Before I start, I must say congrats to my good friend Indashio for winning VH1’s Glam God with Vivica A Fox. You go baby and don’t let the negative people spoil your love of your job.
Back to the event. As October is Breast Cancer Month, you know there are Breast Cancer Events going on. I attended one hosted by the Cosmedical Spa, Smooth Synergy. It was originally supposed to be cruise around New York but because they got more RSVPs than expected, they moved the entire event to Mansion. An email was sent out the night before the event but some people got it the same day as the event (which is unfortunate – I will explain a bit later). Anyway, the event was being hosted by Christian Michael de Medici and sponsored by The Daily (Fashion Week Daily to the layman)
(yes, from THAT de Medici family), who has his own reality show called POPLIFE: The Adventures of a de Medici. At the event, they stated the show airs on MTV, I assumed MTV Europe. Anyway, as soon as you walk in, there are pap-type photogs waiting and you’re asked to post against this step and repeat
I of course followed direction, Angelique* on the other hand is not fond of taking pictures, so she passed. Afterwards, you check in with these two lovely ladies,
given a gift bag ticket as well as a drink ticket (this part surprised us as the invitation stated open bar but as said before, the change of venue notice said they expecting much more people than before, so I guess the open bar was now limited to one drink. I’m not that big a drinker (I usually stay at 2 drinks at an event) and Angelique* doesn’t drink alcohol (yes, really) except for one curious moment with a glass of Sangria (which she didn’t like) LOL. So of course, neither of us minded, it’s for a great cause and we were ready to battle to crowd for a good spot, we were however intrigued to see what we’d get in the gift bags considering Angelique* has previously searched for Gifts for cancer patients for some motivational and heartwarming presents for our mutual friends that are unfortunately battling with different cancers at the moment. Anyway, we walk into the main hall of Mansion to the screens showcasing this (they will later show snippets from POPLIFE: The Adventures of a de Medici)
Unfortunately, the guests seem very scarce but it’s still early yet. We join Kim and her friend Allison, Marisol and her brother (all we’ve met before), so we sit and chit chat about the past events we attended, the future events we will attend, the lack of people at this event, the hors d’oeuvres, world news, etc, etc. Then Angelique* and I got our one drink (mine was pretty powerful, so I’m glad it’s only one). Several minutes later, Christian de Medici introduces himself and he begins the auction (did I forget that there is an auction……well, there is an auction, there I mentioned it. It is a charitable event after all).
Not everything up for auction was available to take photos, except the artwork (no the horn in the back is not a part of it)
which this gentleman and his wife purchase one (they are the owners of Smooth Synergy)
The other painting was purchased by this man
who also walked away with a fashion Week in Paris trip worth $45,000 for ONLY $3,000. YES, REALLY! The package included a roundtrip for two on a private jet, front row tickets to Paris fashion Week with Christian de Medici, of course hotel. $3,000, I’ll say it again $3,000. I almost past out. Oh god, I wish, I wish that was me. The whole event was like a sale (I think he bought something else too but I can’t remember).
Imagine a free hotel stay for ANY W Hotel in the world – how much would you expect that to cost and where would you go? It was valued at $10,000. The winning bid did not spend that much – at all.
There was also a botox and restylane packages worth thousand that went for like $300, a trip for two to Miami and Los Angeles that went for nothing. Kim, Angelique*, Marisol and I all turned a very deep shade of envy green that night. The reason for the rock bottom prices? As I stated before, guests were very scarce at this event. I think not everyone got the new location email that was sent out. So everything had to go to at least get some money for the organization. I’m just happy at least some money was made. I wish I had a lot of my own to bid (on the Paris trip) but not everyone is as lucky as others in this struggling economy..sigh……
Anyway, at about midnight or 1 am (who can remember), the club officially changed from charity event host location to full on club. The transition was made by them (guess I’d have to be a straight man to get the concept but whatever)
The last part of the evening is of course gift bag time, and here it is
*Some names have been changed to protect the permanently shy and those possibly under witness protection
COMMENTS CLOSED
UPDATE: It seems the elusive “Christian Michael de Medici” has been caught, click here for news update: http://www.wfaa.com/news/Suspect-nabbed-in–82325612.html
25 comments
I’m impressed, I have to say. Really seldom do I come across a blog that is both educational and entertaining, and let me tell you, you’ve hit the nail on the head. Your thoughts is outstanding; the issue is something that not many people are speaking intelligently about. I’m really happy that I stumbled across this in my search for something relating to this.
WOW.
You don't need to post my comment, I am just amazed that people are still even talking about this. But I suppose it is being talked about for the same reason I found your blog. The night at Mansion was a non-event disaster. Many lies, many changes, many lives affected.
There were several NYC businesses that were scammed by that man during the fall of 2008. Each business had key players that were swept in to the philanthropic aspect surrounding "Pop Life". It really was all just a vehicle for his ego.
