A couple of newspapers are reporting that an agent named Grant Dwyer is planning to sue former Miss Universe (Now just plain ol’ ‘Miss Hottie’) Jennifer Hawkins for up to $1 million, saying she''''''''d still be a cheerleader if not for him. Dwyer is going to file papers in the NSW Supreme Court asking for 20% of the former Miss Universe’s earnings from the time she won the pageant until 2008. The kicker? He’s also planning to sue her boyfriend, Jake Wall, for 20% of his earnings after "transforming him from Jake the chippy into Jake Mr Universe''''''''''''''''. But how much of this is fabricated ‘we need a story’ stuff, and how much is straight-up fact? Surely newspapers aren’t just padding, pinching and packing porky’s to sell papers, are they? No?!
Today, we received a letter – as did everyone else in the local media – from Greg Tingle, the director of MediaMan, who revealed what, could be, the truth. (And the truth, unfortunately, about some of the local media).
"
Dear fellow colleagues in the Australian media industryOver the past few days many of you would have read news stories in The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph regarding the situation between Jennifer Hawkins, Jake Wall and her former manager and agent, Mr Grant Dwyer, of AdPro Management.
From the outset let me disclose that I have followed AdPro Management’s successes for a number of years and the last 6 months in particular I have developed a greater understanding of the facts associated with this issue.
In summary, in response to the recent articles in News Limited publications, AdPro Management director, Grant Dwyer wishes for the following information to go into the public domain:
It was the Sunday Telegraph that initiated the recent contact with AdPro Management, in the shape of a telephone call by a journalist at approx 8.30AM on Thursday 17th August 2006.
Grant Dwyer was not seeking media attention on the Jennifer Hawkins situation, however he was told that the Sunday Telegraph were going to run an article and he felt it best to take the opportunity to provide comment and to present the facts whilst he had the opportunity.
In my journalist opinion I believe that a media ambush has been perpetrated against AdPro Management by The Telegraph.
Having viewed a number of relevant documents I can confirm that Jennifer Hawkins and Jake Wall have both signed and have provided extensive communications to verify an Agency Relationship.There is no ill will on AdPro Management’s part, and Grant Dwyer wishes every success and happiness for both Jennifer Hawkins and Jake Wall. Grant is exceptionally proud of Jennifer and Jake’s success and only compliments them on their recent achievements.
Grant Dwyer is upset about the recent media coverage in the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, which has inflamed the situation.
Grant Dwyer is extremely disappointed by the quotes used in the Sunday Telegraph article and the presentation of the news stories, which contradicts the intention of the newspaper as it was meant to be presented and explained to Mr Dwyer.
Grant Dwyer personally financed the elevation of Jennifer Hawkins and Jake Wall commencing in 2004, to the sum of well over $500,000 in funds raised and / or borrowed, sponsorship dollars raised, and AdPro Management finances.
AdPro Management with the agreement of both Jennifer Hawkins and the Miss Universe Organisation funded, procured sponsors, presented contracts and managed the itinerary and pr which was to secure the commercial value and iconic status of Jennifer Hawkins. This both parties have acknowledged.In an e-mail from Jennifer Hawkins to AdPro Management soon after her triumphant homecoming, Jennifer Hawkins sincerely thanks AdPro Management and confirms that the whole Oz trip determined her commercial future including the major television deal with Channel Seven.
Not only had Mr Dwyer secured the annual Miss Universe Australia beauty pageant as an annual television series, he had also secured a media partnership with Channel Seven to broadcast and facilitate the international Miss Universe beauty pageant in Sydney in 2006.
It is my opinion that there were major negotiations going on behind the scenes between Channel Seven and the Miss Universe Organisation, where perhaps Mr Dwyer may have been conveniently left out of the equation.
Commencing in 2004, Grant Dwyer brought beauty pageants back in vogue with the Australian public, consolidated by the success later that year with another young lady on his books, Lauryn Eagle, who won the Miss Teen International Beauty Pageant, the Miss Universe equivalent for teenagers.
There are some outstanding issues between AdPro Management, Jennifer Hawkins, and Jake Wall, and Grant will be pursuing these outside the media spotlight.
It was always Mr Dwyer’s intention to seek an amicable out of court settlement later into her management contract once Jennifer had truly realised her full commercial value.
I have verified this information with Mr Grant Dwyer of AdPro Management.
Greg Tingle
Director
Media Man Australia”.
