POP/ROCK - July 28, 1992

Cracking the Mirror: Representatives for Michael Jackson hit the London Daily Mirror with two legal proceedings Monday involving stories and photographs of the pop superstar. A libel action alleges that the paper labeled Jackson “Scarface” in a series of articles and falsely stated that his appearance was just a mask covering a hideously disfigured face. A separate action against the Mirror and photographer Ken Lennox alleges they violated an agreement not to sell photographs taken during Jackson’s performance or to publish any photograph more than once. In a press release, a Jackson spokesman said the pop star “found it hard to understand why a newspaper would want to publish such demonstrably false and cruel accusations . . . when there is so much really important news in the world.” Jackson seeks “an unreserved and total apology and very substantial damage,” the release said.