Judge tosses most of lawsuit by Mariah Carey's brother over singer's memoir

NEW YORK — A New York judge dismissed most of a defamation lawsuit by Mariah Carey's older brother over her 2020 best-selling memoir, though the singer must still face two claims.

In a 29-page decision on Tuesday, Justice Barbara Jaffe of the state Supreme Court in Manhattan said Morgan Carey can sue his sister over passages suggesting he distributed cocaine to "the beautiful people," and implying he might have "been-in-the-system" -- in prison -- for a serious crime.

But the judge dismissed claims over seven other passages from "The Meaning of Mariah Carey," including one discussing a fight between Morgan Carey and the Careys' father that required police intervention.

Jaffe said that while that passage "reasonably conveys a defamatory inference that plaintiff was abusive toward his family," Morgan Carey, who is about a decade older than his sister, failed to show he suffered "special damages" resulting from harm to his reputation.

The judge also dismissed claims against the memoir's publishers, saying it wasn't clear how Mariah Carey's "alleged vindictiveness" showed that they knew the disputed passages were false or had serious doubts they were true.

Lawyers for Morgan Carey and the publishers declined to comment on Wednesday. Lawyers for Mariah Carey did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Mariah Carey's memoir described a dysfunctional poverty-stricken childhood and early career struggles for the 51-year-old singer known for songs including "Vision of Love," "One Sweet Day" and "All I Want for Christmas Is You."

The defendants included the memoir's co-author, the publisher Macmillan and Andy Cohen Books, an imprint named for the television producer and Bravo host.

The case is Carey v Carey et al, New York State Supreme Court, New York County, No. 152192/2021.

Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Mark Porter

-reuters

Mariah Carey’s brother sues her for defamation over memoir

NEW YORK (Reuters) — Mariah Carey’s older brother on Wednesday sued the singer over her recent best-selling memoir “The Meaning of Mariah Carey,” accusing her of defamation and inflicting emotional distress.

Morgan Carey is seeking unspecified damages in a complaint filed in a New York state court in Manhattan, including over book passages that he said falsely suggested he was violent.

The lawsuit was filed one month after Mariah Carey’s older sister Alison sued her for $1.25 million for alleged emotional distress over the memoir, which was published in September and topped The New York Times‘ nonfiction best-seller list in October.

Spokespeople for the singer did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Her brother’s lawyer declined additional comment.

Mariah Carey, 51, is known for songs including “Vision of Love,” “One Sweet Day” and “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Her memoir described a dysfunctional poverty-stricken childhood, and her early career struggles.

Morgan Carey, born in 1960, said Mariah Carey damaged his reputation by writing about an alleged “vicious fight” with his father that occurred when she was a little girl, and where “it took twelve cops to pull my brother and father apart.”

He said actual fights with his father never occurred during Mariah Carey’s childhood, and the alleged incident’s being “fictional” was shown by the likelihood only one or two police officers would have responded to a domestic violence report.

Morgan Carey also sued over passages that he said implied he tried to extort money from Mariah Carey, is associated with “sketchy” and “questionable” people in the music industry, and has “‘been-in-the-system’ (i.e., a criminal).”

Other defendants include the book’s co-author, its publisher Macmillan, and the imprint Andy Cohen Books, named for the TV producer and host of Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.” None of their representatives immediately responded to requests for comment.

-reuters-

Pop star Mariah Carey engaged to Australian mogul James Packer

SYDNEY | U.S. pop star Mariah Carey and Australian casino tycoon James Packer are engaged to be married, according to friends who said Friday they were over the moon for the lovebirds.

The couple has been dating for several months and celebrated New Year’s Eve at billionaire Packer’s Crown Casino in Melbourne, where the singer took to the stage to perform before an intimate audience that included Packer’s mother.

“I’m so excited to be in Melbourne with James for New Year’s Eve,” the husky-voiced songstress reportedly said at the fete.

A close friend of the couple confirmed the upcoming nuptials to AFP and saying she was “over the moon that James has found such happiness with Mariah”.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Packer proposed to his girlfriend in New York on Thursday.

