SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Decomposing pop star Michael Jackson was four hours late for a court appearance yesterday – amid controversy over a widely distributed courtroom picture that seemed to show his surgically altered nose flaking off.
An undisclosed medical emergency made Jacko tardy for his testimony in a $21 million lawsuit over canceled concerts, court sources told The Post.
But the pool photographer covering the trial said he was summoned to the judge’s chambers because Jackson’s lawyers objected to the courtroom pictures, calling them “distracting.”
One of the pictures – printed in yesterday’s Post and widely viewed on the Internet – seemed to show skin or a bandage peeling from the King of Pop’s nose.
The photographer was allowed to continue working during yesterday’s court session.
Judge Zel Canter didn’t explain Jackson’s absence to jurors, saying only it was “due to circumstances which we do not have any control over.”
When Jackson finally showed up at Santa Barbara County Superior Court, he wasn’t wearing his usual surgical mask. But he did carry an umbrella to shield himself from the sun.
On the stand, Jackson at first seemed confused and lethargic. His eyes drooped, and lawyers had difficulty getting him to answer questions.
German concert promoter Marcel Avram says Jackson signed a contract to perform four concerts in 1999 – two for charity in June and two for profit on New Year’s Eve.
Jackson claims Avram canceled the two New Year’s Eve concerts, in Sydney and Honolulu, during a private phone call. Avram alleges Jackson backed out because of recording commitments.
But the King of Pop said the millennium performances would have been difficult, since they were timed too close together for his health.
“That would have been tough,” Jackson said. “Every show, I lose 15 pounds.
“They weigh me before and after the show. We have to balance things for my health.”
During a discussion of whether Avram tried to get Jackson to announce the millennium concerts on Aug. 29, his birthday, Jackson said, “Marcel knows I don’t celebrate my birthdays.”
Jackson also said he leaves business decisions to others, so he can focus on music.
“There’s an overview [that I get] of what’s going on financially, but I’m in the creative department,” he said. “I’m a visionary.”
As the questioning continued, Jackson perked up and parried with lawyers.
When one of Avram’s lawyers asked him a question in a low voice with his head turned away from the witness stand, Jackson snapped back:
“You talking to me?”
After court, Jackson waded through a crowd of about 200 fans and spent a few minutes chatting with a youth in a wheelchair.