Aussie Press Shuns Singer
Editor’s note -How true this is we do not know.
MELBOURNE, Australia (UPI) - Journalists in Australia’s second largest city of Melbourne have banned coverage of movie and singing star Olivia Newton-John because a photographer claimed he was assaulted by the Australian-born performer’s manager.
Marc Fallander, who works for the Melbourne Sun, said the incident took place Sunday when he was assigned to photograph Ms. Newton-John and American screen star John Travolta, her co-star in the musical movie, Grease.
Fallander, said “I was approached by a man who identified himself as Olivia’s manager, Lee Kramer.
“I was grabbed by the collar and thrown on to the bonnet (hood) of a car and we wrestled for about 30 or 40 seconds, then he took off”.
“He gave no reasons. He just said I’m Lee Kramer, Olivia’s manager. If you try and take any pictures tonight I’ll shove your camera down your throat”, Fallander said.
Graham Walsh of the local branch of the Australian Journalists’ Association said a ban would be imposed on coverage of Ms. Newton-John while the allegations were investigated.