14 DAY TRIAL // For many people, the name Oksana Grigorieva may ring a bell only in connection with the recent domestic violence scandal with Mel Gibson. However, before they started really hating each other, Oksana and Mel were actually partners – she was signed to his record label – working towards launching her as a pop star in the US. As it happens, now she can’t do that without his OK, and is planning on going to court to get it.
Mel co-produced some of Oksana’s music and even directed a few videos for her, one of which we also informed you about, for the single “Beautiful Heartache” off the album of the same name. Besides the tracks that made the cut for the album, which was very poorly received by the media and music critics alike, Oksana has more tracks completed but she can’t release them if Mel doesn’t sign off on it, TMZ reports. Because he is far from willing to do so, Oksana is preparing to take the matter to court.
“There’s a new legal war brewing between Mel Gibson and Oksana Grigorieva – and this one’s over her music... which she can’t release without his signature. Sources close to Oksana tell TMZ that she’s prepared to sue Gibson to release a CDs worth of new music that he executive produced and co-wrote,” TMZ says. Admittedly, Grigorieva is determined to still make it as a pop star, even if critics thrashed her first release, and she’ll definitely not go down without a proper fight – in court, that is.
“As we first reported, Mel’s not in the mood to sign over his publishing rights on the music because his team believes Oksana’s trying to destroy him. At this point, Mel letting Oksana release a CD and go on a promotional tour would be like Obama letting Kim Jong-Il borrow a nuclear warhead. Our sources on both sides, say the music matter will most likely land in court – or become a high-priced bargaining chip in negotiations for a financial settlement. And the band played on...” TMZ further says.
As we also reported last year on at least a couple of occasions, the industry did not warm up to Oksana’s attempts at building a career as a pop star. Accused that she only became Mel’s lover with this purpose in mind from the start, in August last year, she was openly talking about it in an interview, saying that, yes, her career did receive a push from Mel but, then again, which singer has made a name for herself all on her own, without help from someone stronger.
Follow me on Twitter @ElenaGorgan