One of the partners buying the Aladdin hotel-casino said singer Linda Ronstadt would be welcomed back to the property after the performer was kicked out over the weekend by current management for praising filmmaker Michael Moore.
Planet Hollywood CEO Robert Earl of Orlando, Fla., said he'd like to take Moore up on the filmmaker's offer to join Ronstadt on Aladdin's stage and sing "America the Beautiful" when Earl's management team takes control of the bankrupt casino, as early as September.
"We respect artists' creativity and support their rights to express themselves," Earl said in a statement Wednesday. "We were very sorry to hear about the unfortunate circumstances of this past Saturday night and want to make it clear that Planet Hollywood has never, in our 13 year history, restricted any artists' right to free speech and we will continue with that policy once we take ownership."
Current Aladdin President Bill Timmins, who is British, had Ronstadt escorted off the property after her concert because she called Moore a "great American patriot" during a prelude to her encore.
Ronstadt encouraged the audience of 4,500 people to see Fahrenheit 9/11, Moore's unflattering documentary about President Bush. She said Moore was "spreading the truth."
Timmins, who was in the audience, said Ronstadt's comments irked people and some tore down posters and walked out of the theater angrily.
Timmins said Ronstadt would never be allowed to play at the Arabian Nights-themed resort while he was in charge.
Ronstadt told The Los Angeles Times she'd continue to laud Moore and didn't want to play the Aladdin again anyway.
Earl's partnership includes Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Bay Harbour Management of New York, which plan to take over the resort on the Las Vegas Strip.
Earl and his investors bought the property last August after a bankruptcy court approved the deal. The group needs a gambling license from the Nevada Gaming Commission before the transaction is completed.
Earl hopes for a license hearing next month. If the license is granted, the Aladdin will be renamed Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino.
By ADAM GOLDMAN Associated Press
Planet Hollywood CEO Robert Earl of Orlando, Fla., said he'd like to take Moore up on the filmmaker's offer to join Ronstadt on Aladdin's stage and sing "America the Beautiful" when Earl's management team takes control of the bankrupt casino, as early as September.
"We respect artists' creativity and support their rights to express themselves," Earl said in a statement Wednesday. "We were very sorry to hear about the unfortunate circumstances of this past Saturday night and want to make it clear that Planet Hollywood has never, in our 13 year history, restricted any artists' right to free speech and we will continue with that policy once we take ownership."
Current Aladdin President Bill Timmins, who is British, had Ronstadt escorted off the property after her concert because she called Moore a "great American patriot" during a prelude to her encore.
Ronstadt encouraged the audience of 4,500 people to see Fahrenheit 9/11, Moore's unflattering documentary about President Bush. She said Moore was "spreading the truth."
Timmins, who was in the audience, said Ronstadt's comments irked people and some tore down posters and walked out of the theater angrily.
Timmins said Ronstadt would never be allowed to play at the Arabian Nights-themed resort while he was in charge.
Ronstadt told The Los Angeles Times she'd continue to laud Moore and didn't want to play the Aladdin again anyway.
Earl's partnership includes Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Bay Harbour Management of New York, which plan to take over the resort on the Las Vegas Strip.
Earl and his investors bought the property last August after a bankruptcy court approved the deal. The group needs a gambling license from the Nevada Gaming Commission before the transaction is completed.
Earl hopes for a license hearing next month. If the license is granted, the Aladdin will be renamed Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino.
By ADAM GOLDMAN Associated Press
