Bret Michaels Shows Off His Tony Awards Injuries
Yesterday we heard from Poison frontman Bret Michaels’s representative, Janna Elias, that the Michaels camp is upset that they haven’t received any messages of support from the producers of the 63rd Annual Tony Awards in the wake of the accident that Bret suffered while performing on stage at the show this past Sunday night. Elias issued an extensive statement that publicly chastised the Tony Awards folks for their failure to give a darn that he walked into a descending set piece and suffered facial trauma as a result. Today we learn that Bret Michaels has been forced to postpone an all-important tour date in Myrtle Beach, SC as a result of his injuries … injuries that he is now showing off on his official website:
Tour Update: Myrtle Beach Show Postponed
“Unfortunately due injuries suffered at the Tony awards Sunday night, the Bret Michaels show scheduled for Wednesday in Myrtle Beach has been postponed and rescheduled for Thursday August 6th. Due to a large stage prop that struck Bret’s head further tests are being conducted on his head and spine. Bret Michaels solo tour dates will resume June 12th in Gadsden Alabama and will continue throughout the summer. Bret looks forward to bringing his Rock of Love tour to Myrtle Beach and will see you all on Thursday August 6th.”
Um, seriously? He’s got an ouchie on his nose … is he really, seriously making this big a stink over his accident? Could all of this bitching mean that Michaels might be making a play for a potential lawsuit? If so, he’d prolly need at least one more photo showing other injuries to his person as a result of his near deadly accident … right? After the jump, check out one more photo of Bret Michaels showing off his injured lip which, he alleges, was caused by his near deadly accident on the Tony Awards stage …
Also, it turns out that I did not post the FULL text of the Michaels statement yesterday … apparently I inadvertently left out a portion of the statement that related to garage door safety. Here is the full, full text of the Michaels statement from his rep Janna Elias:
After a performance by singer, Bret Michaels, at the Tony awards Sunday night, he turned to exit the stage and was struck in the head by a descending half ton stage prop, sweeping him off his feet causing contusions to his face and knocking him to the ground. Even at that point of impact the heavy prop was still not halted and continued to descend even though Michaels remained underneath it. Witnesses state the singer moved himself out of the way just moments before the prop touched down. “With all due respect to everyone working the Tony awards somewhere down the line there was a lack of communication and the prop should have been immediately halted until Michaels was clear. Sunday morning at rehearsals, Bret was never informed that the descending set piece existed, let alone would be moving into position as he was exiting the stage,” stated Janna Elias a representative for Michaels. “Although Bret was visibly dazed he remained extremely calm backstage as members of our road crew brought him a towel to wipe the blood from his face. His only comment at the time was ‘What the hell just hit me?’ The severity of this injury is not being taken lightly as symptoms from head and neck injuries at first may seem like nothing and sometimes do not present for days. At this time the full extent of his injuries remains to be seen until all x-rays are back.” Ms. Elias continues, “I find it surprising that a Tony spokesperson would brush off this incident with a comment stating ‘Mr. Michaels missed his mark’ with no mention of concern for his condition. If everyone at the Tonys were aware that Bret missed his mark then they should have been aware enough to stop the set piece from hitting him or at least slowed it down until he cleared the stage. I feel had this incident happened to Liza Minnelli, Dolly Parton or Elton John the Tonys would have at least issued a letter of concern. Bret has performed live, with Poison or solo, for over 20 years and on a daily basis is around pyro, lasers and a moving light show. He understands that there is always an element of risk in any live performance, but Bret entrusts his safety to the crew whose job it is to make sure the show goes off without a hitch and should any member of the band be in harm’s way that they do not complete the gag. However in this situation Bret was not on his stage but was at the mercy of the Tonys. He was performing on the Tonys stage and had the reasonable expectation that that safety of the artist was a priority and at no time did he do anything over the top or outlandish that would have put himself or others in a dangerous situation.” “To put this into perspective,” Ms. Elias adds, “a garage door has a safety mechanism so that it doesn’t come down if your child should accidentally walk under it while it is in motion. You mean to tell us that with all the technology, producers, directors, stage managers and crew that no one at the Tonys saw Mr. Michaels clearly backing up and turning to exit the stage or was capable of halting the prop or slowing it so it didn’t strike Bret? There was no official mark, Bret did what he was instructed to do which was to finish the song and return to the retractable stage platform, which was exactly what he was doing when the prop struck his head.” Bob Wallerstein, a representative for Michaels, said “we realize the show is live and must go on, however it is unfortunate that the show’s host made light of the situation without having any knowledge of the severity of Bret’s injuries. Comments that Mr. Harris was doing shots backstage with Mr. Michaels and that Bret was completely fine were untrue considering Bret never saw Mr. Harris prior to, during or after the Tonys but in fact was being attended to by medical personnel backstage. Michaels did not return to the stage, the seats nor attend any after parties.” An official statement on this incident is expected by Michaels by the end of the week.
Um, can’t the Tony Awards people just give him a hug and call it even? Prolly not … my guess is that if Bret Michaels is making this incident such a big deal he’s gonna want a bit more of a pay-off. I’m sorry but Bret Michaels is lookin’ more and more like a crybaby tool than ever before. Does he really want to become the washed-up heavy metal rock singer who got hurt while performing a Broadway number at the Tony Awards? What’s next … a sad reality TV competition where groupies vie for his affections? Oh wait …
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June 11th, 2009 at 8:32 am
But…is he still with Taya, the last girl to “win” Rock of Love?
