Posted on 12/29/2007 7:07:55 PM PST by SeekAndFind
GARLAND, Texas (AP) - An essay that won a 6-year-old girl four tickets to a Hannah Montana concert began with the powerful line: ''My daddy died this year in Iraq.''
While gripping, it wasn't true - and now the girl may lose her tickets after her mom acknowledged to contest organizers it was all a lie.
The sponsor of the contest was Club Libby Lu, a Chicago-based store that sells clothes, accessories and games intended for young girls.
The saga began Friday with company officials surprising the girl at a Club Libby Lu at a mall in suburban Garland, about 20 miles northeast of Dallas. The girl won a makeover that included a blonde Hannah Montana wig, as well as the grand prize: airfare for four to Albany, N.Y., and four tickets to the sold-out Hannah Montana concert on Jan. 9.
The mother had told company officials that the girl's father died April 17 in a roadside bombing in Iraq, company spokeswoman Robyn Caulfield said.
She had identified the soldier as Sgt. Jonathon Menjivar, but the Department of Defense has no record of anyone with that name dying in Iraq. Caulfield said the mother has admitted to the deception.
''We regret that the original intent of the contest, which was to make a little girl's holiday extra special, has not been realized in the way we anticipated,'' said Mary Drolet, the CEO of Club Libby Lu.
Drolet said the company is reviewing the matter, and is considering taking away the girl's tickets.
I was thinking future reporter for the NY Times..
>>>is considering taking away the girl’s tickets<<<
This is what I hate about the modern age. They’re THINKING about taking away the tickets? What’s to think about? She lied about something so awful and profound that most of us would recoil in disgust.
What I’d really like to see is a lawsuit filed against the girl and her family for fraud. Then she’ll have a holiday she’ll always remember.
Hannah Montana Concert Winner Lied in Essay Describing Father’s Death in Iraq
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1945575/posts
Garland girl wins Hannah Montana tickets, trip with false essay (Claimed father killed in Iraq)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1945384/posts
Club Libby Lu withdraws prize from girl whose essay falsely claimed father died in Iraq
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1945698/posts
Why would a six year old first grader care about a concert? She should be playing with baby dolls. Mothers, quit pushing your kids to grow up over night! Disgusting!
I think the mother wrote the letter.
I think the mother wanted the daughter to want to go to the concert so she dictated the letter to her. She is a sorry excuse for a mother. She’s like the mother in “Mean Girls”, “I’m not like a regular mom. I’m a cool mom.”
It really doesn't matter what the mother told them. It really doesn't matter what the subject matter is if the contest rules didn't state specifically it had to be a true story.
No one would have questioned that.
“I think the mother wanted the daughter to want to go to the concert so she dictated the letter to her. She is a sorry excuse for a mother. She’s like the mother in “Mean Girls”, “I’m not like a regular mom. I’m a cool mom.””
Whattaya wanna bet the whole family are Bush-hating, anti-military, anti-Iraq war bleeding heart Libs?!
“I think the mother wanted the daughter to want to go to the concert so she dictated the letter to her. She is a sorry excuse for a mother. She’s like the mother in “Mean Girls”, “I’m not like a regular mom. I’m a cool mom.””
Whattaya wanna bet the whole family are Bush-hating, anti-military, anti-Iraq war bleeding heart Libs?!
Sounds like a family of proud Democrats....
They should give her some fake tickets.
BEST comment of all! LOL
She’s a Dem at age 6.
I think you are correct. I don’t see a 6 yr old coming up with this idea. At least I hope she didn’t.
I’ll bet that family is living on the dole.
I said that based on the very quick look I had at the handwriting. It was not the handwriting of a 6-yr. old. The letter “d” was too stylized.
ZOT coming in 3...2...1...
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