Mariah Carey Praised For Whitney Houston Tribute But Slammed For Diva Demands From Billionaire Beau James Packer
Mariah Carey has several different personalities, depending on the situation. While Mariah recently honored her idol Whitney Houston and received kudos for her caring nature, Carey also earned hot headlines for her diva demands on tour as well as her relationship with her billionaire boyfriend, James Packer.
In remembering Whitney, Mariah posted a photo of Houston with Carey, reported People.
The pic dates back to 1998. Carey and Whitney had teamed up to duet on “When You Believe” for The Prince of Egypt. Houston passed away in 2012 after she was found in a bathtub in a hotel room from causes that include heart disease, cocaine abuse, and what was described as an accidental drowning.
At the time, Mariah wrote about her heartbreak on social media.
“Heartbroken and in tears,” Carey described her reaction to Whitney’s death. “She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth.”
But Mariah herself is using her voice around the world, and in doing so, she is getting some not-so-great feedback about her demands, according to Radar Online.
When Carey was getting ready to perform at Studio City, a hot new club in Macau, China, in which her boyfriend, James Packer, invested, a production insider shared that what the 45-year-old singer wanted for her first-night performance is making it challenging to obey her demands.
Packer, worth an estimated $4.5 billion dollars, doesn’t exactly have money problems, but Carey is making a dent in his net worth.
“Mariah is charging millions of dollars to perform at this event and, if the first night goes well, she will be booked for a couple more nights,” shared the insider.
Carey had decided that she needed her entourage with her in China and insisted that the entire group fly on private planes. And while Mariah remains a major sensation during her Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace, the money involved in having Carey perform in China is soaring.
Not only is there the cost of those private jets, as well as hotels, but Mariah enjoys spending big dollars.
“Mariah loves to spend money on herself and she also loves to spend James’s money,” revealed the source. “She has told the event people in China that they better be ready for her and she wants only the top of the top suite, service, clothes and more perks. That’s on top of her multi-million dollar deal.”
But problems occurred for Packer and Carey when his $4 billion Studio City casino hit a snafu with guests, celebrities, and gamblers overflowing what was supposed to be a red carpet event, reported the Sydney Morning Herald.
Celebrities included Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Robert De Niro. Packer and one of his entrepreneurial pals had shelled out $70 million for a star-studded movie The Audition to encourage the hype around his casino. The short film lasted only 15 minutes, causing some to question whether it was more of a commercial than a brilliant albeit minimal way to boost buzz.
As for Mariah, Carey delighted Packer (who perched in the front row) by belting out four songs for the opening night. Mariah also pleased her pal Brett Ratner by dedicating some of her songs to him. Brett is known for having directed some of Carey’s music videos.
The celebrities, including James, De Niro, DiCaprio, and Scorsese, dined on six courses, with a force of three security personnel observing them to ensure their safety. With VIP guests pleading for selfies, De Niro complied, then devoted 30 minutes to an intimate conversation with the casino company’s chairperson Rob Rankin. Grace Hightower, De Niro’s wife, also was present and took the time to interact with guests.
As for Mariah, Carey topped off the evening with a final song. She didn’t dedicate it to anyone, but perhaps the title hinted at her current romance with her billionaire boyfriend, since she chose “Hero.”
[Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images for BET]
