CELEBRITY WIRE 2.7.09

Jackson names Diana as guardian of children

Michael Jackson named Diana Ross as a potential legal guardian of his children.

The pop legend - who died last Thursday (25.06.09) after a suspected cardiac arrest - stated in his will he wanted the singer to care for Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II if his elderly mother Katherine couldn't do it. The will - which was drawn up in July 2002 - read: "If any of my children are minors at the time of my death, I nominate my mother, Katherine Jackson, as

guardian of the persons and estates of such minor children. "If Katherine Jackson fails to survive me, or is unable or unwilling to act as a guardian, I nominate Diana Ross as guardian of the persons and estates of such minor children."

Michael and Diana were very close and the Motown star was a huge influence on the 'Thriller' singer's career. After his death Diana, 65, said: "I can't stop crying, this is too sudden and shocking. I am praying for his kids and family." In the will - which valued Michael's estate at $500 million - the 50-year-old star specifically cut ex-wife Debbie Rowe, mother of his two eldest children, out of any share of his cash or possessions.

In the five-page document, which was filed yesterday (01.07.09) at a Los Angeles court, Michael states: "I declare that I am not married. My marriage has been dissolved. "I have intentionally omitted to provide for my former wife, Deborah Jean Rowe Jackson." Although there was no mention of his father Joe Jackson he wasn't intentionally omitted. The will leaves Michael's entire estate to the Michael Jackson Family Trust, which provides for his children and mother and supports charities.

As well as remaining in temporary control of his estate, Katherine has also been granted limited control of 2,000 items from Michael's Neverland ranch until the next court hearing on Monday (06.07.09). The items in question had been set to go up for auction earlier this year by Michael's lawyer John Branca and John McClain, a music executive and a family friend but the sale was stopped after Michael sued. Yesterday Branca asked the judge to immediately remove Katherine as Special Administrator of Michael's estate and also accused her legal representatives of intentionally misleading the court about the existence of a will. He claims he showed Katherine her son's will on June 29 but her lawyers filed her petition to be put in charge of the estate along with the claim that Michael died without a will. There are also claims a second will exists but they have been denied.

Neverland burial off

Plans to bury Michael Jackson at Neverland have been cancelled.

The singer's family were reportedly hoping to lay the star to rest at his beloved ranch but are now scrambling to find a new location amid fears it would be illegal to bury Michael at his former home.

California's health and safety laws prohibit the burying of bodies outside designated cemeteries. The family has been unable to obtain the residential exemption required to bury the star on private

property. A spokesman for Colony Capital, the investment company that purchased Neverland in May 2008, said: "We applied for the exemption but couldn't get it in time."

The Jackson family has released a statement confirming they have ruled out a Neverland memorial. It read: "Contrary to previous news reports, the Jackson family is officially stating that there will be no public or private viewing at Neverland. "Plans are underway regarding a public memorial for Michael Jackson, and we will announce those plans shortly."

Previous reports claimed Michael - who died last week after suffering a

suspected cardiac arrest - would make his final journey from Los Angeles to Neverland today (02.07.09) in a white horse-drawn carriage. It was claimed he would then be placed in a glass coffin so fans could pay their respects ahead of a burial on the grounds of the Santa Barbara ranch on Sunday (05.07.09). Santa Barbara police had already been preparing crowd control and security plans for the memorial, and workmen have spent the past few days sprucing up the abandoned property.

Yesterday (01.07.09), a truck was seen delivering hundreds of portable

toilets. It is believed Michael's body is being held at Los Angeles' Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills, where his grandmother was buried in 1990. Many believe Michael will be laid to rest there, alongside celebrities including Bette Davis, Lucille Ball, Liberace and David Carradine, who died in Thailand last month. Insiders claim a public memorial will be held at the Staples Center sports arena in Los Angeles on Tuesday morning (07.07.09). Unlike the planned Neverland ceremony, the body will not be present. A spokesman for AEG Live, which owns the venue, said: "At this time, nothing is scheduled, nothing is planned." Michael spent the last night of his life at the Staples Center, rehearsing for his upcoming London residency until midnight on June 24. A private ceremony for family and close friends may also take place at Neverland after the funeral.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Gary, Indiana, where Michael was born, wants the singer's body to be buried in his home town. No matter where the funeral is held, Michael's beloved chimpanzee Bubbles will not attend. Instead, the animal will spend the day listening to "calming flute music" at the animal sanctuary in Wauchula, Florida, where he was moved when he became "too aggressive" to live with the star. A Centre For Great Apes spokesman said: "It is sad for Bubbles but it is better that he stays here. We have not said anything to Bubble about Michael's death. "There has been no invitation for him to attend the funeral. Maybe we'll mark the occasion another way."

Michael rescued Bubbles from a cancer research centre in 1985. The pair

lived together for years, even dressing in matching outfits.

DEA investigating Jackson’s death

Michael Jackson's death is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The DEA - which looks at cases involving prescription drug use - is helping the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) with their ongoing inquiry into the pop singer's death. A statement issued by the DEA said: "We routinely offer assistance to any agency regarding the Federal Controlled Substance act, however at this time we have nothing further to comment about the death of Michael Jackson."

Unnamed prescription medications have reportedly been taken from Michael's Los Angeles home following his death from a suspected cardiac arrest last Thursday (25.06.09). It has been claimed the singer was taking up to seven different prescription medications, possibly including Propofol, a sedative so strong it is used to put people to sleep before surgery.

The LAPD is said to be attempting to speak to several doctors believed to have written prescriptions for the late King of Pop, which the DEA is helping them with. It is claimed Michael used several aliases to gain various prescriptions, including Omar Arnold and Jack London. Gossip website TMZ reports: "Jackson also used the name of one of his bodyguards, as well as the name of the office manager for one of his doctors. "The DEA, which is joining to assist the LAPD in its investigation of several doctors who prescribed drugs to Jackson, will be hunting down these names and others."

