Geller. Turned to high court
Jackson. 'Painted as an absolute strange person'
Photo: Rex Features
Uri Geller sues CNN over Michael Jackson claims
Israeli-British psychic entertainer takes legal action against American television network for reporting he betrayed his friend for $200,000
Uri Geller is suing CNN over an accusation that he "sold" a Michael Jackson interview to the ITV network in exchange for $200,000.
The Israeli-British psychic entertainer filed the lawsuit against the American television network after it aired an interview in which he was accused of betraying his friend, the late king of pop.
Geller turned to a high court in England after failing to receive an apology from CNN, claiming he had fallen victim to slander in an interview broadcast by the network, in which he was accused of making a profit from a controversial documentary about Jackson's life.
Jackson's former dermatologist, Dr. Arnold Klein, said last July in an interview to the Larry King Show that Uri Geller "sold" Jackson to the ITV network and to interviewer Martin Bashir for $200,000.
According to Klein, "In that interview, Michael was sort of assured that he's paint him as a normal person. And they painted him as an absolute strange person."
The famous interview, conducted by Bashir in 2003, sparked a row after revealing Jackson's odd lifestyle in his mansion. Geller denies making any money from the interview, and says he has been the subject of slander on the internet ever since the claim was made.
Geller's lawyer told the British court, "During the course of the interview Dr. Klein made a number of false and grossly defamatory allegations about our client... that he cynically exploited his friendship with Michael Jackson for personal financial gain."
