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Bret Michaels Sues Tony Awards For 2009 Clotheslining
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 25, 2011
Modified Jul 7, 2011
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By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 25, 2011
Modified Jul 7, 2011
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Singer and reality show addict Bret Michaels performed at the 2009 Tony Awards for a tie-in with Rock of Ages, but things didn't go as planned because he was struck in the head by a piece of scenery (video below). He was pretty gracious about the incident at the time and even said he wouldn't sue but now Michaels suing the Tonys because he says the brain hemorrhage he suffered six months later was related.
According to his lawsuit, which TMZ (naturally) got a hold of, "One of the most common causes of this type of hemorrhage is head trauma -- exactly like the one Michaels suffered at the hands of the Tony Awards... Through his sheer will to live, to see his children grow up, [he] was able to survive this trauma."
After the awards show, the Tonys claimed that Michaels missed a rehearsal which led to him not realizing the set was going to fly down so fast, but Michaels' rep denied it. Michaels didn't really recall getting hit, telling People in 2009, "All I remember is Shrek and the donkey helping me up, and Liza [Minnelli] giving me a towel."
Michaels is asking for unspecified damages.
Tagged
brain hemorrhage
bret michaels
broadway
clotheslining
donkey
injury
liza minnelli
scenery
shrek
tony awards
tonys
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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