SHOCK NEWS -
CHARLOTTE CHURCH SACKS HER OWN MOTHER MARIA CHURCH
AS HER MANAGER!
Well, the night after we said that Charlotte Church could not push her New Image any further forward - and within 24 hours she has! As might have been expected, with the alleged differences of opinion with her Mother, Charlotte has taken action.
This is a very quick Editorial as the British Media are full of this story, even the B.B.C., and it does look like that even though the photographs are questionable as far as their complete integrity, it would seem that Charlotte is involved with Steven Johnson and very possibly living with him, but enough of this, and enjoy the selection from the British Media on this story!
Multi-millionaire Charlotte, 16, told record label Sony she didn’t want Maria, 37, involved in her career anymore.
They are at odds over the star’s love for rap DJ Steven Johnson, 18.
Charlotte had already chosen to tour the US next month without Maria and stepdad James, 38 — who are directors of the firm that manages her fortune.
A pal said: “There could be fireworks over control of her life and money.”
From Shirley Temple to Drew Barrymore, child stars have grown up in the most peculiar ways.
Now we have smoking Welsh songbird Charlotte Church.
Following the tabloid snaps a few weeks back of Charlotte toking a fag as she left “unsuitable” boyfriend Steven Johnson’s home, the papers now bring news that she’s SACKED her mother manager.
The Express “exclusive” claims Charlotte is rebelling like any 16-year-old.
Indeed, she is described by her ex-manager, Jonathan Shalit, as “showing all the signs of being a normal teenager”.
The man sacked from his job of managing the soprano, making way for Mrs Church, goes on to ask: “So she had a row with her mother about her boyfriend, and what teenager hasn’t?”
Fair point. But the Mail, as ever, tut-tuts and looks deeper. Charlotte’s mum, Maria, you see, doesn’t approve of her daughter’s rap DJ lover.
But there are far more sinister forces at work. Charlotte’s rebellious streak has been “encouraged by being awarded Rear of the Year”.
Let’s hope she’s ‘saved’ before she reaches rock bottom.
Charlotte Church has fired her mother as her manager.
The 16-year-old soprano acted after a series of bitter rows with 37-year-old Maria Church over Charlotte's boyfriend, rap DJ Steven Johnson.
They culminated in an instruction to her record label, Sony, that Charlotte no longer wants her mother involved in any aspect of her career.
Mrs Church became her daughter's manager three years ago, replacing Jonathan Shalit, the man credited with making Charlotte a star. He was summarily sacked after a series of differences with Mrs Church, later winning a £2million out- of- court settlement.
But the new partnership was equally stormy. 'Charlotte has always been strong-willed,' said a friend. 'She doesn't want her mother controlling her career.
'She has her own plans and would prefer it that any career decisions were taken between herself and Sony and not her mother.
'Anyone who knows Charlotte and Maria knows they are both strong characters. There is often a clash.'
The friend added that the singer - who is worth £15million - is also planning to take control of her fortune away from her mother.
The money is managed by the company Charlotte Church Ltd, of which mother Maria and stepfather James, 38, are both directors. It is being held in trust and she will not be able to gain access to it until she is 21. The friend said: 'There could be some fireworks to come because as Charlotte becomes older she is entitled to more control over her life and her money.'
Rumours of a split emerged last week after it was revealed that Charlotte was preparing to tour North America without her mother or stepfather.
Sony denied it was the result of a rift between them, claiming instead that the couple had agreed she was old enough to go on her own.
Charlotte built her success on her demure image and her 'Voice of an Angel' after appearing on a TV talent show as an 11-year- old singing Andrew Lloyd Webber's aria Pie Jesu.
But in recent times she has turned from little girl to rebellious teenager, perhaps encouraged by being awarded the title Rear of the Year.
Much to her mother's disgust she started dating 18-year-old Johnson, whom she met through a mutual friend, nine months ago.
They kissed in February, at her 16th birthday party in a Cardiff nightclub, and began dating two weeks later.
She describes him as her 'bit of rough' and was recently seen leaving his terrace house in the back streets of Cardiff smoking a cigarette.
