Jacko's Thriller 'Date' Sues -- Michael Stiffed Me!

The chick who starred as Michael Jackson's female date in the "Thriller" video is suing Jacko and his production company -- claiming she hasn't been paid royalties from the legendary video.

We spoke to Ola Ray's attorney, who tells us the former Playboy Playmate is suing for breach of contract because she claims she never got her cut of the "Thriller" profits.

We're told Ola's not sure exactly how much she's owed -- her accountants will figure that out.

hey, ola ray gotta eat too!

Anxiety said:

Oh really? She musta been starvin for 26 years.

No one cares about her has been ass!

musicjunky318 said:

She already sued him 2 years ago but it got dismissed. She also said last year that she found out it wasn't Michael who was holding back her money but somebody else


and I didn't know video girls got royalties...

http://mjjr.net/
Michael Jackson Repository

Ola Ray Sues Michael Jackson Over Thriller Royalties


The co-star of the blockbuster Thriller music video, Ola Ray, has reportedly filed a new lawsuit against Michael Jackson claiming that she is owed royalties for her role in the short film. The lawsuit, if accurate, comes on the heels of another Thriller-related lawsuit filed by John Landis earlier this year, which also cites unpaid royalties and breach of contract (Landis filed two separate, yet interwoven lawsuits and a status conference is set for May 11th).

Interestingly enough, Ola Ray has gone on the record in recent years as admitting that it was not Michael Jackson who was withholding funds from her, but some other party--going as far as to apologize to Michael Jackson for wrongfully believing he was the one keeping back her money (in a late-2007 interview with KCRA). In 2008 Ola revealed that Michael Jackson used to routinely send her checks in excess of $3,775 each for her involvement in Thriller, although it is unclear at this point whether any contractual obligations required him to do so or if the checks were merely in good faith. In2008, Ola proclaimed that " Everyone thinks I made millions but I don't care... I wouldn't change anything. I'm just so proud to have been part of something that's still so special." In celebrating the 25th anniversary of Thriller, Ola told the media that she would be "more than ready to star with Michael once again."

In fact, this isn't the first time Ola Ray has sued Michael Jackson. More than a decade early-in the mid-1990s--Ola Ray filed a lawsuit against Michael Jackson and the Screen Actors Guild with regards to the Thriller music video, claiming that she was promised a percentage of the profits generated by the video and never received what she was entitled to. The case was eventually settled and she was given $10,000 via the Screen Actors Guild. In addition, a case was quietly filed by Ola Ray in June of 2008 against Michael Jackson, the Screen Actors Guild, and Amazon.com although it is unclear at this time if that case is connected to the newly rumored lawsuit, as reported today by TMZ.

Other than modeling for various commercials and print advertisements in the 1980s (including Playboy), Ola Ray has struggled to find work. Repeated hopes of writing a book and starting a singing or acting career have generally ended in vein. In2001, Ola spoke to Vibe Magazine while producing tracks for her anticipated debut album "Resurrection," and named Michael Jackson as one of her major musical influences. "He has such a presence. You can feel his energy from across the room."

Ray was arrested for possession of cocaine in 1992 and spent almost a year at a drug treatment facility; later moving in with football player Jim Brown and enduring an abusive relationship which subsequently lead to her continued reliance on drugs. Ola at one point sued Jim Brown as part of a paternity case, whereby he was cleared by DNA of being the father of Ola's daughter. Earlier this decade Ola Ray made money primarily by hosting parties at the Playboy Mansion. She is now a stay-at-home mom.

Source: MJJR.net

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5/06/2009
Ola Ray Lawsuit

Despite the recent media reports, Ola Ray did not sue Michael Jackson again.

Ray's case has been closed last December, because she was unable to show the cause of the case.

On April 24, 2009 Ray's lawyer filed a motion to reopen the case citing that it's been closed in error.

