Celebrity Justice
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

(Page 4 of 5)Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

46. I was pleasantly surprised to see Rain (Bi) on tmz.com. I may say, it is about time the South Koreans can be represented within this American entertainment industry. Yes I understand he may have a difficult time breaking through the barrier. I believe, the easiest way for an Asian to become a celebrity in America is if one were Asian American. This would not only represent their Asian culture, one would also be representing America. Even if he does not succeed, his step will open the doors to many Asians who want to enter into America’s entertainment industry. I salute you!

I have read somewhere before that Americans have the least cultural knowledge among all others. I believe this to be true. As an American, I am one of the many who are very ignorant with other cultures around the world. I was born in California and raised within the Los Angeles County. I am still very young, but I will never leave my home. Los Angeles is my home. I was born Korean and being Korean American I do not know much of my Korean background. I grew up with many other Korean Americans like me and we do not “copy to become white people,” we are American.

I have also grown up with some “FOBS” and only ignorant fools can put Fobs within the same category as Korean Americans. We are different get that straight.

As a matter of fact, ones occupation does not justify the essence of a human being. I know a few people who are studying to become lawyers. I also have a few friends who are studying to become doctors. The amount of studying to become a lawyer is a joke compared to someone who is studying to become a doctor so do not act as if you are so much more smarter because you are not.

Do not blame the entire race of being racist on the base of a few Koreans racist you have encountered. A person has a right to be racist. Those people who are, there are so much more important things in life that can be benefited. Being racist is a cycle so do not blame it on the other race. Why don’t you set up the example and stop being racist yourself?

Ps. steve, you are such a joke. Get over yourself. And billyboy, I laugh at your pitiful face. SATs HA! You are kidding me right? With 9 grand children you are on tmz.com? I thought tmz were for the younger audience for my age, just turned 20. Don’t you have some kind of retirement life by now?

Posted at 9:08AM on Jul 5th 2007 by Tristine

47. just a bunch of willful bigots, but what else could we expect here, or out of America.

Posted at 10:01AM on Jul 5th 2007 by JOD

48. I feel sorry to all disappointed US Rain fans, but really hope that everyone will be open-minded and not blame Rain for all these unfavorable happenings.

For people who know Rain, we are aware that he's a very determined and hardworking person who strive so hard to be where he is right now, and for sure values all his efforts and the people who care for him, and would not want these bad things happen and destroy him. This guy loves to perform for his fans... and he never fails to express his appreciation to them.

I am an Asian... and proud to be one... and just want to let everybody know that our "RAIN" is very much loved and appreciated all over Asia. He's been the drive for us, whether we have different cultural heritage and live in different Asian countries, to be acquainted with each other and be friends. He serves as a mediator to us... to understand and show interest to other race and cultures. He's not just a successful artist to us... but also a source of inspiration for us to do good and be good to others.

I hope you guys will get to know "Rain" too. He's a good person and deserves to be given another chance to be successful in US if destiny permits.

Peace to everyone.

Posted at 11:34AM on Jul 5th 2007 by hanjieunshi

49. I can't expressed how sad I am to read all these comments. Come on people, can you at least try to sound educated or civilized?

The article didn't do him any justice. This is a clear sabotage because of people's greed. Rain and his fans are victims. He will learn his lesson, to be wiser next time. You people are doing no help, but rubbing in salt on the wounds.

It's better to say nothing, if you have nothing good to say.

Posted at 2:01PM on Jul 5th 2007 by fx

50. He would be stupid to intentionally screw over the promoters. He could make way more money in the US if he is half as good as he thinks he ever could in Korea...Not a fan or anything, personally I think he sucks. JMHO....

Posted at 2:58PM on Jul 5th 2007 by SkooterChaCha

51. I am Asian and I don't find you appealing at all.

Posted at 4:52PM on Jul 5th 2007 by bye

52. If you people don’t know him you should keep you mouth shut. And get to know him before you say something that makes you like an idiot.

Posted at 4:20AM on Jul 6th 2007 by oxygen

53. i’m somewhat a fan of rain but i still totally believe he played a part in this whole fiasco. he might not have dealt directly with the local promoters or handled the concert production himself or decide to cancel LA at the last minute but…who made the decision to add more US cities to his tour and at such large venues when he clearly wasn’t ready to fill seats??? he hasn’t even debuted here! it’s hard to believe he has no control over his career. this is someone who claims to have planned everything so strategically to enter into the US market. it was a really bad decision and things just snowballed from there. it’s pretty embarrassing since there was a lot of hype in local media right before the LA concert crashed. it’s sad but americans who didn’t know him or followed his career before probably think he’s a joke.

i think this entire situatiopn could have been avoided, and what all this with ppl trying to sabotage rain, i doubt that

im a an, but i refuse to belive he’s perfect like some of his fans think, hes young and he messed up, i think he’ll do better in the future, but he’s not innocent

Posted at 1:04PM on Jul 6th 2007 by mmmmm

54. America, for Rain, is just one part of his aim. Rain's aim is the world star, not the American star. In fact, no matter he is success in the USA, he has been success in the world. All his fans in Asian total is more than any world star in USA. Asian is the biggest continent and the most population in the world. All the Asian people know who Rain is, he is the famous star in the world, because the people in Asia is the most in the world. In the Asia, somebody still don't know who Paris Hilton, Britney,......etc, these "world star" is , but they must know who Rain is. Tell you the truth, some people in asia know who Justin Timberlake is because of Rain is named as " The asian Justin Timberlake".

Posted at 5:48PM on Jul 6th 2007 by mel

55. Emmmm,I mean.....is quite a sad and ANGRY to hear the bad comments from those who critic rain>__

Posted at 11:27AM on Jul 7th 2007 by Cloudy

56. What's up with these racist remarks?
I don't know what is going on with this guy or whatever
but being an American myself, caucasian in fact, those people who made remarks like that should know that it just makes them look ridiculous to the rest of the world and make innocent people like me look bad.
Weren't you educated in school?
Come on America...

Posted at 2:32PM on Jul 7th 2007 by JS

57. you cant compare rain to justin, no offence but in 6 years rain has sold what 3 million, justin has sold over 15 million, and no not all asians know rain, i have alot of asian friends that have never heard of him, besides to be honest rain is only realy popular in korea and parts of japan

Posted at 4:55PM on Jul 7th 2007 by tyityi

58. Asian bashers, you sound really jealous. It doesn't feel good that someone else does your tricks better than some of you, right?! Then shut up and catch up. You forefathers have created something great, and your peers are sustaining it. You may loose it. Come out of your dig, and open your eyes. The world is changing.

Byt the way, have you seen Rain performing/ You may fall in love with him if you do!

Posted at 11:29AM on Jul 8th 2007 by WhoseAmerica

59. Asian bashers, you sound really jealous. It doesn't feel good that someone else does your tricks better than some of you, right?! Then shut up and catch up. You forefathers have created something great,
and your peers are sustaining it. You may loose it. Come out of
your dig, and open your eyes. The world is changing. By the way,
have you seen Rain performing? You may fall in love with him if you
do!

Posted at 11:32AM on Jul 8th 2007 by JJ

60. im asian and i cant stand him

Posted at 2:02PM on Jul 8th 2007 by gyo

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