Sound Bites: Michael Jackson, DMX, Whitney Houston

February 28, 2001 -- Michael Jackson Breaks Foot

His latest mission is to "heal the kids," but pop superstar Michael Jackson needs some healing himself — he reportedly broke his right foot in a fall at his Neverland Ranch in central California. Despite his knee-to-foot cast, Jackson told the New York Post that he plans to make his scheduled March 6 appearance at Oxford University in England, where he will promote his Heal the Kids organization. "I am determined to speak, despite my injury," Jackson told the paper. "The message of Heal the Kids is far too important to me to allow a broken foot to keep me from this commitment." Demand for tickets to the speaking event has been overwhelming, with more than 20,000 fans reportedly scrambling for tickets.

DMX Surprised by New Charge

DMX thought he was finally getting a hassle of a jail term out of the way — but when he showed up Monday to turn himself in, he was surprised when a judge hit him with a new charge: contempt of court. The rapper, born Earl Simmons, faces up to a year in prison for the misdemeanor charge, which resulted from his showing up more than two weeks late for a 15-day stint in jail to which he was sentenced for driving with a suspended license. Bail for the new charge was set at $250,000, and a hearing has been set for March 14, two days before the opening of the rapper's new movie, Exit Wounds, which also stars Steven Seagal.

Fan Barred From Contacting Houston

A woman who believes Whitney Houston is her "supernatural reincarnated mother" was ordered by a court yesterday to stop her barrage of letters, cards, and gifts for the pop singer. The Houston devotee, Desiree Weeks, was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in New York, and a hearing for a permanent restraining order was scheduled for March 27. Houston, who has an estate in Mendham, N.J., had a previous restraint on Weeks lifted in June, believing she was locked up securely. The singer filed for the reinstatement because Weeks escaped from the hospital Jan. 26 for 11 hours. In the past, Weeks, 33, has sent the Grammy-winning singer Valentine's Day chocolates, a four-tiered cake, a bra and underwear, pajamas for husband Bobby Brown, and pillows for her two children, as well as letters calling Houston "mommy." (Reuters contributed to this report.)