Michael Flatley, the renowned creator of "Lord of the Dance," has expressed that he is a "very lucky man" after Jennifer Lopez once described him as "one of the sexiest men I've ever seen." The 67-year-old dancer reflected on his past relationships in a recent interview, noting that he "enjoyed every kiss with every girl."
Flatley, who has been married to his second wife, Niamh O'Brien, since 2006, recalled his earlier years when his charisma attracted attention from women like Lopez. He mentioned a passage in his memoir, "Lord of the Dance: My Story," where Lopez's attraction to him is documented. "If somebody like JLo, who is one of the most beautiful women in the world, says something like that about me, I'm a very lucky man," Flatley stated.
He described his current life as channeling his energy differently, focused on his wife and son, while acknowledging past enjoyments. "But don't get me wrong, I enjoyed every kiss with every beautiful girl... Every sip of Château Latour '82, every gear change in an Aston Martin and Ferrari, every private jet ride and each of my homes, known as the 'string of pearls' designed by the genius Peter Inston," he said.
Legal Victory and Show Relaunch
Earlier this year, Flatley also secured a significant legal victory, regaining control of his flagship "Lord of the Dance" production. A court in Belfast overturned a legal order that had blocked him from engaging with the show. This ruling allows him to relaunch the production and reunite his dancers.
Speaking after the judgment, Flatley expressed his gratitude and announced his immediate plans. "I won't be in the car 10 seconds and I'll be calling all my dancers, all of the cast and crew," he said. "All their families have flown in and we're going to lift the roof on Thursday. This will be the greatest version of this show that you will ever see. I'm absolutely delighted."
He confirmed he has "100 per cent" regained control of the production. The legal dispute involved Switzer Consulting, which had taken civil action against Flatley for alleged breach of contract. Switzer had previously obtained a temporary injunction to prevent Flatley from interfering with the shows, which they claimed they were contracted to run.
Flatley's legal team argued that the production was at risk of "falling apart" without his involvement. The core of the legal dispute centered on a terms of service agreement where Flatley transferred intellectual property rights for "Lord of the Dance" to Switzer, who were then to provide business management services.
During the trial, Flatley's former financial advisor Des Walsh submitted a statement alleging Flatley had an "insatiable appetite for cash" and lived a "lifestyle of a Monaco millionaire" by borrowing extensively, even when he lacked the necessary funds. The statement also cited "horrendous business mistakes" that led to millions in additional borrowings. Flatley's legal team, however, pushed back against these claims, characterizing them as "ad hominem" attacks on his character.
Flatley's lawyers stated that he had cleared £433,000 "overnight" to end the contract with Switzer, asserting that it was Switzer, not Flatley, facing financial difficulties. They argued that Switzer had no incentive to protect the intellectual property of "Lord of the Dance" as they were only entitled to a service fee, potentially causing "untold damage" to the show's value.
The "Lord of the Dance" 30th-anniversary tour is scheduled to perform in Dublin next week, followed by dates in various countries including the UK, Germany, Croatia, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.