Several different invitations went out for the event over the few weeks prior to Oct 17th. It went from a "$125-ticket gala on a cruise", to a "free admission plus one drink event at a club".
I know that aside from the smaller, tangible goods (the art, the spa packages), the "grand" items were never delivered. No trip to fashion week, no walk on role, no uber-stash of points to be used at the W Hotels. There was roughly $9000 generated from the auction – the majority was written against credit cards but never charged. The purchasers were all contacted.
The show was not picked up by any network. The production was real. People were hired for filming, editing, promotion, organizing. Other people were working on aspects of "the pilot/pilot promotion" as extensions of their regular jobs, since businesses featured in the show would benefit from the exposure. There were no real contracts, and payment was ignored, deferred or written on bad checks.
There was an opportunity, post-event, to apprehend Michael, once all of the pieces were presented to the affected parties. The person who could have put that into motion simply could have made one phone call, however the individual claimed to not have felt harmed by him. So much for integrity. Since he is out there, I wonder every once in a while where he's getting his (free) Botox and if he will start scamming someone smart enough to see through him and apprehend him before it goes too far.
Nice try to cover up for Manus/Medici. I spoke personally with the president of the NYC chapter of the Komen foundation – no money received. Just look on the Komen website and you will see chapters listed all over the country. I have spoken with other victims of Manus from the November event. I have his check written on an account that had been previously closed. You can try to smear us but the truth will prevail. See the threats he makes in these posts against anyone who speaks the truth – he will terrorize us. “honi soit qui mal y pense”
You all realize that most of these posts are from Michael himself right. He has nothing better to do than set on these message boards and type bs. Michael take your stolen and money and get lost.
this smith person is nuts, demedici is in london I hung out with him,and he is adopted i met his folks, sounds like smith has nothing else to do but destroy people, he needs to get a life, jamal sounds the same are they smith and jamal a jealous couple? grow up
my boyfriend was a craigs list hooker like the JA I would have beat him too. Smith sounds like a psyco man, an 4 the hell of it I googled him, no such photographer in NYC. I thought this was about NYC parties, not nut jobs. Get a life people the rich do what they want an have there own rules. I lived here 4 40 years your all alike socialize an get off the screen. Like the concert post just wanted to leave my 2 cents when I saw this. As usual crazy wanna bees. Only in NYC folks..
I heard he lives in germany in a camp, and has 25 kids and 3 wives, if anybody finds him I want to marry him.
Does the Tranny have a boyfriend.
The brother Jamal A , sounds like a RAT, we hate rats in NYC and u know what happens to them jus watch the sopranos,or tony montana in scarface.
stoped by to check out the delicatesion write up and found this junk what a waste of time. gotta find a new blog to watch.
I was married to him for 50 years and he was always good to me. We traveled the world and the seven seas. I think he lives on the corner of heaven street in timbucktoo. Anyone know how I can get there ? He owes me a billion dollars.
Thought there were hot girls on this site instead I get crazy people!!De Medici is with out a doubt gay and looks like a girl, the chick Skinner is with out a doubt HOT, The school teacher sounds boring but knows her stuff, Smith sounds like a psyco nut who wants attention, (word to the wise stay off my blog cause you mess with me and I will terrorize ya) and the hooker Jamal A, wants attention, get a life people who care about these rich people anyway, you will never meet them.
FYI where are the model girls that were supposed to be in the fashion show. Thats who I came to see.
Sorry dear, I just called Andreas, he said to tell you hello, but we are both laughing, to clarify, he knows this Jamal A, and indeed he has followed everyone from that crazy gay man Johhny McGovern to de Medici it seems. According to Andreas, he is shame of shame a hooker, and a drug person. And after reading all of the remarks, we looked at Smiths who does not publish a link, Mr. Smith, true people of society know there is no chapter, Komen is a Foundation and as such there is a board, and I assume, you are too SMALL to be able to pick up a phone and speak to a board member, you may have a dispute with someone, but all a SANE person has to do is look at court records (which can be done at nexus lexus, or westlaw). There is no such Class Action for a misdameaner, for a bad check, and as an attorney myself, I can tell you that a class action suit is for a major majority class of individuals that have suffered a HUGE damage as a whole class. If 100 people had a monetary dispute with Michael it would go to small claims court. If your going to lie at least do it well. By the way I noticed Skinners post from his attorney,, he signed HIS name, I suggest you contact him so he can hang up on you as I would. You sir, remind me of my ex husband, a man full of hot air.
