Post by CarolinaCutie on May 30, 2003 12:34:00 GMT -4
Mariah Carey Calls Victim Of E-Mail Prank
Cyber-Squatter Responsible For Mean-Spirited Note
It turns out the recipient of a mean-spirited e-mail supposedly from Mariah Carey's Web site was the victim of a cyber-squatter -- but that hasn't stopped the singer from reaching out to one of her fans.
According to Minneapolis-St. Paul television KMSP, the pop diva called 10-year-old Michelle Katz at her home Thursday to rectify a situation that neither she or her Web site had any involvement in.
The station reported Wednesday that the grandmother of Katz wrote Carey on what she thought was her official Web site with a special request, since the singer recently canceled a concert at St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center.
As it turns out, reported KMSP, the grandmother, Dee Hofland, was off by one letter when she was typing Carey's Web address, and ended up on a cyber-squatter's site with a Carey imposter.
According to KMSP, Hofland wrote an e-mail to Carey because Katz, who is blind, fell in love with the singer's music two years ago -- and even has learned to mimic Carey's music on the piano.
"I know it is not very probable but you have no idea what it would mean to this child if she could meet Mariah even for 5 minutes. You would make one girl's dreams come true," Hofland wrote, reported KMSP.
But instead of a simple "no" to her request, Hofland got a scathing e-mail in return. KMSP reprinted the response on its Web site, which said: "Miss with all due respect, I have my own problems. I have no time to accommodate everyone else's. My sister is suffering HIV right now. Is anyone worried about my problems? Some people can be so d*** selfish. Next time you email me with any requests, you will be reported. Have a great day!" m.c.
The station said Wednesday that a representative for Carey's record label, Island Records would try to track down what happened. On Thursday the label vowed to continue the investigation.
"The kind of person that would take advantage like this, in this particular fashion -- it's just absolutely disgusting and absolutely horrible," Carey rep Peter LaFrumento told KMSP. "And whoever is behind it --(and) we will certainly find out who that is -- will have to answer for it."
As for the phone call from Carey, Michelle Katz's father Bill told KMSP, "She (Carey) asked her what kind of songs she liked, and one or two of her biggest are 'Hero' and 'Butterfly. She told me that she was sorry for the whole thing, and I pretty much said that 'it wasn't you who wrote the e-mail.'"
According to the station, Carey has promised Michelle Katz one more thing: when she reschedules her concert in St. Paul, she'll get to visit her backstage.
That was very thoughtful of Mariah to go out of her way to call the family to apologize for what some sick jerk did. I hope they find out who did this and make them pay big-time!
Cyber-Squatter Responsible For Mean-Spirited Note
It turns out the recipient of a mean-spirited e-mail supposedly from Mariah Carey's Web site was the victim of a cyber-squatter -- but that hasn't stopped the singer from reaching out to one of her fans.
According to Minneapolis-St. Paul television KMSP, the pop diva called 10-year-old Michelle Katz at her home Thursday to rectify a situation that neither she or her Web site had any involvement in.
The station reported Wednesday that the grandmother of Katz wrote Carey on what she thought was her official Web site with a special request, since the singer recently canceled a concert at St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center.
As it turns out, reported KMSP, the grandmother, Dee Hofland, was off by one letter when she was typing Carey's Web address, and ended up on a cyber-squatter's site with a Carey imposter.
According to KMSP, Hofland wrote an e-mail to Carey because Katz, who is blind, fell in love with the singer's music two years ago -- and even has learned to mimic Carey's music on the piano.
"I know it is not very probable but you have no idea what it would mean to this child if she could meet Mariah even for 5 minutes. You would make one girl's dreams come true," Hofland wrote, reported KMSP.
But instead of a simple "no" to her request, Hofland got a scathing e-mail in return. KMSP reprinted the response on its Web site, which said: "Miss with all due respect, I have my own problems. I have no time to accommodate everyone else's. My sister is suffering HIV right now. Is anyone worried about my problems? Some people can be so d*** selfish. Next time you email me with any requests, you will be reported. Have a great day!" m.c.
The station said Wednesday that a representative for Carey's record label, Island Records would try to track down what happened. On Thursday the label vowed to continue the investigation.
"The kind of person that would take advantage like this, in this particular fashion -- it's just absolutely disgusting and absolutely horrible," Carey rep Peter LaFrumento told KMSP. "And whoever is behind it --(and) we will certainly find out who that is -- will have to answer for it."
As for the phone call from Carey, Michelle Katz's father Bill told KMSP, "She (Carey) asked her what kind of songs she liked, and one or two of her biggest are 'Hero' and 'Butterfly. She told me that she was sorry for the whole thing, and I pretty much said that 'it wasn't you who wrote the e-mail.'"
According to the station, Carey has promised Michelle Katz one more thing: when she reschedules her concert in St. Paul, she'll get to visit her backstage.
That was very thoughtful of Mariah to go out of her way to call the family to apologize for what some sick jerk did. I hope they find out who did this and make them pay big-time!