Recently a £40,000 BMW with a personalised number plate has appeared outside the house. It is believed to be a gift from Charlotte, who is also thought to have paid the £2,000-a-year insurance bill.
Despite Charlotte's obvious generosity, Johnson has apparently boasted about seeing other girls behind her back and has told how he and his friends have been involved in the drug scene.
Yet even his attempt to sell the story of his relationship with Charlotte to a Sunday newspaper for £100,000 has made little difference to the infatuated star, who has sung for the Pope and President Clinton.
Her mother demanded that her daughter stop seeing him but she refused and even quit the family's £700,000 home in an exclusive Cardiff suburb to stay with friends.
Despite her decision to fire her mother, Charlotte's career will continue to be masterminded by American Irving Azoff.
Last night a spokesman for the singer refused to comment on Mrs Church's sacking saying: 'We do not wish to speak about Charlotte's personal business.'
Charlotte Church has sacked her mother as manager after continuing rows over the singer's boyfriend.
Church, 16, has instructed record label Sony, that she no longer wants her 37-year-old mother Maria involved in her career.
They have fallen out over Mrs Church's disapproval of her daughter's boyfriend, rap DJ Steven Johnson, who has boasted about dating other girls and being a regular on the drugs scene.
Multi-millionaire Church, 16, has told her record label Sony she no longer wants her mother Maria, 37, involved in her career.
The split between the singer from Cardiff and her mother comes after months of family arguments over Church's boyfriend of nine months, student and part-time DJ Steven Johnson, 18.
Last week when it was revealed she had paid for Johnson and his father to go on holiday to Los Angeles.
It was also reported that Church had left the family's luxury home and moved in with Johnson in his terraced-house in the old docks area of Cardiff.
Previously, the young singer has been accompanied by her mother and other family members when she has undertaken engagements including singing for the Pope and President Clinton.
The star's mother and stepfather James, 38, will be left at the family's £500,000 Cardiff home when Church begins a solo tour of America next month.
The soprano is to mount a 15 date tour of North America and Canada, supported by 'Sound of Music' stars Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.
However, a spokesman for Church - who is said to be worth £15m after four years in the world spotlight - refused to comment on the singer's decision to sack her mother as manager.
He said: "We do not wish to speak about Charlotte's personal business."
Mrs Church gave up her job as a housing officer to take over the management of Church's career after agent Jonathan Shalit was sacked two years ago.
Mr Shalit, who steered Church's early career after she was ' discovered' on a TV talent programme, was given a £2m out-of-court settlement after he threatened legal action.
The singer's fortune is now managed by her company Charlotte Church Ltd with her mother and stepfather both listed as directors.
Church became the youngest-ever artist to top the classical music chart when her debut album, Voice of an Angel was released in November 1998.
It went on to sell 600,000 copies in the UK.
'Strong-willed'
Church decided to concentrate solely on her singing career after leaving the independent Howells School in Llandaff in August where she gained seven A grades at GCSE, including in music.
A friend of the Church family said: "Charlotte's always been strong-willed. She doesn't want her mother controlling her career.
"She has her own plans and would prefer it that any career decisions were taken between herself and Sony and not her mother.
"Anyone who knows Charlotte and Maria knows they're both strong characters - there's often a clash."
Have you ever been soooooo angry with your parents that you wish you could just sack them?
Well if you're a 16 year old multi-millionaire songstress you'd be able to. Charlotte Church, her with the voice of an angel and buns of steel, has taken teenage rebellion to the limits and fired her Mum.
Mummy Church had been managing her daughter's career but it seems Lottie'd had enough of being bossed around at home and work by the same lady.
They're said to have fallen out over Charlotte's choice of boyfriend. She's been seeing an older man from the wrong side of town - an 18 year old rap DJ.
As if this were not enough, a couple of links you may like to try!:
http://www.peoplenews.com/Forward.do?forward=newsx&id=1004172
http://www.itv.com/news/Entertainment1136806.html
Click here for the "Liquid Loop" to see a brief Video Feature of this story.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/choice/liquidnews/
We will update these articles as we receive them, and we would like to thank www.charlottechurchfans.com for doing the research on this and finding all the above articles.
