In November 2001, Michael Jackson was oblivious to the fact that the man he hired to produce a charity recording to benefit victims of the September 11 terror attacks had been a producer of gay pornographic movies, the singer's former lawyer testified.
Zia Modabber said he broke the news to Jackson about F Marc Schaffel's background and met with the pop star in the middle of the night to show him a video of Schaffel directing a gay porn scene.
"Can you describe Mr. Jackson's reaction?" asked Thomas Mundell, who is defending Jackson against Schaffel's claims that the pop star still owes him USD 1.6 million.
"I think he didn't want to believe it was real or true," said Modabber. "He appeared angry, upset."
Modabber's testimony yesterday was elicited as Jackson's side sought to show that Schaffel enriched himself at the singer's expense.
Modabber was permitted to testify on limited subjects after invoking attorney-client privilege.
He identified a blizzard of letters that moved between him and Schaffel's lawyer after Schaffel was notified that he was being terminated by Jackson.
"My focus was on doing what I could to get the rights to release the single," Modabber said of the song, "What More Can I Give," which was being held up because Schaffel claimed rights to it.
{{/usCountry}}"My focus was on doing what I could to get the rights to release the single," Modabber said of the song, "What More Can I Give," which was being held up because Schaffel claimed rights to it.
{{/usCountry}}