June 11th, 2009 at 8:40 am
Margie, after looking at her myspace I’m going to say yes (though I’m not positive). It says she’s in a relationship and bret is in her top 5. Just an assumption though.
This whole situation is kinda funny. Bret needs to take it like a man, and move the heck on. Originally I felt bad for him, but now he’s just looking foolish.
June 11th, 2009 at 9:04 am
I am sure, knowing the Broadway community as I do, that everything was staged and explained in detail before the show. they are VERY VERY careful to protect perfomers. Brett missed his mark. Case closed. It’s his own fault.
June 11th, 2009 at 9:06 am
I worked with him once and I must say nothing about his representation’s reaction surprises me. Dude didn’t follow instructions and he got hit. End of story. But yeah, he’ll prolly sue…
June 11th, 2009 at 9:10 am
I hate to be on Bret’s side, but it did loook like a pretty rough accident. I couldn’t help but laugh when it happened, but I was surprised when the prop kept descending and I would be a bit pissed too. A half ton prop hitting you in the face/head can’t be pleasant. I’m sure if the Tony’s had issued any sort of apology Bret wouldn’t be crying – I’d probably be crying too if I were him.
June 11th, 2009 at 9:11 am
First of all, that first sentence in his statement makes me cringe. I didn’t read more than that, so probably the whole thing does, but wow.
Second, this is just sad. How desperate for attention can you be (well, don’t let Heidi or Spencer answer that)? I’m sure he’s not the first person to be hit by a prop on a Broadway stage, but you don’t hear any of the actual performers crying about it…
June 11th, 2009 at 9:24 am
Dollars to donuts he’s got Phil Specter’s hairline under that wig.
June 11th, 2009 at 9:26 am
I’m with Cynthia on this one. Despite rehearsed marks, I’m sure there are still safety procedures in place for when someone is off their mark, ESPECIALLY in Broadway shows. Someone should have realized and prevented the prop from dropping on him. Maybe he is being a crybaby, but I think I would be too if I were being treated the way he is being treated by the Tony organizers. They obviously don’t care about performers as much as Trent seems to think they do.
June 11th, 2009 at 9:34 am
yeah i think i’m with cynthia and kyleigh for the most part. i did not see it but it sounded dangerous. i think he should have definitely gotten an apology.
June 11th, 2009 at 9:35 am
He looks like he’s gotten work done on his face, so it wouldn’t be too hard to fix what happened.
He missed his mark in the video, so I’m not surprised it happened. If it was a serious injury and he was really upset, I wouldn’t think he’d go blabbing it like this. It comes off like a whiny, spoiled kid.Not calling him that, just saying that is how he’s making it seem.
June 11th, 2009 at 9:37 am
@christine — you can see the incident here: http://www.pinkisthenewblog.com/2009/06/the-63rd-annual-tony-awards-are-handed-out/
June 11th, 2009 at 9:41 am
baby want his bottle?? are you kidding me son…grow a pair..
June 11th, 2009 at 9:59 am
What’s with the pouty lips in the 1st pic? & does he seriously not realize we all know the everpresent Bandana is covering up a wig?
June 11th, 2009 at 10:11 am
He looks like John Galliano in that first pic. And not in a good way.
He’s such a moron!!
Please stop with the pouting!! And he deffo got a new wig I think; looks like he hasnt even had time to comb it out a bit, it looks like a clump like it just came out of the package.
Anyhoo, I do think the statements makes somewhat of a point…
June 11th, 2009 at 10:15 am
@ kittycatastrophe- LMAOOOO!
June 11th, 2009 at 10:17 am
@Janelle he was a far cry a rich kid growing up anyway ! I would say middle class! My bbf went to high school with him, she was BF with his sister in high school ,its funny they only lived about 15 mins from me growing up!! He’s deffo different now then he was!! Imagine that lol!
He won’t be gettin down with his woman for a while from the look of his lips!!
Just had to say that!!
June 11th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Wasn’t he out partying the night away after the show ended? Pretty sure the 1st reports about this said he was laughing about it all at the after-parties. What a tool!
June 11th, 2009 at 10:51 am
The morning dress rehearsal and the actual telecast were no different – everything was exactly the same, and he was present for both. The only difference was his gloating over his reaction from a full house on the actual telecast – and now he’s bitching about it. Poor form.
June 11th, 2009 at 11:04 am
@kittycatastrophe LOL I totally agree.
-
Hey! There’s another Val here. Hi, other Val!
June 11th, 2009 at 11:07 am
@ Anne & Val#2:
Thank-you, it was the first thought that came to mind when I saw the picture of him flashing his boo boo.
June 11th, 2009 at 11:14 am
My first thought was “I wonder what’s under that thing…?”
Great minds, great minds…
June 11th, 2009 at 11:14 am
LMAO:
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2009/06/brett_michaels_and_john_stamos.html
June 11th, 2009 at 11:51 am
Put a little Max Factor on it and get back on stage. God, what a sook!
June 11th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Maybe if he didn’t have the stupid cowboy hat covering up his shiny head all the time he would be able to see something that was a foot above him.
June 11th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
He’s a pussy.
June 11th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
I don’t think he can even stop that little “supposed to be sexy” POUT thingy he does… he’s been doing it so long. I thought his lips were fixed in that position…. He should just be grateful for the publicity…..
June 12th, 2009 at 12:23 am
Just because it was his fault it happened doesn’t mean he couldn’t be hurt. That was a heavy thing that hit him and he fell a pretty good distance to the ground. Head and back injuries aren’t visible. Natasha Richardson fell skiing and died because of it, so head injuries shouldn’t be taken lightly.