Bret Michaels Settles Suit Against Tony Awards and CBS
Bret Michaels has settled a lawsuit with the producers of the Tony Awards and CBS over a head injury the Poison frontman sustained at the 2009 ceremony, the Associated Press reports.
Michaels received the injury following Poison’s opening performance with the cast of Rock of Ages when his head collided with a piece of the set; he suffered a broken nose and needed three stitches in his lip. Michael’s suit also claimed the accident played a role in the hemorrhage and subsequent stroke that nearly killed him in 2010. The rocker also blamed CBS and the Tony’s for airing the incident, which went viral, and for not warning him that the set would change.
Michael’s attorney, Alex Weingarten, told AP that details of the settlement would not be revealed, adding in a statement, “Mr. Michaels would like to thank his fans for their continued support.”
CBS and the Tonys were similarly tight-lipped, releasing a joint statement that said “an amicable resolution” had been reached.
The initial incident set off a war of words between Michaels’ camp and the Tonys and CBS. The Tonys claimed that following the bump Michaels was laughing about it backstage. Howver, the rocker soon released a statement that criticized the producers and host Neil Patrick Harris: “It is unfortunate that the show’s host made light of the situation without having any knowledge of the severity of Bret’s injuries.”
Michaels is currently working on a new record, Get Your Rock On, which will feature a handful of guests, including Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen, Jimmy Buffett and Loretta Lynn, who will accompany Michaels on a new duet version of “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.”