the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, Meals on Wheels for the elderly, and access to abortion clinics.

“I’ve benefited from the best of medicine, but I’ve also witnessed the frustration and outrage of patients and doctors alike as they face the challenges of a system that shortchanges millions of Americans,” he wrote in the Boston Globe this May.

Kennedy was also a strong critic of the war in Iraq.

During last year’s presidential candidacy, Kennedy personally endorsed Barack Obama. Despite his weakened condition, Kennedy attended Obama’s inauguration this January, but collapsed of fatigue at a luncheon following the ceremony. In a press conference earlier today, Obama expressed condolences to Kennedy’s family.

“His ideas and ideals are stamped on scores of laws and reflected in millions of lives,” Obama said in the press conference.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is married to Kennedy’s niece Maria Shriver, also issued a statement this morning to express his grief on behalf of the family.

“Teddy taught us all that public service isn’t a hobby or even an occupation, but a way of life and his legacy will live on,” Schwarzenegger said in his statement.

Kennedy was the youngest of nine in the Kennedy family, and the only son to die of natural causes.

Michael Jackson’s Death Mysterious on Many Levels

Emma Renda — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:58:13 +0000

Michael Jackson’s death was caused by a lethal dose of Propofol, a sleep aid his doctor, Dr. Conrad Murrary, administered for insomnia, according to a series of reports from the L.A. County Coroner on TMZ.com.

Dr. Murray told the LAPD he gave Jackson a 25 mg dose of Propofol the morning of Jackson’s death, along with a cocktail of other anti-anxiety medication and sleep aids, as reported in a search warrant affidavit. But the L.A. County Coroner says there were only trace levels of other drugs in Jackson’s system, while they confirm a lethal level of Propofol in his system.

TMZ.com posted some helpful figures: it takes 400 mg of Propofol to induce sleep in someone of Jackson’s size, which is 16 times more than the amount Dr. Murray said he administered to Jackson. Dr. Murray also claimed Jackson had become dependent on the drug in doses of 50 mg.

Jackson’s time of death also remains a mystery. Dr. Murray told the LAPD Jackson stopped breathing at 10:52 a.m., he then performed CPR but did not have anyone call 911 until 12:21 p.m. Paramedics say Jackson was dead when they arrived on the scene, but did not take his body temperature because they were too busy performing CPR.

And to make matters even murkier, a video posted on LiveLeak shows the coroner’s van Jackson’s body was reportedly in pulling into an unidentified parking garage and a figure resembling Jackson climbing out. It’s a long shot, but it was bound to happen eventually.

The medical investigation is ongoing.

Michael Jackson’s Death Is A Homicide

Robert Ostfield — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:56:25 +0000

After weeks and weeks of speculation and waiting, the official word from the Los Angeles corner is MJ’s death was a homicide. The report reveals that a dangerous amount of propofol was found in Michael’s blood. Propofol is a extremely powerful anesthetic that is generally used in operating rooms to induce unconsciousness. According to the Los Angeles Times, Michael’s doctor Conrad Murray admitted to giving Mr. Jackson 25 milligrams of propofol prior to his death. Additionally upon the arrival of the Los Angeles Police to Michael’s house, police found a variety of drugs for inducing sleep within the home. There has been no official statement from the Jackson family regarding these recent developments.