West Side Tale Blog

Gary Coleman cremated

Former child star Gary Coleman has been cremated – three weeks after he passed away.

The remains of the pint-sized Diff’rent Strokes star were cremated in a private proceeding at the Lake Hills Memorial Mortuary in Sandy, Utah.

Robert L. Jeffs, an attorney for Coleman’s estate, said: “The proceeding was conducted in accordance with Mr Coleman’s desires as expressed in his will, that no funeral service, wake, or other ceremony memorialise his passing.”

The service had been delayed by a disagreement between Coleman’s ex-wife Shannon Price and the actor’s ex-girlfriend Anna Gray over his body.

Gray, who is named executor in a 2005 will signed by Coleman, had requested to see the late star’s body before he was cremated.

But the request was opposed by Coleman’s ex-wife Shannon Price, who alleged that a handwritten 2007 note makes her the executor of the late star’s estate.

A judge ended up delaying the cremation process for 48 hours so that Gray could have the opportunity to view Coleman’s remains.

The late Diff’rent Strokes actor died last month at the age of 42.

Gray was named in a 2005 will as the executor and beneficiary to Coleman’s estate.

If valid, it supersedes the 1999 will already entered for probate by the actor’s former manager, Dion Mial.

Gray’s lawyer Randy Kester, who was also Coleman’s attorney during his divorce to Price, has said the 2005 will also nullifies the handwritten amendment that gives all assets to his ex-wife Shannon Price, including Coleman’s $315,000 home in Santaquin, Utah.

While Gray and Price have conflicting wills, both documents agreed that Coleman wished to be cremated.

Source: Splash News

The Game Gets Sued

The Game’s cousin wants the rapper to be coughing up some serious cash over an alleged beat down that occurred at a funeral last year. Robert Kirkwood recently filed a lawsuit in LA County Superior Court claiming that The Game and four others assaulted him at his sister’s funeral in July 2008. The suit says that the fight started when Robert confronted the rapper because he refused to pay for a part of the funeral costs which he initially said that he would. Robert is suing the Game, along with the four others he claims to have taken part in the fight, for medical expenses, loss of income and general damages.

Michael Jackson’s personal doctor won’t attend memorial

Conrad Murray, personal physician to Michael Jackson, will not attend the star’s massive memorial service at the Staples Center.

Murray, who tried to revive Jackson and who was living with him at the time he died, said his presence at the memorial would remind people of Jackson’s death.

"He will be mourning in private because he feels his presence would remind people of Michael Jackson’s death and the doctor would prefer that people remember his friend as he was in life," said a spokesperson for Murray.

The doctor is currently trying to keep a low profile pending results of a toxicology report on Jackson and his whereabouts are unknown.

The doctor has cooperated in police investigations into the death which at this stage are not classified as criminal.

Murray’s representative said: "He is completely off the radar until the toxicology results are revealed.

"He’s not even talking to friends and family, and I haven’t even spoken to him personally, either."

Michael Jackson’s dermatologist Dr Arnold Klein speaks out

The doctor rumoured to be the real father of Michael Jackson’s children has spoken out for the first time – but refused to confirm or deny the claims.

Dr Arnold Klein – Jackson’s longtime dermatologist and friend – also insisted he is not one of the doctors who allegedly gave the music icon prescription drugs.

There are reports Klein is the biological father of Jackson’s children, but he said: “I will not discuss any allegations with regard to Michael.”

Addressing the prescription drug claims, Klein added: “The allegations were about doctors, not about me.

“Those are not allegations about me, I guarantee you.

“One of the biggest problems in the world are the rich, the poor and the very famous get the worst medical care and sometimes doctors do things they shouldn’t do.”

Klein said: “I have great grief for the American public over the death of Michael Jackson, for his children and for his family.

“This is a tragedy. We have lost the most talented person in the world.

“I was very close friends with Michael. His children spent Halloween here.

“He was one of the finest people I’ve met in my life.”

Klein insisted: “I want to be the best doctor in the world and that’s all I care about.”

A British woman is claiming she is Michael Jackson’s wife

A British woman is claiming she is Michael Jackson’s wife and is demanding all his assets be transferred to her, according to reports.

Nona Paris Lola Ankhesenamum Jackson lives in London and has asked that “all my husband’s properties, monies and assets must be transferred to me immediately” and “my husband’s body must be returned to the coroner’s body [sic] or the mortuary immediately”.

There is no evidence that this woman has had any kind of relationship with Michael Jackson, who died suddenly in LA on June 25, but she has had an active court case since December, claiming she is his wife.

The woman also claims all three of Michael’s children are hers and she did not give permission for them to live with his mother Katherine Jackson.

She said: “Though he died to this earth, he lives with my father [Satan the Devil] Khalid Lucifer.”

Source: Splash News

Jackson will ‘excludes father Joe’

Michael Jackson’s will excludes his father Joe, it has been claimed.

The singer is said to have drawn up the legal document in 2002.

According to US reports it was written by long-term Michael Jackson lawyer, John Branca.

It is expected to be submitted to Los Angeles Superior Court later this week.

Entertainment lawyer Branca was Jackson’s attorney from 1980 to 2006.

Jackson had re-hired Mr Branca shortly before his death last Thursday in Los Angeles at the age of 50.

US columnist Roger Friedman said: “[Michael] assigned guardianship of his three kids to his mother, Katherine.

“He gave his 80-year-old mother the responsibility of raising his two sons and daughter but made no mention of his father.

In fact, Jackson’s will does not mention his father, Joseph, at all.”

He quoted sources that said his estate is to be divided among his children and his mother only. His brothers and sisters are also said to be not included as major beneficiaries.

Charities are also said to benefit from the will.

Meanwhile the Wall Street Journal reported that Jackson’s assets, which include a 50% stake in Sony/ATV Music Publishing, could exceed his estimated debts of US$500 million by as much as US$200 million.

It is not known what custody provisions the 2002 will sets.

In a court filing on Monday the singer’s parents said they believed Jackson had died without a valid will.

But they said: “It is possible that the court will have to review many wills and evaluate the competing claims of the presenters. Someone with legal authority needs to be in place now to properly protect the estate’s interests.”

Jackson claimed that his father Joe, 79, had beat him in the past.

But Joe Jackson disputed his son’s claims of abuse, saying in 2003: “I whipped him with a switch and a belt.

“I never beat him. You beat someone with a stick.”

Katherine Jackson has been granted temporary custody of the singer’s three children until a court hearing in August.