Celebrity Justice
5/10/2012 3:53 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

MJ Estate
Settles War with Chick
From 'Thriller' Video

Exclusive
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Michael Jackson's Estate has finally settled its beef with the girl who played MJ's date in the famed "Thriller" video -- three years after she filed her lawsuit.

TMZ broke the story ... Ola Ray sued MJ and his production company in May 2009 -- the month before Jackson died -- claiming she hadn't been paid royalties from the legendary 1983 music video.



The former Playboy Playmate sued for breach of contract, insisting she was still owed a massive chunk of "Thriller" profits.

We don't know how much the Estate settled for -- but from what we can gather, Ola got something.

"Thriller" director John Landis has filed a similar lawsuit against the Estate. We're told both sides are still trying to negotiate a settlement.
Celebrity Justice
5/9/2012 9:52 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

Randy Jackson
Michael NEVER
Tried to Kill Me!!!

Exclusive
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Michael Jackson NEVER ordered his henchmen to murder his brother Randy Jackson ... despite allegations made by MJ's former bodyguard ... this according to a rep for RJ.

Randy's spokesperson tells TMZ ... the allegations made by Matt Fiddes "couldn't be further from the truth ... it's absolutely absurd."

Fiddes told The Sun ... MJ wanted members of his inner circle to shoot Randy during a heated argument regarding a possible Jackson 5 tour. Fiddes claims Michael was on drugs at the time.

But Randy's rep tells us Fiddes is full of crap ... saying, "There's no way in the world that this actually happened."

Randy's rep says the Jackson family is choosing to ignore Matt, rather than engage him in a legal battle, because "it's a non-issue."

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Celebrity Justice
5/8/2012 11:28 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

MJ Bodyguard
Claims Singer Ordered
Hit on Randy Jackson

Breaking News
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Michael Jackson's former bodyguard claims the singer was a paranoid maniac ... who ordered members of his inner circle to kill his younger brother Randy ... this according to The Sun.

In the interview with The Sun ... ex-bodyguard Matt Fiddes claims, "Michael was caught in a war with his brothers for years, They were desperate to sign him up to a $500 million deal for a Jackson 5 reunion tour."

Fiddes -- a martial arts expert who worked with MJ in the UK and in the US -- explained, "Things reached a head when Randy was trying to force his way past the bodyguards to speak to him in one of his rented homes. Michael ordered him to be shot."

Of course, no one shot Randy ... but Fiddes says, "Randy was so scared he got on the phone and threatened to call the Press. He told the bodyguards, 'If you shoot me the whole world will know about it.'"

Fiddes continued, "[Michael] was out of mind on drugs and luckily Randy was OK."

Fiddes has been dishing MJ dirt to The Sun for a while now ... just last week he claimed the singer despised Madonna and poked holes in a Voodoo doll of Steven Spielberg after MJ became a Nazi sympathizer.

None of Fiddes' accusations have been corroborated.

We reached out to the MJ Estate for comment -- so far, no word back.
5/3/2012 11:50 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

Michael Jackson Estate
JOINS PEPSI!
Deal with the Devil?

Exclusive Details
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Michael Jackson's Estate has just made a huge deal with Pepsi -- the company whose 1984 commercial arguably ruined his life, and some say it's a deal with the devil.

You'll recall, MJ's hair famously caught fire during a pyrotechnic mishap while filming the commercial -- causing severe burns on his scalp that led MJ to become a hardcore prescription drug addict ... and that addiction eventually led him to Dr. Conrad Murray.



The MJ Estate feels Pepsi is the right company to join forces with for a couple of reasons.  First, Michael himself worked with Pepsi twice after the incident, once in 1988 and again in 1991, so the singer obviously didn't hold a grudge. And a spokesperson for the estate tells us, "We're here to market the re-release of the 'Bad' album and Pepsi is the most effective place to do it."

But lots of people blame the Pepsi shoot for putting MJ on a drug-fueled path of self-destruction -- including one of the singer's former managers Frank Cascio, who said MJ was introduced to Demerol (a heroin-like opioid) following the accident ... to help deal with the pain.

The Jackson/Pepsi promotion will vary country-to-country -- but will include a TV commercial, special edition cans with Jackson's image, and chances to win downloadable remixes of Jackson's songs.

12/3/2011 12:55 AM PST BY TMZ STAFF

Jackson Family
Between Rock & Hard Place
Over MJ Handprints

1202_michael_jackson_hand_print_launch_EXMichael Jackson's family is on the hunt for an incredibly valuable piece of rock -- containing the King of Pop's hand and footprints -- but the guy who currently owns it ain't giving it up without a fight.

MJ left the impressions back in 1984 for a Vegas hotel -- which had commissioned the piece for a "Walk of Fame"-type exhibit in front of the property.

The exhibit never materialized, and the concrete slab ended up gathering dust in the hotel basement -- until it was auctioned off years later ... and a guy named Andy Wilson picked it up for a pretty penny.

Now, the Jackson family has caught wind of the relic -- and they want to reclaim it, insisting the slab is the rightful property of the MJ estate. We're told they're even willing to pay Mr. Wilson $25,000 plus a cut of any merchandising profits they make off the item.

But Andy ain't budging -- telling TMZ, $25,000 just won't do ... and he's willing to wait as long as it takes to get a better deal.

10/17/2011 12:20 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

Jackson Family Members
We're Back in the U.S.A.

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The Jackson family has officially returned to America ... impressive, considering their travel agents CANCELLED their return tickets from the U.K. at the last minute because they hadn't been paid.