Police have reportedly impounded a car from outside Michael's Holmby Hills home as part of the case, although it is unknown who it belonged to. Last week, police seized a vehicle belonging to Michael's personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray - who was with him when he died and administered CPR - from outside the star's property.

Michael's unofficial biographer Ian Halperin is set to release a new book called 'Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson' about the pop star. The tome will examine the singer's alleged use of prescription drugs and links to Scientology. Vice president and publisher of Simon Spotlight Entertainment, Jennifer Bergstrom, said: "If you think you know everything there is to know about Michael Jackson you're wrong. Ian has uncovered startling new information that will make this book the definitive biography of the most iconic performer of our time."

Meanwhile, Grace Rwaramba - the nanny who looked after Michael's three

children, Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II - has denied reports she used to pump the singer's stomach, claiming she never gave the interview which has been widely reported. She said in a statement: "I am shocked, hurt and deeply saddened by recent statements the press has attributed to me, in particular, the outrageous and patently false claim that I 'routinely pumped his stomach after he had ingested a dangerous combination of drugs'. I don't even know how to pump a stomach!! "The statements attributed to me confirm the worst in human tendencies to sensationalise tragedy and smear reputations for profit."

Promoters looking for answers

Michael Jackson's concert promoter has demanded "answers" from the late star's doctors.

Randy Phillips, CEO of AEG Live, who were staging his 'This Is It' 50-date London residency, wants to see the results of medical checks taken by the 'Thriller' star - who died of a suspected cardiac arrest last Thursday (25.06.09). Michael was passed fit to perform and then died suddenly, amid rumours of a painkiller addiction. Randy said: "Maybe they didn't do a good enough job. We want answers. We have poured millions of

cash into Michael's comeback. "All the tests pointed to him being in fine physical shape. It's a complete mystery. The insurance company had an independent physician fly out from New York and give him a five-hour exam. "We were told he passed with flying colours. Now I would like to see the results. If he was taking that amount of prescription drugs, wouldn't that have been picked up in a blood test?"

It is believed that the stringent medical included over 50 different checks and tests. As a result of Michael being passed fit, AEG Live secured insurance cover for the first 22 concerts but were unable to convince insurers to cover the full 50 shows at a cost of £300 million. The promoters now face multi-million pound payouts to ticket-holders. Randy added: "We must know the results. I don't know what our legal rights are."

Randy also spoke about his final conversation with the singer, at rehearsals the night before he died. He told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "He did a three-hour rehearsal and we all finished up at 12.30am on Thursday morning. He was really excited. "He was super-charged and did a group hug with the director Kenny Ortega and his manager. He was like a kid in the candy store - he was so up for it. "I walked him out to the car and he put his arm around me and, speaking softly like he always does, he said to me, 'Do you know what - we are here, we are going to make it. I love you for doing this and now I know I can do it.' "

Meanwhile, it has been claimed ABBA are set to perform at some of Michael's O2 arena concert dates. The quartet have so far resisted offers to reform following their split in 1983, but AEG Live are hoping to get them to sign up to take on several of the vacant dates. David Campbell, chief executive of AEG Europe, said: "There's a little foursome out in Sweden we keep talking to." A source close to the 'Super Trooper' hitmakers warned a comeback would be tricky. The insider said: "There are millions on the table. But there are many hurdles to overcome."

Kate and Jamie engaged

Kate Moss is engaged to Jamie Hince.

The 35-year-old supermodel - who has been dating The Kills rocker since

summer 2007 - has sparked rumours the pair are planning to wed after she was spotted wearing an impressive diamond on her ring finger during a romantic trip to Paris, France. A source said: "Kate and Jamie looked totally loved-up. Jamie took her to the trendy La Maison Du Caviar restaurant for a

romantic lunch. "People kept noticing the ring on her engagement finger but she didn't say anything."

This is not the first time it has been reported the British beauty and the 40-year-old musician are set to tie the knot. Earlier this year, Jamie revealed he was desperate to commit to Kate. He said: "I want to marry Kate. She's all I want. She's all I need."

At the time, a friend of the couple said: "It's obvious how loved-up they are. We can't wait for them to get married - and the party afterwards. Now he's got to pull his finger our and ask her properly. She'll definitely say yes."

Shortly after they started dating, and just months after she ended her

engagement to troubled Babyshambles singer Pete Doherty, it was reported Kate had popped the question to guitarist Jamie at a friend's wedding. Kate was also previously engaged to 'Public Enemies' hunk Johnny Depp.

Hayden dumps Steve

Hayden Panettiere has reportedly dumped Steve Jones.

The 'Heroes' star enjoyed a brief romance with the British TV presenter this summer, during which they were spotted eating together in London and went to the Cannes film festival in France. However, Hayden decided to end her relationship with the 32-year-old hunk because she couldn't handle a long-distance relationship. She is quoted by Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper as

saying: "I'm single and mingling. Steve lives in London, the distance is a bit too much. "I'm not dating anyone specifically and I'm not looking for a house with anyone. "Cannes was a great experience. I was on vacation and some friends were going so I decided to come along. It was fun." The 19-year-old actress also spoke about her father's arrest in September last year for allegedly hitting his wife, Lesley, on her cheek. Hayden insists the case was a "big misunderstanding". She added: "It's hard enough going through it personally within your family, let alone when the entire world knows about it. "It put my dad in this light that is so not him. You know your mind goes to, 'He abuses, he beats his wife.' For my dad to have that reputation now - which is so not who he is - kills me."