Posted on 06/28/2006 6:14:57 AM PDT by COUNTrecount
Michael Jackson, who earlier this year shuttered his Neverland Valley Ranch in California, is moving to Europe to reignite a musical career stalled by his sex abuse trial.
A spokeswoman for Jackson said on Tuesday that the 47-year-old pop star was shopping for a home in Europe but had not finalized his plans. Jackson has spent much of his time in Bahrain since his acquittal on child molestation charges in June of 2005,
Spokeswoman Raymone Bain said Jackson has also severed ties with his longtime business managers as part of a "sweeping restructuring" of his affairs.
"He's just decided that with all of the projects he's going to be involved with and all of the people he's beginning to work with in the music industry, it's easier (to live in Europe)," Bain said. "He'll be going back and forth to Bahrain but Europe will be his principal residence."
Jackson has named her his general manager and hired New York-based attorney L. Londell McMillan to oversee his business and legal affairs, she said.
The 47-year-old entertainer, who has made few public appearances since the end of his sensational trial, had previously announced plans to release an album in 2007 and was considering a tour. His last studio album was 2001's "Invincible" although he has released several hit collections since then.
Bain said Jackson had no plans to sell Neverland, a 2,800-acre (1,130-hectare) ranch in the California foothills where he was accused of molesting a young cancer patient.
In March, State authorities ordered Jackson to close Neverland and fined him more than $100,000 for failing to pay the staff there or maintain proper insurance. Bain said the self-styled King of Pop now maintains the sprawling estate, famed for its Disneyland-like rides and zoo, with a small staff.
"He still owns Neverland and he's still providing the funding for its upkeep," she said. "I'm sure at some point in time he will move back to Neverland, that's not out of the question. It's not in the immediate future but it's not far-fetched."
Bain said Jackson has been visiting Ireland and France, where he took his children to the Disneyland resort, and "having a number of meetings charting out his musical future and his career."
Prosecutors asserted during Jackson's trial that the former child star, who ruled the pop charts in the 1980s, was in precarious financial shape due to mounting debts. In April, Jackson reached a deal to refinance more than $200 million in loans secured by his stake in the Beatles' song catalog.
I believe the Netherlands would be a perfect fit.
He's all yours Europe, enjoy the freakshow!
I vote France!! They need some new distractions there, Chirac isn't providing enough!!!
Good Riddance! American boys will be safe from the likes of him.
This is good news for some. One less pederast to deal with but a great loss to the homosexual and bisexual communities.
Dude gets around... He changes nationalities like I change toothbrushes... maybe more so.
Did Bahrain tell him to beat it.
EUROPE, FOR GOODNESS SAKES HIDE YOUR CHILDREN!!!!!!!!
Did he actually become a Bahrain national, or is he merely visiting on a visa? ... or perhaps as an 'undocumented guest king of pop?'
To put it delicately, don't offer him a drumstick at Thanksgiving.
I hear he joined the Super Adventure Club.
Any country in old europe would be happy to have him/it in their midst.
Wonder which career he's planning on resuming...
I wonder if this means he'll get more plastic surgery and skin treatments.
Maybe there will even be a 1900- Pick Michael's new face contest.
Europe? Why not?
They love gays, support child molestation, hate America and think Jerry Lewis is the greatest artist in the world.
Michael will fit right in.
'Europe? Why not?
They love gays, support child molestation, hate America and think Jerry Lewis is the greatest artist in the world.
Michael will fit right in.'
Yeah, but only America could've created him and let him keep buying off justice - money certainly talks over there!
France! Pick FRANCE, Mike. Perfect fit for this pedophile moron.
Oh, GOOD! I hope he ends up in France or Germany.
Here ya go! He'll be a nice bookend to Madoodoo in Britain :D
As opposed, say, to Gary Glitter? Sit back down plebe...
Wouldn't the Netherlands suit him better? ;)
He might have heard of that Irish Supreme Court ruling...
This thread could warrant the ping that's not there..
Which two countries is that??
I wonder if European countries have a Sex Offender Registry?
Yes.
[Thanks to Irish_Thatcherite for the non-ping.]
I just got my new Lexus RX400H and returned to the dealer the next day complaining that I couldn't figure out how the radio worked.
The salesman explained that the radio was voice activated "Watch this"! He said "Nelson"!
The Radio replied "Ricky or Willie?"
"Willie"! He continued. And "On The Road Again" came from the speakers. I drove away happy, and for the next few days, every time I'd say "Beethoven" I'd get beautiful classical music, and if I said "Beatles" I'd get one of their awesome songs.
One day, a couple ran a red light and nearly creamed my new car but I swerved in time to avoid them. I yelled "A$$HOLES!
The French National Anthem began to play, sung by Hilary Clinton, Michael Jackson and Michael Moore, backed up by John Kerry on guitar, Al Gore on drums, Bill Clinton on sax and Ted Kennedy on booze
D@mn, I LOVE this car!
Yuk!! ;)
LOL!
So if I yell "BULL****!" do I get the soundtrack from "An Inconvenient Truth?"
< elvis>
Thankyewver'much.
< /elvis>
Well, just the little boys.
I was sure that was Elvis, til I saw 'posted by Slings and Arrows'!!
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