TMZ has confirmed ... Tito Jackson's sons, TJ and Taryll, who performed at the MJ Tribute show with their group 3T ... returned to the U.S. yesterday after a bitter stand-off with their travel agents.

We broke the story ... Entertainment Travel claims they warned the company behind the MJ Tribute show about a $200k debt ... and eventually cancelled the flights claiming they still haven't been paid.

Sources close to the Jacksons tell TMZ ... the family found another agency ... who agreed to take on their business and booked them on new flights home. It's unclear who agreed to foot the bill for the new tix.

As we previously reported, Entertainment Travel has vowed to sue the crap out of Global Live if they don't pay up soon.

A rep for Global Live had told us the company intends to pay up  ... noting, "all bills are being reconciled."


Celebrity Justice
10/15/2011 6:54 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

Jackson Family Members
Find Your Own Way Home

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TMZ has learned ... several members from the Jackson family are going to have to find their own way home from Wales -- because the company that was supposed to provide them with a flight back has pulled their tickets ... because of a HUGE outstanding bill.

As TMZ first reported, Entertainment Travel Company claims that Global Live (the company behind the Michael Jackson tribute concert last week) owes $200,000 for plane tickets the company  booked for the Jackson family, Christina Aguilera, her crew, Jamie Foxx, Heavy D, roughly 15 Global Live employees and others.

Now a rep for Entertainment Travel Company tells us they had no choice but to yank the tickets which were earmarked for two members of the band 3T (TJ and Taryll) and two of their children ... because of the unpaid tab.

The company rep says they held out for as long as they could and the next step is to contact a lawyer.

A rep for Global Live could not be reached for comment.

10/14/2011 9:55 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

MJ Tribute Concert Promoters
Accused of Dodging $200,000 Bill
... For Plane Tickets

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The bills are starting to roll in for the Michael Jackson Tribute Concert in Wales last weekend -- and TMZ has learned, the organizers have already been accused of ducking a $200,000 tab ... for VIP plane tickets.

A rep for the Entertainment Travel Company tells TMZ, Global Live -- the company behind the event -- hired Entertainment Travel to book plane tickets for the Jackson family, Christina Aguilera, her crew, Jamie Foxx, Heavy D, roughly 15 Global Live employees and others.

GL allegedly racked up a $200,000 bill in the process -- which they were SUPPOSED to pay two weeks ago. But Entertainment Travel Co. insists they haven't gotten a cent ... and now GL isn't even returning their phone calls.

Several members of the Jackson family are scheduled to fly back to the U.S. this Sunday -- but Entertainment Travel is getting ready to play hardball ... telling TMZ, they're gonna cancel the Jacksons' tickets if GL doesn't pay up. The next step is a big, fat lawsuit.

TMZ spoke with Global Live CEO Chris Hunt ... who tells us, "All bills are being reconciled and as they have been told, they will be completely paid in full."
9/13/2011 4:49 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

Michael Jackson Estate
Katherine and MJ's Kids to
Score $30 Million

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A huge development in the Michael Jackson Estate case.  The Executors have done so well making money for the Estate since Jackson died, they want to fund the Michael Jackson Trust to the tune of $30 million for the benefit of Katherine Jackson and Michael's 3 kids.

TMZ has obtained court documents in which co-Executors John Branca and John McClain are asking the court's permission to fund the trust.  According to the docs, the Estate generated more than $310 million in gross revenues as of December 31, 2010 -- that's the latest accounting.

In addition to funding the trust, the Executors are asking the court's permission to sell the longtime family home on Hayvenhurst Avenue in Encino, CA.  According to the docs, Katherine wants to sell the house and, although no price is mentioned, the property was valued at $4,150,000 when Michael died.

The docs say Katherine wants the Estate to purchase another home and she's eying several properties, but we're told the home she really wants is the Calabasas house in which she and the kids are currently living.

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7/12/2011 12:05 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

Cops Swoop in After Photogs Chase Paris Jackson

Two paparazzi were handcuffed by cops after allegedly blowing red lights while chasing Michael Jackson's daughter, Paris Jackson ... TMZ has learned.

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 The photogs -- not TMZ -- were allegedly chasing the car Paris was in, blowing red lights and driving recklessly, trying to get a shot of MJ's daughter.

We're told the cops are not going to arrest the photogs because police didn't see the chase.  In fact, they will not even be cited for the same reason.

 Instead, we're told a crime report will be written and forwarded to the L.A. City Attorney for possible prosecution.

UPDATE: Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, cops have decided NOT to refer the incident to prosecutors due to insufficient evidence ... but Paris is still free to sue in civil court.


Celebrity Justice
4/8/2011 7:43 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

Alejandra Jackson To Move Out -- Book Deal Imminent

Alejandra Jackson -- the houseguest who just wouldn't leave -- has agreed to vacate the Jackson family compound -- and sources tell TMZ a tell-all book deal is now a done deal.

Alejandra Jackson

Alejandra -- who has 5 kids via two of Michael Jackson's brothers, Randy and Jermaine -- has been a squatter in the Encino compound for months -- and was probably going to be evicted next week after a court hearing, but she has informed the Michael Jackson Estate she will be moving out by April 14.

The Estate had offered Alejandra a condo, provided she sign a confidentiality agreement, but she refused.  Sources tell us the Estate is not paying Alejandra a penny or offering her any housing -- this was Alejandra's decision -- and we're told it's a clear sign a book deal has been closed.



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