Asian Megastar Rain -- Snow Job in Hawaii?

The biggest pop star in all of Asia -- Rain -- is facing a hailstorm of legal trouble in the US. A Honolulu concert promoter claims in a federal lawsuit that the so-called Korean "Justin Timberlake" defrauded them out of more than $500,000, and never had any intention of performing in the first place. And we're told that the legal mud-slinging could just be starting.

Well-placed sources tells TMZ that local promoters in Los Angeles, where Rain also canceled a concert an hour-and-a-half before the gig, are contemplating millions of dollars in legal action against the singer and his management company. "It isn't going to be pretty," says one source. All in all, Rain canceled two gigs and postponed three among his five US dates, citing a trademark suit in Nevada and technical glitches for the missed gigs. (The New York and Atlanta shows are supposed to go on this fall.)

Rain's Korean promoter, StarM, blamed its local counterpart in L.A. of financial mismanagement for the while V2B Global (the local guys) said that StarM tried to use a giant LED screen that wasn't up to code and disputes StarM's accusations.

In the Hawaii suit, filed in US District Court late last month, local promoter Click Entertainment alleges that Rain and his managers and promoters actually knew they wouldn't be able to perform because of the trademark suit in Nevada, but booked the gig anyway.

The day after the axed L.A. show, Rain told the L.A. Times he felt "ridiculous" about the snafus, but that the Staples stage "wasn't set up." His reps didn't return calls for comment.

Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Music

Reader Comments

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1. Who?

Posted at 10:03AM on Jul 4th 2007 by cindy

2. I don't know who this guy is, but there is no way he has success in the U.S.

Posted at 10:12AM on Jul 4th 2007 by brat

3. Take your fried crickets and go back home. You are a nobody here.

Posted at 10:14AM on Jul 4th 2007 by boo hoo

4. LOOOOSER - go back to Korea.

Posted at 10:34AM on Jul 4th 2007 by hello

5. It is amazing the gaul of people who eat cat and dog! Who in Atlanta is going?

Posted at 10:39AM on Jul 4th 2007 by billyboy

6. He is awesome. He will be in the new Speed Racer film and will eventually come out with an album here. Rain wants to conquer the world, but we'll see if he becomes the first Asian megastar/singer in the US.

Posted at 10:43AM on Jul 4th 2007 by JeenyC

7. I am not Korean, I am not asian, butin 2003 I found myself living pretty hipplyin La's Ktown. I am a avid music lover and a young artist in the ent industry. I decided to just blindly go into the Korean music shops and buy music. One of the first cds I got was Rain's first cd. From the second I heard the first beat and his thick voice along with the music video that came on the disc and i was able to see how this guy outdances justin(who I love) I was hooked. I am sad to see that the first 5 comments are racist and hateful, why people hate I will never know. I am so glad to see rain get the sucess he has and will. he will be huge one day here, reguardless of what his current reps messed up on in this deal. I just never posted a comment on any website, but I just had to say shame on you five for you wasting your life, it will only come back to you ten fold. Please wake up and come join the party of life dudes stop being iggnorant and school yourself!

Posted at 11:19AM on Jul 4th 2007 by Me.....not U

8. Dear BY

You are surely ignorant! There was nothing veiled in those comments. They were meant to be racist!!! And your issue is what? Free Speech!!!!

Posted at 11:58AM on Jul 4th 2007 by billyboy

9. It's people like billyboy that makes the U.S. one of the most hated countries in the world. "The gaul of people who eat cats and dogs"?? The gaul of "you people" who promote slavery in other countries by using children sweatshops. The gaul of "you people" who lash out at other countries for supposed violations while you hypocrites commit them yourselves. The gaul of "you people" whose soldiers kill two young girls and for "justice" extradite them to the U.S. where no time is spent in jail. Who are "you people" to judge any other country? People like you and your ignorant comments is what makes foreigners hate this country. Either smarten up or govern yourself accordingly.

Posted at 12:27PM on Jul 4th 2007 by grey_gose

10. I can't believe how quick some of you are to start throwing around racist comments. What the hell does race have to do with this story? C'mon guys - you're better than that!