Sources close to the Packer family said “the family is overjoyed that they have found each other”, the newspaper reported.

“Mariah has made James a very happy man, she is a very special person and the family wholeheartedly approves,” it added.

E News entertainment website described her engagement ring as “breathtaking” and said the rock weighed in at a whopping 35 carats.

Carey, famous for her five-octave range, was previously married to rap artist and actor Nick Cannon with whom she had fraternal twins. Her five-year union to legendary music producer Tony Mottola ended in divorce in 1998.

The singer who is around 45 but whose date of birth is a matter of dispute, is best known for smash pop hits “Hero,” “We Belong Together” and “Someday.”

Packer, 48, has three children from his marriage to his second wife, Erica Baxter.

The tycoon runs a worldwide gambling empire Crown, one of Australia’s largest entertainment groups.

source: interaksyon.com

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon Reportedly Sign Confidentiality Agreement

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon apparently will not say much about their marriage trouble to public. According to a recent report by TMZ, the pair whose marriage is currently on the rocks have signed a confidentiality agreement which bans them from revealing anything about their separation.

The report, however, suggests that Carey has more power in the agreement. The "My All" singer reportedly is allowed to announce the separation under her terms. Meanwhile, the host of "America's Got Talent" will face severe financial penalties if he says a word.

The multi-talented star previously confirmed that he and Carey were living separately and he reportedly would reveal no more. During an outing on Thursday, August 21, Cannon completely ignored a paparazzo who asked whether rumors of them getting divorced were true.

"We have been living in separate houses for a few months," Cannon previously revealed to Yahoo! Insider. The star, who has been married to his singer wife for six years, added, "My main focus is my kids." The pair have 3-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe.

source: aceshowbiz.com

Mariah Carey increased security after ‘Idol’ feud with Nicki Minaj

NEW YORK – Pop diva Mariah Carey said she hired increased security following what she described as threats reportedly made against her by fellow ‘American Idol’ judge Nicki Minaj, according to an interview on ABC News.

Carey, 42, one of three new judges to join the “American Idol” panel for the hit talent show’s new season on January 16, told Barbara Walters in an interview airing on Monday, “it felt like an unsafe work environment.”

“Anytime anybody’s reeling threats at somebody, you know, it’s not appropriate,” Carey said.

“I’m a professional. I’m not used to that type of environment,” she said, adding that she hired extra security.

The diva was alluding to widely reported tension between her and Minaj, who were seen arguing with one another in a video from the show’s audition phase.

Walters has reported that, according to Carey, others on the “Idol” set heard Minaj go further and say, off-camera, “If I had a gun, I would shoot that bitch.”

Minaj, a Trinidadian-born singer and songwriter, previously denied making any remarks about firearms, but Carey told Walters that beefing up her security “was the appropriate thing to do.”

“Sitting there on the road with two babies, I’m not going to take any chances,” she said, referring to her 20-month old twins with husband Nick Cannon.

But in a sign of media savvy, she noted that “for all the drama, I hope it helps the show.”

Walters also asked Carey about reports she is being paid $18 million for each “Idol” season.

“I think we’re in the ballpark, (but) I can’t even talk about those things,” the singer replied.

source: interaksyon.com

Mariah Carey Parties Until 2 a.m. at West Hollywood Gay Bar!

Already celerbating because of President Obama's announcement in support of same-sex marriage, the crowd at The Abbey Food and Bar in West Hollywood was in for an even bigger treat when Mariah Carey showed up out of the blue Wednesday night.

"There was no formal announcement that she arrived at the club, but she and her friend B. Scott held court at one of the main dance floor tables – so she was very visible," a partygoer tells PEOPLE of the singer, who recently renewed her vows in Paris. "She was very nice and gracious."

In honor of Carey's appearance, the deejay started playing her songs, which caused the ladies on the dance floor to "go crazy," the source says.

Even though the pop diva, who stuck around until 2 a.m. and took some shots of Beluga vodka, kindly posed for pictures with many people at the club, the insider explains, "A security guard had to stay by her booth to control her fans."
– Dahvi Shira

source: people.com