( mas nombres a añadir a la lista de lameculos...)
New York civil rights campaigner Rev Al Sharpton has been joined by prominent black music industry players in criticizing Michael Jackson's attack on Sony boss Tommy Mottola.
In a Saturday press conference with Sharpton, Jackson had blasted Mottola - ex-husband of Mariah Carey - for keeping black artists down. An uneasy Sharpton admits he was "taken aback and surprised" by the verbal assault, saying, "I have known Tommy for 15 or 20 years, and never once have I known him to say or do anything that would be considered racist. In fact, he's always been supportive of the black music industry. He was the first record executive to step up and offer to help us with respect to corporate accountability when it comes to black music issues."
He adds, "I didn't know that Michael planned to personally attack Tommy - but nobody tells Michael Jackson what to do," Sharpton says, adding that he "stands firmly behind" Jackson's view on the industry overall. Sharpton says he was "inundated" with calls over the last couple of days from top African-American artists and producers furious over Jackson's personal attack on the Sony heavyweight. Producer Steve Stout says, "To call Tommy Mottola a racist is just ridiculous - he's one of the biggest supporters of black music I know." And Corey Rooney, the African-American producer of Jennifer Lopez, Destiny's Child and Marc Anthony fumes, "Michael Jackson playing the race card is a cop-out - a last-resort move by a guy who is frustrated that his big project didn't work."
Aside from Rev Sharpton, many music artists were not pleased by Jackson's race claims towards Mottola. Bobby Brown, husband of R & B artist Whitney Houston was shocked as well as others by Jackson's accusations. Brown states, "Calling Tommy Tottola a racist is carrying things way too far. I think Michael needs to end this now before he makes the situation worse for himself. I know Tommy pretty well and ain't no way he's a racist". Destiny's Child were appalled by the reports, as well as the pop diva herself -- ex wife of Mottola, Mariah Carey. Carey could not be reached for a comment but her rep Cindi Berger released this statement; "Mariah doesn't really know how to react to Michael Jackson's accusations. She was shocked of course as we all are. Throughout all the years she has known Tommy, she has never known him to be a racist. Mariah does not feel that he is such a person after all the support he had given her. Michael did not have Mariah's permission or consent to use her in his battle with Sony and she does not want any part of it."
[Source: Cindi Berger and Music News Wire]
New York civil rights campaigner Rev Al Sharpton has been joined by prominent black music industry players in criticizing Michael Jackson's attack on Sony boss Tommy Mottola.
In a Saturday press conference with Sharpton, Jackson had blasted Mottola - ex-husband of Mariah Carey - for keeping black artists down. An uneasy Sharpton admits he was "taken aback and surprised" by the verbal assault, saying, "I have known Tommy for 15 or 20 years, and never once have I known him to say or do anything that would be considered racist. In fact, he's always been supportive of the black music industry. He was the first record executive to step up and offer to help us with respect to corporate accountability when it comes to black music issues."
He adds, "I didn't know that Michael planned to personally attack Tommy - but nobody tells Michael Jackson what to do," Sharpton says, adding that he "stands firmly behind" Jackson's view on the industry overall. Sharpton says he was "inundated" with calls over the last couple of days from top African-American artists and producers furious over Jackson's personal attack on the Sony heavyweight. Producer Steve Stout says, "To call Tommy Mottola a racist is just ridiculous - he's one of the biggest supporters of black music I know." And Corey Rooney, the African-American producer of Jennifer Lopez, Destiny's Child and Marc Anthony fumes, "Michael Jackson playing the race card is a cop-out - a last-resort move by a guy who is frustrated that his big project didn't work."
Aside from Rev Sharpton, many music artists were not pleased by Jackson's race claims towards Mottola. Bobby Brown, husband of R & B artist Whitney Houston was shocked as well as others by Jackson's accusations. Brown states, "Calling Tommy Tottola a racist is carrying things way too far. I think Michael needs to end this now before he makes the situation worse for himself. I know Tommy pretty well and ain't no way he's a racist". Destiny's Child were appalled by the reports, as well as the pop diva herself -- ex wife of Mottola, Mariah Carey. Carey could not be reached for a comment but her rep Cindi Berger released this statement; "Mariah doesn't really know how to react to Michael Jackson's accusations. She was shocked of course as we all are. Throughout all the years she has known Tommy, she has never known him to be a racist. Mariah does not feel that he is such a person after all the support he had given her. Michael did not have Mariah's permission or consent to use her in his battle with Sony and she does not want any part of it."
[Source: Cindi Berger and Music News Wire]