No rule has been made on the motion so far.

http://lesliemjhu.blogspot.com/

How many times is she gonna sue him? She's been bitching about this for years,claiming that she deserves more money.Is Michael supposed to keep paying her indefinitely? Just for co-starring in a damn music video?! I think she needs to get a real job.

bboy87 said:

Yeah I never knew that video co-stars received royalties If that's the case,we should be seeing a ton of lawsuits like this,lol.

SoulAlive said:

Wesley Snipes needs his cut dammit!

"really, we're outta gas"

musicjunky318 said:

Not to say that Ola is wrong or anything (she could be right), but video vixens/video hoes are know to be in a music video for free.

scriptgirl said:

She's trying to milk this for all it's worth.

Here's more details:

Gloves are off! 'Thriller' co-star Ola Ray sues Michael Jackson for royalties
By Nancy Dillon
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Wednesday, May 6th 2009, 4:00 AM

Ola Ray, who appeared in 'Thriller' video alongside Michael Jackson, is suing over royalties.

LOS ANGELES - The former Playboy centerfold who played Michael Jackson's crush in his legendary "Thriller" video wants a jury to end her nightmare of trying to collect royalties.

Ola Ray, 48, filed a lawsuit in Santa Monica, Calif., Tuesday claiming Jackson deadbeat when it comes to paying for her her famous strut and blood-curdling scream in the 14-minute zombie fest.

"She just wants to get her fair share of payments from this extremely successful project that she's very proud of," her lawyer Jason Feldman told the Daily News. "She did receive some payments early on, but we don't believe they were complete, and they were never timely."

A Jackson attorney reportedly paid an unspecified amount to Ray through the Screen Actors Guild in 1998, but payments to date have fallen short, Feldman said.

"We're expecting it to be a significant sum that she's owed," he said. "The video continues to sell a lot worldwide and was just released again for it 25th anniversary."

He said licensing of the video's content and images to various DVDs and video games might also add up to a "substantial sum."

Now living away from the spotlight in Sacramento, Calif., with her 14-year-old daughter, Ray declined to comment on the lawsuit.

"I'm a stay-at-home mom, everything is good, especially now," she told the News, referring to the lawsuit.

She still pursues her acting, modeling and music work Feldman said. She was busted for cocaine in 1992 and later told People magazine that she stopped working after "Thriller" because she refused to give "sexual favors" to producers.

Ray isn't the first to sue Jackson over the ground-breaking video. Famed director John Landis, who wrote and shot the mini-movie, sued Jackson for back royalties on Jan. 21.

Calls to Jackson's spokesman Tohme R. Tohme were not immediately returned.

Anxiety said:

Omagosh:falloff:

Ottensen said:

Anx sounds like he wanted to say the 'h' word.

SoulAlive said:

You know what I'm thinking, though? Because this was really at the advent of music video production, and videos ( and thus video ho's) weren't so commonplace yet, maybe they did have different contractual rules in place for them back then, and the female co-stars were treated more like actresses

Timmy84 said:

I can't tell you how close I am to using his post as a siggy

Ottensen said:

It is a good siggy.

rushing07 said:

Damn, no wonder this video is so iconic. It's in Lego blocks!

"she stopped working after Thriller because she refused to give "sexual favors" to producers"

I thought she got on drugs after her appearance in Thriller....at least thats what I heard.

The Making of Thriller video was the only real money maker from the Thriller video. At that time no artist was making money from music videos, it came out of their royalities. Everybody else was a work for hire, some like Landis got creative fee but that's only a few thousand dollars which is nothing. Ola Ray probably smoked that Thriller money away. I don't see how suing MJ is going to help matters, MJ had slick lawyers and managers that schooled him on how to captialize off of this and get residuals from the video.

I thought that they've look cute together, but that doesn't pay the bills, does it? Well, how unfortunate and that's show business.

I am guessing this was never in the original contract.

thatruth said:

Rick James talks about her in his book.....

Cinnie said:

someone on OKP said she looks like a bottega venetta handbag

bboy87 said:

they mean now? back then she was a fly shorty P.Y.T.

Cinnie said:

yeah they mean now