Posted at 12:32PM on Jul 4th 2007 by O

11. billyboy- the sterotypical racist, most likely uneducated and unloved. Even worse, you seems to be proud of your stubbon animosity. Are you serious, quoting the 1st amendment to defend your idiocy? Freedom of speech comes with limits and "hate speech" is definitely NOT what our forefathers intended on.

Posted at 1:59PM on Jul 4th 2007 by wth

12. White America and America are not the same thing. Steve, it seems as if you have defined White America as some superior section of the country...Nazi much? Your WHITE AMERICA is the one of yesterday...the horrible, racist nation that everyone despises. The TRUE AMERICA is one of opportunity, a true melting pot, where everyone is EQUAL. One of the foundations in this country is also education, so learn how to spell (at least past 5th grade level) before you go around accusing people of "illegeal asian singing", which of course there is no such thing because it's not illegal to be either ASIAN or to SING. Also, I believe Rain is from South Korea (NOT Communist) so get it straight..

Posted at 2:11PM on Jul 4th 2007 by like dude, totally i love trying to be white

13. Steve - You're an idiot. I am no where near asian, but you as a person should just rotate on a revolving Q-tip! If you're going to make comments, and racists ones at that, atleast TRY to sound INTELLIGENT! Stop being so righteous, no one really cares about the comments of a trailer park ass clown. Your comments are irrevelevant to the story and racist to boot. It makes me sick that there are people like you out there in this world adding more hate. You need to know what love feels like. It isn't too late, my friend.

Posted at 2:15PM on Jul 4th 2007 by Jayne

14. As an asian living in Asia, I am just speechless reading some ignorant comments here. Yes, I'm likely to hate America even more than before because of some racist like you. Rain is called "The pride of Asia". Justin?? Usher?? They are not even close to Rain in Asia now. He might have not been known in America though, he got tremendous fans all over the world. u never know how many Rain fans out there and how much they care for him and love him. They respect him and admire him because of his work ethic, sincerity, and good personality. He is a role model to the young generation not like Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, or Lindsay Lohan. He is not smoking, he is not on drugs, and his motto is "endless effort, endless endurance, endless modesty".. sounds like he is not American's cup of tea. huh?..

Unfortunately, he couldn't perform this time because of some stupid lawsuit and poor production problems, he will show you the asian charisma after shooting the movie "Speed Racer." And even if the american wouldn't recognize him, it's o.k. He got devoted fans all over the world, so It wouldn't be a problem for him to soar with his wings. Good luck! Rain!!!

p,s, tmz people, why did you pick the worst pic of him? he got a lot more hot pics than that one posted.

Posted at 2:38PM on Jul 4th 2007 by M.J.C.K

15. Yes, I'm a "Rain" fan at age 62 years (caucasian American) after watching him on "Full House" on the AZN channel. I have basic cable (don't watch much television) and AZN was, unfortunately, transferred to the Classics Channel on Comcast.

With being in Nor Cal, I'm disappointed to learn about the Los Angeles cancellation. With everything I know of this young and multi-talented young man (solid values), if there are legal snafus they are more inclined from the American side and, most likely, a challenge in bridging communications with his business team. "Go Rain"....those who know of you....LOVE YOU!

For any American on this board who is demonstrating racist tendencies, you are shallow and, therefore, need to educate yourselves socially and scholastically. I lived in Japan as a young business professional many years ago and those were some of the best years of my life. Asians, Amerasians, and Eurasians are incredibly beautiful people. The United States of America is blessed to have an exquisite rainbow family, i.e. each and everyone of us with the potential of being beautiful (inside/outside) in our own right (no matter what perceived color, size, or gender).

"Rain" is a beautiful person (all ways) of the HEART and has the ability to bring people togehter on a global basis if he can breakthrough with more exposure. Also, he has perfectionist tendencies so would want everything (right) for his concert participants!

Keep open minds for the gifts that each of us can share with one another!!!

Happy 4th of July EVERYONE (remember true FREEDOM is an inside feeling not something that is created externally through wars)!

Posted at 2:43PM on Jul 4th 2007 by Sunshine in California!

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