Singer Lisa Marie Presley, the only daughter of Elvis Presley, blasted the media on Friday for what she called "degrading stories" and "manipulated pictures" that forced her to go public with her pregnancy. We checked this with her publicist, she confirmed that Lisa Marie Presley felt to be fforced to announce her pregnancy because of the horrible tabloid stories.
On Thursday, People magazine cited Presley's publicist as saying the singer was pregnant and expecting a child in the fall with her fourth husband, musician Michael Lockwood, 46, and that the two were "incredibly overjoyed."
Lisa Marie's statement on her Myspace page:
"After being the target all week of slanderous and degrading stories, horribly manipulated pictures and articles in the media, I have had to show my cards and announce under the gun and under vicious personal attack that I am in fact pregnant.
Once they got a glimpse of my expanding physique a few days ago, they have been like a pack of coyotes circling their prey whilst eerily howling with delight. Starting with a London publication and then New York and Chicago all writing false defamatory degrading stories about all of the dark possible reasons I could be putting on weight. The US tabloids have been calling all day wanting confirmation on all kinds of insane theories.
They couldn't wait to find out if my weight gain was because I was just overeating, in which case It would be open season and they can do the old following in her fathers sad and unfortunate demise story again or less interesting for them and probably much to their dismay, I could just be pregnant and therefore have a legitimate reason for weight gain at which point they should probably wipe the saliva off of their fangs and put them back in their mouths or they may expose the black little souls that they are.
Now that things are confirmed, hopefully they can stop all of the harassment and I can stop dodging the continuous bullets.
It is unfortunate that I couldn't have announced something that is this much of a blessing and that has made us so incredibly happy under better circumstances.
How they have handled themselves with this has been nothing short of irresponsible and disgusting.
Pardon my seething contemptuous tone but ladies, You KNOW if you were pregnant and you felt you were expanding uncontrollably by the moment as a result and the worldwide media started badgering and harassing you for it, plastering you everywhere in an unflattering light, you would be mortified as well.
Sincerely,
~LMP "
Presley already has an 18-year-old daughter and a 15-year-old son from her first marriage to musician to Danny Keough. After that union ended in 1994, she briefly married Michael Jackson and then actor Nicolas Cage.
Presley is following in the musical footsteps of her father, who died in 1977. She is working on her third album, and last year released a version of Elvis' "In the Ghetto," in which she did a duet with her dad.
Update March 9:
Singer Lisa Marie Presley is suing the Daily Mail for libel over publishing an article alleging she is overweight. The 40-year-old daughter of Elvis Presley said the story, which was widely republished worldwide, forced her to confirm she is expecting a baby. Her UK laywer Simon Smith said claims that she had an "unhealthy appetite" and is "growing like her dad" had left the star "deeply upset and offended". The singer is issuing the libel claim against the Daily Mail's publishers, Associated Newspapers, at the High Court in London.
"wipe the saliva off of their fangs and put them back in their mouths or they may expose the black little souls that they are" - a mentally stable person just don't write that kind of stuff. Ever since I saw the interview with her and Michael Jackson Lisa Marie appear to me to be a really uncharming, unpolite, aggressive and socially disabled brat. No less. I wonder what made her become like this? Noone is just born like that.
Unlike Elvis, that hid behind the "gospel singing country boy image," LMP has the guts to speak out and stand up for herself. Maybe if Elvis would've done that, he wouldn't have had to run to drugs for escape? The media feeds the obession of weak and twisted minds that have nothing better to do than to wonder and worry about every little detail in the lives of celebrities. The consumer of this stuff is sick! Not LMP. Some people need to get a life! I say, more power to you, Lisa Marie, and congrats on the new baby. May joy, peace, and happiness be yours.
EspenK, I find nothing wrong in what she said about the Paparazzi, actually it is refreshing to hear a celebrity have the guts to tell off these vultures. Lisa Marie shows spunk, and will not be pushed around, she would never have let Col. Parker push her around! LOL..
Lisa Marie is quite right with her outspoken attitude about the media. They are the real ones with an uncharming, unpolite, aggressive and socially disabled attitude. Speaking out of my own experience I asure you their ways are despicable when it comes to misguiding the people and spreading misinformation just for their glorification. This is why a number of them keep on spreading info about ELVIS year in and year out just to put him down. Though his radiant fame is almost universal. That they jump on his daughter is a shame for those in the press who follows this line. Lisa Marie, congratulations! Hope it will be a wonderful child that will prove to be a worthy citizen of the world, following the footsteps of the illustrous grandfather.
I wish Elvis had the balls LMP has. He would have fired the Colonel after 1968 & made better career choices and maybe gotten himself straight. Gee maybe even a world tour. Imagine that. I agree he hid behind a somehwat phony image for many years.
I sent her an e-mail today with congratulations. She had the guts to tackle those "gutter"-journalists. I'm sure she'll have a beautiful and healthy baby in about 6 months. Must not be easy, being the daughter of our Man ! My deepest respect for her . Always El
Well done Lisa Marie, it's a pity that Elvis couldn't have been so outspoken and honest, it's doubtful that he would have been any less loved by his fans and certainly he would have been respected by others for his honesty too- still it wasn't to be and consequently the tabloids made up their own tales.