Skinner, stopped by to see your latest coverage and ran into this. I saw you by the way at the last one and have followed you for a while. I was at this event and it was wonderful, and I have spent time at Michaels apartment after clubbing with friends. He has a place on west 42nd. I can not comment on the smith comments but do know every dollar went to charity. I have chaired several Komen events. I would like to comment on the Jamal A, remark. I believeI met him, and if I am correct he was one of those groupies and is a craigs list hooker. In fact he was so drunk one night in the club he had to be carried out, I believe he was exiled and lives in Brooklyn and is on welfare. I am sure anyone that has been on the club scene is aware of this. But then again this is the internet where all of the LITTLE people and CRAZY people infest good sites like this. Keep reporting and kick all of this trash out of here, it puts a distinct smell on the fun we have reading about your exploits. See you at the next round of parties. Oh and I will publish my name. Its Tina with a capital T..
I am a former boyfriend of Mr. Manus while he lived in Atlanta and NYC. He opened accounts in my name for his nenifit and is not a good person he was phsicaly and verbaly abusive to me. I am trying to get his info because some how he as ruined my income tax retuern. If any one needs me to testif please contact me I know a lot of personal information about this man.
EVERYONE – please know – “Christian de Medici” is indeed a scammer – there is a class action lawsuit against him in NYC, he ripped off a number of people for tens of thousands of dollars. His real name is Michael Manus. The Komen Fund NEVER received ANY of the proceeds raised at the event – I have that from their chapter president here in NYC.
I shall keep an ear open but that was the one and only event I’ve seen his name attached to. Besides, if what you say is true, I’m sure he’s in seclusion
It’s doubtful I’ll ever get what this criminal Christian/Michael de Medici owes me. I’m pursing him and his agent in the courts here in New York, but I’m not optimistic.
He may claim to be Greek et al but I can tell you from listening to him talk for several hours at this event at Club Mansion that he is most certainly a native speaker of American English. He did not grow up in Europe.
If you know of events his is involved with, please post here so I can warn the appeals involved about him.
S. Smith, first my heart goes out to you for being cheated especially because this event was such a worthwhile cause. This event was at Club Mansion, is this same one you’re referring to?
On a separate note, I do want to comment on this statement you made – “You should see people like him for who they are, and not wish you could be a “celeb” like him.”
I am just learning about what this man may or may not have done, so I don’t know who he “really” is. I am not trying to be a “celeb” like him or anyone else for that matter. I am lucky enough to be invited to events and I write about it. That is all. You don’t know this but I have never posted a photo of myself on my blog, so no self promotion here.
Anyway, I hope you everything is resolved and you do receive the payments you are owed.
De Medici wrote checks on a closed bank account to pay the photographers and possibly others who worked at the event at Club Mansion in NYC. Two crimes committed: Theft of services and check fraud. I was one of his victims. I have the document from the bank shows that he wrote a check on a closed account. You should see people like him for who they are, and not wish you could be a “celeb” like him.
Hi Jennifer, first, yes I will be attending the Gala for St. Jude. My cousin, who is as close as a sister, is a Breast Cancer survivor, so I try to support whenever I can. I hope to meet you there.
As to the comments, I keep an eye out for anything derogatory and truly harmful and I understand that not everyone wants to leave their name or it’s too much to sign in (I do that too when I’m being lazy) but everyone has an opinion and most want to share it. I’m happy or the first comment because it brought out the rest and I learned a bit more information about the de Medici family and learning is always a plus
Glasgow, I couldn’t let this go so I made some calls and decided to research this. It bothered me that someone would make an assumption on this man, when after all he raised money for a serous cause that touches so many lives, including my own. As I stated the de Medici line is indeed alive and still respected in many European circles. I found out the following.. Michael de Medici was born in Greece, and is the adopted son of Antonio de Medici. He did own a company in Atlanta, however he resigned prior to it going under, and the company has since been approved by the courts for permanent bankruptcy. This is all available in public records held by the federal court in Atlanta. According to people in our social set, he is living in London and is very much involved in the social scene there. If a person is going to leave a comment that could result in a mark on a fundraisers reputation they should also leave a name. Personally I am shocked that you would post a remark like that by an unnamed person. By the way will you be at The Daily gala for St. Jude ?
Thank you Anonymous #3 for clarifying the family lineage
Weird stuff here. FYI, I am a professor of history at NYU, The de Medici family line was not killed off, in fact Princess Michael of Kent of the British Windsors is an heir to the de Medici line. I do not know this other one, however the line still exists. Just though I would leave a comment on the killed off part.
Most surprising. I just saw the bloke at a Gala in London. He was surrounded by security and a bunch of mates. The bloke was also with Princes William and Harry.
Really? How scandalous. I guess like me the people who put this event on didn’t hear these details. At the event I was told he had a reality show (they showed clips) which was quite popular. Thanks for the info
You do know that “that de medici family” was killed off about 600 years ago and Michael De Medici ie Michael Mannus is being investigated for real estate fraud in New York and Atlanta. In addition, he was born in upstate New York.