BRET MICHAELS Suing Producers Of The 2009 Tony Awards For $50 Million
February 21, 2012, 12 years ago
According to the New York Post, POISON singer Bret Michaels claims the producers of the 2009 Tony Awards intentionally broadcast a stage mishap that nearly killed him in a bid to boost the show’s ratings.
Michaels - who suffered a brain hemorrhage after getting creamed by a piece of moving scenery - yesterday filed papers charging CBS “could have prevented the footage...from airing via the standard seven-second broadcast delay.’’
But “the defendants took no such measures - presumably because the incident would lead to greater publicity and ratings for the show,” the Manhattan federal court filing says.
Michaels - who is suing for up to $50 million - says that beside his injuries, he suffered “humiliation when video of the incident immediately spread across the Internet.’’
Defense lawyers didn’t return requests for comment.
Following the incident which occurred June 7, 2009, Michaels told Brenda Rodriguez from People.com: "I want to make very clear to everybody that – first and foremost – I was honored to be asked to be at the Tonys. I'd never done it before and in all my life it's not something I thought I'd be on. I was really excited. There's no lawsuit. I'm not doing any of that. I'm taking the high road."
CNN has posted footage of the incident, including slow-motion recaps. Check it out below:
