Michael Jackson’s family members aren’t the only ones fighting over his fortune – the Gloved One’s longtime choreographer slapped the singer’s former costume designer with a $280,000 lawsuit in Manhattan on Thursday over unpaid fees.
The suit comes a day after the five-year anniversary of Jackson’s death by a drug overdose.
Former model Zaldy Goco, who fashioned Jackson’s wardrobe for the canceled “This Is It” tour, signed a four-year contract with dancer Travis Payne and manager Christopher Demers the month after the musician’s passing.
Goco promised Payne and Demers a 20 percent cut “from business activities relating to the famous musical celebrity Michael Jackson,” according to the duo’s Manhattan civil lawsuit.
But the Parsons-trained designer, who also worked with Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Keith Richards, has not paid a cent of fees on upwards of $2.4 million of work connected to the King of Pop.
Goco earned $400,000 as a costume designer for the “Immortal World Tour” and between $1 to $2 million for the Vegas show “Michael Jackson ONE,” the suit says.
The Manhattan-based Goco, who also created a Swarovski crystal blanket for Jackson’s coffin, has refused to cough up the cash, and also blocked his partners from probing his finances.
The fee was based off Demers and Payne helping Goco get work from the late singer’s estate.
Demers has worked as a brand consultant for stars like Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z.
The Emmy-nominated Payne was the choreographer for “This is It” and first gained fame as a dancer for Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation tour in 1989. He’s also performed with Madonna, Ricky Martin and Prince.
Goco did not immediately respond to a request for comment.