As we have given space to all the Media attention concerning Charlotte, we feel it is only fair that we give her official statement space too.
It is important, however, to bear in mind that this was issue by her North American Office, so it maybe as much her Management as her own wording, but judge for yourself:
OFFICIAL STATEMENT RELEASED BY CHARLOTTE CHURCH - 11/11/2002.
For Immediate Release November 11, 2002
Charlotte Church Statement:
In response to the recent news stories, I find it necessary to clarify that although my parents have always been my most trusted advisors they have never acted as my official managers. I have, throughout my professional career, retained professional management, currently by Irving Azoff and his management team.
My mother did an amazing job in matters of my career and of course has always been a terrific mother. She still remains very involved in my career but obviously on a different level due to my growing independence and own experience.
Now that I have completed my studies, everyone is in agreement that it is the appropriate time for me to embark on my US tour with my management and tour staff.
My parents have always protected me throughout the ups and downs of the media and my career and I thank them for it. I continue to seek the advice of my parents as I always have. As mother and daughter, our bond is stronger than ever.
It was my decision to terminate my business relationship with my ex- manager, Jonathan Shalit, not my mothers' and it's sad how Mr. Shalit continues to attack my mother at every opportunity and comments on me growing up as a teenager whilst knowing nothing about my situation and having no children of his own. It hurts me every time Mr. Shalit, after three years, still persists in publicly degrading my mother when she is worth a million of him.
Charlotte Church has asked her record company for an allowance of £150 per week.
The announcement comes just days after the singer, estimated to be worth £16 million, was reported to have told Sony that she no longer wanted her mother to be involved in her business affairs.
Although the singer has amassed a huge fortune during her short career, the money is held in a trust fund that she cannot access until she is 21.
Charlotte's relationship with her mother has been on rocky ground since 37-year-old Maria tried to stop Charlotte seeing her boyfriend, Steven Johnson, 18.
Mrs Church is said to be livid that record company Sony have agreed to the request, an arrangement that will replace £50 a week pocket money from her mother and stepfather.
In a statement issued this week, the singer denied that her mother had ever acted as her manager.
"In response to the recent news stories, I find it necessary to clarify that although my parents have always been my most trusted advisors they have never acted as my official managers. I have, throughout my professional career, retained professional management, currently by Irving Azoff and his management team."
"My mother did an amazing job in matters of my career and of course has always been a terrific mother. She still remains very involved in my career but obviously on a different level due to my growing independence and own experience."
"My parents have always protected me throughout the ups and downs of the media and my career and I thank them for it. I continue to seek the advice of my parents as I always have. As mother and daughter, our bond is stronger than ever."
Her latest album, Prelude...The Best of Charlotte Church was released yesterday in the US and available in the UK from November 25. Charlotte Church's Official website is at http://www.charlottechurch.com
BY SACKING her mother Maria as her manager, Charlotte Church has joined a long line of child stars desperate to assert their independence from a controlling parent.
In doing so, experts argue, the multi-millionnaire opera singer is ridding herself of a relationship which was never going to work.
The singer’s bust-up is said to have followed a series of family rows over her boyfriend Steven Johnson, a part-time student and DJ. She refers to Johnson as her "bit of rough".
Maria Church, 37, took over as her daughter’s manager after Jonathan Shalit, the man credited with discovering the singing prodigy, was sacked.
A family friend said: "Anyone who knows Charlotte and Maria knows they’re both strong characters. There’s often a clash."
The violinist Vanessa Mae jettisoned her mother, Pamela Nicholson, last year, at the age of 21.
"I had a career but platonic and (other) relationships were put on hold for me for a long time," said Mae, whose manager mother employed a bodyguard to accompany her everywhere.
The singer Michael Jackson refused to extend his father’s contract at the same age, while his sister, Janet, sacked him when she was 19.
The list of Hollywood actors who have ditched their parents as managers is a long one, among them Brooke Shields, Drew Barrymore and Macaulay Culkin, who "divorced" his father to rid himself of his domineering influence.
Tennis is also notorious for parental Svengalis, often seen as more anxious to further their own ambitions than their children’s welfare.
Experts argue that, for all their good intentions, professional child-parent relationships often lead to conflict.
