Remember how we told you that Michael Jackson is trying to halt the auction of several valuable items from his closed Neverland Ranch?
Now, the auction house, Julien’s Auctions, is fighting back, saying that everyone on Jackson’s side had been enthusiastic and cooperative until Jackson’s sudden 180.
Darren Julien, president of Julien’s, said that during a recent meeting, Jackson’s people – specifically the mysterious Dr. Tohme Tohme – threatened action “from Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam” if they did not call off the auction. Julien said that “he told us that Dr. Tohme and Michael Jackson wanted to give the message to us ‘that our lives are at stake and there will be bloodshed.'”
As with all things Jacko-related, things get even weirder. Jacko’s lawyer, Alan Gutman, struck back, saying, “Unfortunately, in the course of this case, Mr. Julien has not felt constrained by the truth while trying to capture the spotlight for the auction or himself with sensationalistic and fictionalized references to supposed threats that never occurred or baseless speculation about potential sales of Neverland.”
Both sides have since come to an agreement to allow some of the items to continue on a publicity tour before the April 3rd court hearing.
[Image via WENN.]