I disagree with you all. This has nothing to do with having balls or not, it has to do with public, professional communication. From a professional perspective, every act of communication (should) have a purpose, a goal. What was her goal with this? To offend the journalists? If so, she is even more stupid than she looks. All she did was to set the tone of what is acceptable level of language. And what did the press do? Speculate if she was pregnant or not? Awwww, poor baby, that must have hurt. What a scandal. She is clearly not suited for the public spotlight - so forget that next album, Lisa. Do not underestimate Elvis' ability to tacle the press. He was in fact extremely clever and intelligent. Another public figure that, in my opinion, tacles the public pressure extremely well, is David Beckham. And don't tell me he's got it easy VS the press and public image. What LMP experience is *nothing* compared to him.
I agree with Steve V. The media is full of retards. If Elvis had half the fortitude Lisa does he would still be here.
EspenK, to compare Lisa's case with David Beckham isn't quite appropriate. With all due respect of David's father, I don't think he was a star as big as Lisa's was. David has been in the public eye for how long ?...a decade at the most ?...Lisa has been under the microscope of tabloids since she was a toddler and there comes a time when being "politically correct" with some of the vultures out there can not take place anymore. To refer to her recent gain of weight like if it was Elvis's must have been the last straw. So I totally understand the reaction she had. Perhaps if we were the easy target of papparazzi just one time, maybe we'd see things with the same perspective too....Just remember "Walk a mile in my shoes"...Best regards...and a healthy pregnancy to Lisa !
I think what most people here are trying to do is compare apples to oranges. Elvis had plenty of balls, but he knew how to handle the media. A media back then which does not compare to the media of now. In Elvis' day they did not have paparazzis. The most Elvis had to deal with were very active fans, which he enjoyed. Now a days you have the paparazzis in your face all the time. I can understand Lisa flipping out. They have written some pretty nasty uncalled for comments about her. I want to congratulate her and Micheal and hope for a healthy pregnancy. Can't wait to see the new Presley grandchild.
there were cerainly paparazzi in Elvis' days, I was one of them. I hunted Roger Whittaker for years with my camera..
You folks misunderstood my balls comment. I agree Elvis was great with the media. I meant he didnt have the guts to tell Parker to go screw himself with his crappy movies & crappy songs & Vegas contacts. No great singer ever sung the crap Elvis had to and played in the cow poke towns he had to. Look what happned the only time he did stand up. The 68 TV special was made the right way and Elvis had a banner 1969 memphis recording session. He was excited about a world tour and singing songs from any songwriter. Parker didnt like that new attitude & so it was back to business as usual after that.
Points: 1- David Beckham is an infinately bigger star than LMP. The amount of stick that guy gets and he still conducts himself with dignity and never complains. There are plenty of bigger names out there than LMP who get a lot worse than she does and they don't spend their time bleating about it. She uses them as much as they use her. Stop your whining and get on with it.
2- Some of the posts here display more respect to LMP than Elvis himself, why not start your own "lisamarienews.com" and leave us Elvis fans to discuss him; not that freeloader who sold off the family silver.
3- Who gives a s*** if she's pregnant or not? What possible difference does that make to Elvis? Will it mean an end to all things cheap and tacky? Does it mean more of the real Elvis on TV? No it won't, so until it does I couldn't give a rats chuff about LMFP as she refers to herself.
This poor soul Viva must never have a good day or a nice thing to say about anyone! I have met Lisa & know she doesn't fly off the handle over mere media statements. THe press can be relentless & disgusting as we all know. Viva ought to take the advice of My boy, My boy - walk in someone else's shoes.
I made a nice comment about David Beckham. And I have lots of really nice things to say about Elvis too! I don't quite agree with your comments there Ruthie. You see, as you have probably gathered I have very little regard for LMP, EPE and anyone else who in my opinion is responsible for the awful way in which Elvis' image and reputation have been handled. Of course, it is their product and they can do what they like with it, but I don't have to like it either. The ONLY time LMP has done anything to stem the barrage of negative publicity about Elvis is when she has a new album out (or a new marriage), and I find the way in which some fans blindly think she's some kind of poor little kid who has no control over her life pathetic.
sounds like a shot that hit the spot by Barnacle Bill the Sailor
Again, Viva, no one is picking on you because you don't like LMP or EPE. I have a lot of issues with EPE & I can understand why some fans are turned off on LMP. I never had an opinion one way or the other until I met her. No, I have never felt she is some poor little child who has no control over the media but she has spent most of her life trying to separate herself from the negative aspects about EP at the hands of the media. It's no easy feat & I am not sure what I would do if I were in her shoes. I am so thankful that I'm not. I simply said that after having the privilege of meeting her, I have a different outlook about her & her life. You have to be willing to look at the other side of any issue. You don't have to agree but you should be willing to consider it. I have tried to do that with those leeches aka memphis mafia but can't do it. So, if you don't like LMP & will never like her, there's not much anyone can do. That's your right.
You would have thought she would have been a little more thick skinned! The British nanny state is always reminding me of how unhealthy i am and that i really must cut down on my binge drinking! Im thinking of suing her for claiming that she is a singer! C'est la vie LMP. Have a nice hot soak in the bath with the Elvis duck to play with - you'll feel a lot better about things!
I have seen it all in the news, Lisa is upset because they said like father like daughter. Just what she needs more money, just go on with your life and have a healthy baby.