Rumors that Kim Kardashian staged her 72-day marriage to NBA player Kris Humphries — a union that ended earlier this month when the reality star filed for divorce — have been given new life. Jonathan Jaxson, who claims to have worked with Kardashian in the past, alleges that her marriage and $10 million wedding were a loveless sham orchestrated to earn the star more press and fulfill contracts. But should we credit accusations from Jaxson, who is apparently shopping around a book? Here, a brief guide:
Who is this guy?
Jaxson claims to be Kardashian's former publicist. He says he was hired in 2007, just after her sex tape was leaked, and continued working with her until 2009, when the two parted ways because of "a dispute over money," says Mack Rawden at Cinema Blend. Team Kim says that's just not true. According to Kardashian lawyer Marty Singer, Jaxson "was never Kim's publicist," and Kardashian claims that she and Jaxson worked together only once several years ago. Kardashian can supposedly "hardly remember him."
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What did Jaxson say?
Appearing on the Elvis Duran Morning Show radio program, Jaxson alleged that Kardashian's wedding was a sham. "She knew weeks before getting married she didn't want to do it," he says. "She's never gotten over [ex-boyfriend Reggie Bush]." Then, in an appearance on Good Day L.A., Jaxson said, "It was obvious that it was staged." Though Jaxson presented no evidence — and never clarified where he got his information — he insisted the E! channel already had contracts in place to film the wedding, and that Kardashian was obligated to fulfill the contracts. Everything "was staged to a T," Jaxson claims. "Everything was written down."
How has Kardashian responded?
She's lawyered up. Kardashian hired "legal pit bull Marty Singer to put on a muzzle on" Jaxson, TMZ reports. Singer, who has represented Arnold Schwarzenegger and Charlie Sheen, told TMZ, "Everything that he is saying if false and nonsense. This guy is in it to promote himself for his 15 minutes of fame." Kardashian claims that Jaxson has damaged her reputation and is suing him for a minimum of $200,000. She's also seeking a private arbitration to silence Jaxson immediately.
Does Jaxson have any evidence?
None that he's presented publicly, but his claims of having conspired with Kardashian on media stunts get fairly specific. He says he helped tip off the paparazzi in 2007, when Kardashian exited a Beverly Hills jewelry store — a bid to generate engagement buzz. "She was going shopping with her grandmother and her mom and we said, 'Let's do something to get more press for you," Jaxson alleges. "She said, 'Perfect. Let me go to a ring store and walk out as if Reggie Bush were proposing to me."
Should we really believe this guy?
Jaxson is peddling a book that chronicles his alleged experiences working for celebrities, which casts doubt on these latest claims, says Aida Ekberg at Gather. "It's sad what people will do to get their 15 minutes of fame these days." Plus, asks Rawden, how on earth could Jaxson know for sure that Kardashian's wedding was a money-making ploy if he stopped working for her two years ago?
Sources: Cinema Blend, Daily News, Gather, NY Post, Wash. Post, TMZ
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