Michael Jackson’s upcoming payday is a thriller.
The surgically altered performer, who hasn’t had a hit record in years, is reportedly getting $10 million to appear at a birthday party for a prince of Brunei — and he doesn’t even have to sing.
Jackson is getting the eight-figure fee for mingling with other guests at HRH Prince Azim of Brunei’s 25th birthday party in England this weekend. The royal is said to be spending a total of $14 million for the celebration.
“Absolutely no expense is being spared for [the prince’s] party,” a source told the London Mirror. “Michael Jackson is his all-time idol and he said he’d pay whatever it took to get him over.” Adds the source: “Even though Michael won’t be performing, the very fact that he’ll be in this stately home mingling with all of the Prince’s pals makes it worth every penny to Azim.”
Jackson will be joined at the event by 200 guests, including Pam Anderson, Naomi Campbell, Jerry Hall, Faye Dunaway and Kate Moss — and the word is that they’ll all receive thousands of dollars worth of pricey party favors, including diamond jewelry and electronic goodies. Crooner Dionne Warwick is also expected to appear, and is reportedly pocketing $500,000 for her efforts, but she’ll have to sing for her fee.
Jackson’s rep didn’t return The Scoop’s calls for comment on the story — or to find out how much he’d charge if he actually sang.
Simon says he feels sorry for ParisParis Hilton has an unlikely defender: ornery critic .
“I feel a bit sorry for Paris to be honest with you,” the American Idol judge said of the convicted drunk-driving heiress, reports WENN. “Does she deserve to go to jail? No, I don’t think so. But she’s a survivor. I’m not condoning what she did and I think she knows she made a mistake, but there’s worse things in the world and I just feel a bit sorry for her.”
He also made a suggestion, that seemed less-than-altruistic, for Hilton’s jail sentence: “She can come and stay with me for forty-five days.”
Notes from all overWho’s the sexiest vegetarian alive? Votes are being cast on PETA’s Web site for the annual competition, and so far, a source tells The Scoop, Bryce Dallas Howard is the frontrunner. The “Spider-Man” star is currently beating out other veg-chompers such as Pink, Emily Deschanel, Alyssa Milano, Joy Bryant, Lisa Edelstein, and Maggie Q. For sexy veggie guys, Heroes hottie Milo Ventimiglia is in the lead, and battling it out are Joaquin Phoenix, Casey Affleck, and Tobey Maguire. ... Kevin Costner admits that his movies aren’t for everyone. “I don’t really give a [bleep] what people think about my movie after watching it and giving it a test score, but I really care about what you think about it when you see it in its purity, because I don’t feel like I’m going to lose you,” the “Waterworld” star told DarkHorizons. “I don’t feel like my movies are going to be for everyone because they’re not, because sometimes they’re more adult and that eliminates kids.” ... Former Miss USA Sallie Toussaint is not a fan of Justin Timberlake. “I would definitely not date a guy like [Timberlake]!” Toussaint told Smooth magazine. “Bringing sexy back? Why doesn’t he bring his [bleeps] back? After the Janet [Jackson] thing where he didn’t step up, I stopped liking him. He could have helped tremendously by just being a man, but he didn’t. He ripped her top and ran. He needs to man up!”
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