MICHAEL JACKSON - JACKSON WAS SHOCKED TO DISCOVER SCHAFFEL'S PORN PAST

JACKSON WAS SHOCKED TO DISCOVER SCHAFFEL'S PORN PAST

LATEST: Troubled pop star MICHAEL JACKSON had no idea his former associate MARC SCHAFFEL had previously directed gay porn videos when they first started doing business together, according to the THRILLER singer's former lawyer. Yesterday's (10JUL06) claim from ZIA MODABBER came during an ongoing breach of contract court battle in Santa Monica, California, in which Schaffel is attempting to win money he claims he spent on Jackson's behalf and was never repaid. Jackson hired Schaffel in November 2001 to produce a video to accompany his WHAT MORE CAN I GIVE benefit song for the victim of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Modabber informed his client of Schaffel's pornographic past by showing him a video of him directing a gay sex scene. Jackson's current lawyer THOMAS MUNDELL asked Modabber how his client reacted to the evidence, to which he replied, "I think he didn't want to believe it was real or true. He appeared angry, upset." Following Modabber's revealing news, Jackson promptly fired Schaffel. According to news reports on Friday (07JUL06), Schaffel has cut his financial claim against Jackson by almost 60 per cent - from $3.8 million (GBP2.1 million) to $1.6 million (GBP889,000) - after his courtroom showdown with Mundell.