La Toya leaves Vegas show over a contract dispute - La Toya Jackson

Jet, Jan 11, 1993

Entertainer La Toya Jackson recently left the musical she was starring in at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas after a contract dispute with the show's producers.

The show's producers could not afford her reported $26,000-a-week salary, according to her spokesman. She also left the show after the producers' "cost-affecting sacrifices and other unprofessional practices that affected the quality of the show," her spokesman said in a press statement.

Ms. Jackson said her contract dispute is with the show's production company, New Century Productions Inc. and the show's producer David Wright.

A spokesman for Ms. Jackson explained in a prepared press statement: "The producer simply could not afford the fees involved with Ms. Jackson's appearance. Although Mr. Wright failed to meet a performance fee payment to Ms. Jackson that was due on Friday, Dec. 4 at 1 p.m., she arrived at a scheduled rehearsal for "Bare Essence" at the Sands at 7 p.m. that evening and became. aware that her name had been removed from the Sands' marquee. These circumstances made it impossible for Ms. Jackson to continue the engagement and she returned to New York."

Producers of the show, however, said they fired La Toya Jackson because she refused to show up for work and not because officials could not afford her salary.

In a press statement, New Century Productions Inc., said they fired Ms. Jackson because she didn't show up for work. "The accusations of La Toya Jackson, her husband and her representatives are without merit. La Toya Jackson was terminated from the show "Bare Essence" under the provisions of the contract and because she failed to fulfill obligations under the contract."

At Jet press time, Associated Press had reported that the show's producer had filed a $3 million lawsuit against Ms. Jackson, alleging she broke her contract after receiving notice she would be out of the show in 90 days.

Ms. Jackson is planning her own lawsuit alleging she was forced out of the show after not receiving her $26,000 weekly fee and also because the production was under-financed which affected its quality, her publicist told Jet.