By setting her boundaries early, at the age of 16, Charlotte Church has done herself a favour, they say.
Dr Glenn Wilson, the co-author of Fame: The Psychology of Stardom, said that there is simply too much of a conflict of interest involved for such a relationship to be successful.
"Apart from anything else, you are going to encounter adolescent rebellion but if a parent is managing a child, then conflict is inevitable," said Dr Wilson, from the Institute of Psychiatry.
"It is a far from ideal situation. It is not good for the child because the parent needs to be in a position to give independent advice. When you add in the financial element, it’s not a good idea."
Professor Mark Griffiths, who specialises in psychology at Nottingham Trent University, said that mixing family and business can be "dangerous".
"When you are emotionally involved you can take advantage without realising it," he said.
"A family’s ties do bring other consequences. It’s a cliché, but money is what splits families apart."
Mr Griffiths feels that, while much of Church’s decision may be motivated by teenage rebellion - some observers have said it is normal adolescent behaviour - her fame complicates matters.
"The paparazzi do not go after 15-year-old girls but now she is seen as fair game," he said. "She has been photographed smoking and she has a boyfriend and is under more pressure than before. Her parents may not be doing anything different, but she may feel that something is going wrong."
Church, who is worth an estimated £15 million, is reportedly planning to take control of her fortune, currently held in trusts by her parents until she is 21. By doing so, however, psychologists warned she may only make things worse.
"A break over a contractual arrangement, especially if there is big money involved, would be hard to repair," said Dr Wilson. "It could cut deeper and produce a long lasting rift."
Samantha Fox, the page three model, was forced to sue her father for £1 million before he finally paid £363,000 in an out-of-court settlement. The pair are still not talking.
However, one thing in Church’s favour is that she has not left it too late.
"The longer it goes on, the bigger the shock to the parent if it changes," said Dr Wilson.
MOST teenagers argue with their parents but 16-year-old singer Charlotte Church has taken temper tantrums one step further - by sacking her managermum Maria.
The split comes after regular arguments over Charlotte's boyfriend - the 18-year-old rap DJ she calls her "bit of rough" - reached fever pitch.
The soprano is reported to have instructed record company Sony that she no longer wants her 37-year-old mother involved with any aspect of her career.
But there could be problems ahead as Maria holds the purse-strings of Charlotte's earnings to date, estimated to be around £15m.
Maria took over as her daughter's manager three years ago after Jonathan Shalit, the man behind Charlotte's meteoric rise to fame, was sacked after a series of disagreements. He later won a £2m out-of-court settlement from the singer.
But the mother-daughter relationship has been no less stormy - both are said to be strong characters who often argue.
"Charlotte has always been strong-willed," said a friend. "She doesn't want her mother controlling her career.
"She has her own plans and would prefer it that any career decisions were taken between herself and Sony and not her mother."
Anyone who knows Charlotte and Maria knows that they are both strong characters. There is often a clash."
It is also thought that Charlotte plans to take control of her fortune away from her mother and stepfather James, 38. The couple are both directors of Charlotte Church Ltd, the company which is due to look after the cash until the singer's 21st birthday.
Charlotte, whose four albums to date have sold more than 10 million copies, is due to release a greatest hits compilation on November 25.
She first met boyfriend Steven Johnson through a friend, and they started dating two weeks after her 16th birthday. The relationship has seen the demure young soprano grow into a rebellious teenager who was recently voted Rear of the Year.
Charlotte starts a US tour next month, but is leaving both her mother and her stepfather behind at their £500,000 Cardiff home.
MOST teenagers argue with their parents but 16-year-old singer Charlotte Church has taken temper tantrums one step further - by sacking her manager-mum Maria.
The split comes after regular arguments over Charlotte's boyfriend - the 18-year-old rap DJ she calls her "bit of rough" - reached fever pitch.
The soprano is reported to have instructed record company Sony that she no longer wants her 37-year-old mother involved with any aspect of her career.
But there could be problems ahead as Maria holds the purse-strings of Charlotte's earnings to date, estimated to be around £15m.
TEENAGE singer Charlotte Church said her mother remains very involved in her career, despite reports that she has been sacked as her manager.
