Anna Nicole’s sister axed
Planned book signings in San Diego and Escondido with Donna Hogan, the estranged half-sister of Anna Nicole Smith, have been canceled.
Hogan was scheduled to promote her tell-all book, “Train Wreck: The Life and Death of Anna Nicole Smith,” at Claire de Lune Coffee Lounge in North Park May 4 and at Escondido Public Library May 5.
Charles Lago of Authors on Tour said he canceled Hogan’s appearances because of negative feedback.
Escondido’s Duputy City Librarian, Jo Ann Greenberg, said a few fans might feel let down.
“I think there were people who were interested in learning vicariously about Anna Nicole Smith, so there may be some disappointments,” Greenberg said.
“(But) we did get some calls from people who were feeling that maybe this was a little bit opportunistic. Her audience, evidently, has not been very pleasant to her, from what I gathered. I wouldn’t want to see anything like that happening here. I’m kind of relieved, actually.”
In anticipation of her Escondido appearance, Hogan fielded questions from Today’s Local News via e-mail. The following are excerpts.
Question: At the time you first started speaking publicly about your
manuscript, you were angry at your sister for the way she handled her son’s funeral, referring to it as a “media circus.” Have your feelings toward her or the initial tone of your book softened since her death?
Answer: I have always loved my sister. I had also been very upset about her
lifestyle and the people around her who allowed her to continue on this destructive path. I did an interview on “A Current Affair” after the American Music Awards where my sister was so obviously drugged. I asked for those people closest to her to please stop providing her with drugs, that she would die one day. Sadly, that came true. ...
Q: In interviews, you have criticized (lawyer) Howard K. Stern as someone
who enabled your sister, and characterized (wealthy oil magnate) J. Howard Marshall,
(about) 60 years older than your sister, as her “security blanket.”
A: When Anna married Marshall, it was for security. She loved him but in a
fatherly way.
Q: In regard to your sister’s infant daughter, Dannielynn, you told CBS’s “The Early Show,” “I will always make sure that little girl is taken care of.” How involved do you see yourself in Dannielynn’s life?
A: I want to be part of her life; she needs to see normality! I am a mother
of three great kids and I own a gift basket company. ...
Q: How complicit do you feel the media was in your sister’s downward
spiral?
A: Media can be brutal. Even though I was not the celebrity, my kids and I
were also hounded each time my sister did something outrageous. There were times we could not leave our house, or they would follow me to work. If I was harassed, imagine Anna’s life. Yes, when you are in the media each and every day you do begin to play up to it, and Anna felt the media wanted a show from her. It was a dangerous game.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/outthere/2007/05/anna_nicoles_sister_axed.html
I forgot to mention this, but when I was in the hospital, I watched the episode of Dr. Phil interviewing Donna Hogan. He was unbelievably nasty towards towards Donna. She couldn't defend herself against the personal attacks, especially with the audience cheering Dr. Phil on.
Guess who was sitting in the front row? BON BON! Yes folks, she was there beaming away. I wanted to puke. Bon Bon had on this horrible glittery make up that my friend's mom used to wear back in the late '70's. It's supposed to reflect light away from your crow's feet and lines. Think Max Factor used to sell it. So there she is all greasy faced, with that malicious smile on her face.
I wanted to mention it when I escaped from the hospital, but was kind of upset at the time. Needless to say, I don't watch Dr. Phil anymore.
So Mr. Lago, was this negative response apparent before the Dr. Phil appearance....or after?
Although I’m not surprised, it’s still very strange for a book promoter to cancel like that. They usually thrive on controversy.