SINGER Michael Jackson is taking legal action against the Daily Mirror
over claims that he has been left ''hideously disfigured'' by plastic
surgery.
His lawyers say he is prepared to let a jury see he is not ''a scarred
phantom whose face is covered with scar tissues, with a hole in his
nose, one cheek higher than the other and an oddly sagging chin.''
Jackson was said by his lawyers to have been upset by the reports in
the Mirror. There were also close-ups by Mirror photographer Ken Lennox,
who is also being sued by the American multi-millionaire.
Mr Bertram Fields, Jackson's Los Angeles lawyer, said he had been with
Jackson dozens of times in the past year.
''I can tell you flatly that he is not scarred, that there is no hole
in his nose and that he is not disfigured in any way. That's all
rubbish,'' he said.
''Michael will stand in a witness box and let the jury see for itself.
We are seeking an unreserved and total apology from the Daily Mirror and
very substantial damages.''
A statement issued by Jackson's British lawyers said the Mirror's
claims were ''completely untrue''. A writ was served against the Mirror
yesterday.
His British lawyer Ms Julia Palca, of Simon Olswang & Co, said: ''He
is so upset by the allegations he is quite prepared to attend court.''
According to Jackson's statement, he ''found it hard to
understand why a newspaper would want to publish such demonstrably
false and cruel accusations about another human being when there is so
much really important news in the world.''
The 33-year-old singer brings his tour to Britain this week for a
performance at Wembley on Thursday. He is appearing at Glasgow Green on
August 18.
There have already been
reports, from Stockholm, of cameramen's long lenses being confiscated
by members of his entourage to avoid close-up photography.
In a separate action, Jackson's company is suing the Mirror and Ken
Lennox for breach of contract.
His lawyers claim the newspaper agreed in writing not to sell any
photographs it took during Jackson's performance or publish them more
than once.
They claim the Mirror ''deliberately violated'' the deal by selling on
a photo of Jackson to other publications worldwide, and they have now
started injunction proceedings to stop further use of the picture.
Speculation has mounted over the years about how Jackson's appearance
has changed dramatically from the days when he sang with his brothers as
the Jackson Five.
Mr Fields insisted, however, that Jackson had only limited plastic
surgery: one operation on his nose and a minor operation on his chin.
''As far as I know, this is the first time Michael Jackson has taken
this sort of action. He has been very hurt,'' said Mr Fields.
''That hurt has now turned to anger and a determination to strike back
really with the only weapon available to him -- the courts.''
The lawyer said the Mirror photograph had been taken from a strange
angle, in harsh artificial light, and was ''not an accurate
representation'' of the singer.
However, it was the statements accompanying the pictures which had
really hurt, describing him as a ''grotesque monster'', said Mr Fields.
The Mirror plans to contest both the libel action and the alleged
breach of contract.
Mirror Group legal manager Charles Collier-Wright said: ''Writs have
been received. They are with our solicitors. The actions will be
defended.''
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