In a strongly worded statement, the 16-year-old said that her mother, Maria, and stepfather, James, had never been her official managers but acted as her "most trusted advisers".
Reports claimed the soprano had ditched her mum because of rumoured arguments over 18-year-old boyfriend, Cardiff DJ Steven Johnson.
Charlotte has admitted that her parents' involvement in her career has reached a different level because of her growing independence.
CHARLOTTE Church became a singing sensation when most of us were struggling with maths and science.
Singing regularly from the age of three, when she was partial to belting out the theme tune to the movie Ghostbusters, she quickly became a karaoke fan.
Her first major appearance occurred when she took part in a This Morning phone-in for talented children singing Pie Jesu.
Concerts and public appearances soon followed and Charlotte gained instant coverage as the "Voice of an Angel". Her debut album, Voice of an Angel, sold 600,000 copies and made her the youngest artist ever to top the classical chart.
But it is her 16th year which has been the most tumultuous. For after a media backlash to her comments about September 11, Charlotte has had a year of speculation.
Winning the "Rear of the Year" title also brought her a new-found sex appeal but with that came a label of teenage rebel. It's been reported that she's attached herself to a "rogue" boyfriend. And for the past few weeks she has had to endure speculation that her relationship with her mother has deteriorated.
TEENAGE singer Charlotte Church has triggered a vicious war of words with the man who made her a star.
Charlotte, 16, showed her tough side by blasting her former manager Jonathan Shalit - but he yesterday hit back by attacking her mother.
Mr Shalit, who turned Charlotte from an unknown 11-year-old Welsh schoolgirl into an international star by the age of 13, was enraged at public criticism from the young diva.
He said, "The Church family are sitting in a £700,000 house today because in 1997 I went down to Cardiff and said, `I'll make Charlotte an international star'.
"It upsets me that Charlotte has clearly never been told the truth by her mother about my involvement in making her career happen.
"It hurts me that Charlotte is denying that I made her career possible and made her family's dreams become reality."
Mr Shalit was sacked as Char-lotte's manager three years ago and later won a £2m out-of-court settlement from the singer.
He hit out at claims Charlotte had taken the decision to sack him - and blamed her mother for pulling the strings.
He said, "I never had a single business discussion with Charlotte and all my dealings were with her mother.
"It's preposterous that a girl 13 at the time could terminate my relationship. All that Charlotte knows is what her mother has told her."
Mr Shalit has spoken out after Maria tried to break-up Charlotte's relationship with part-time DJ Stephen Johnson.
Charlotte, worth an estimated £16m, was yesterday in the United States with Stephen, 18, planning for a new tour.
Her mother and stepfather won't be joining her - for the first time since she started her career.
She spoke out after reports that she had sacked her mother as manager - claiming Maria and step-father James had never been her official manager.
Charlotte said, "Although my parents have always been my most trusted advisers they have never acted as my official managers.
"My mother did an amazing job in matters of my career and of course has always been a terrific mother.
"She still remains very involved in my career but obviously on a different level due to my growing independence and own experience."
She hit out at Shalit saying, "It is sad how he attacks my mother at every opportunity.
"He comments on my growing up as a teenager while knowing nothing about my situation and having no children of his own.
"It hurts me that he still persists to publicly degrade my mother who is worth a million of him."
Charlotte's comments were made in a statement from her Los Angeles based management team. She spoke out after her relationship with local DJ Stephen, 18, was said to have angered and hurt her mother.
She has been spending most of her time at Stephen's home in the docklands area of Cardiff. And she has been photographed smoking outside his home where she says she feels like a "normal teenager".
Charlotte said, "My parents have always protected me throughout the ups and downs of the media and my career and I thank them for it."
I continue to seek the advice of my parents as I always have. As mother and daughter, our bond is stronger than ever."
She has always been accompanied by Maria and other family members when she has undertaken engagements including singing for the Pope and President Clinton.
But the star's mother and step-father James, 38, will be left at the family's luxury home in Coryton, Cardiff, when Church begins a solo tour of America next month.
She is mounting a 15-date tour of North America, supported by `Sound of Music' stars Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.