Michael Jackson with Vincent Paterson, choreographer director of “Smooth Criminal”

I’m compelled to share this in support of my friend legendary choreographer director Vincent Paterson. I had to pleasure and honor to work with him last year for “Loving The Silent Tears” An International Musical Event. Not only did I get to experience his brilliance first hand, I got to see what a down to earth sweet guy he is. Vince, as any artist who stays up late at night – thinking, creating and going through the joy, blood, sweat, tears, pain and triumph of the process deserves to be properly credited for his work. What if someone jacked your resume – something you fought for and earned? I’ve learned sometimes being too humble empowers other people to step in and take credit for someone else’s pioneering and hard work. I’ve see this happen before and it has to stop – it’s called having integrity and honesty. In this day and age fact checking and due respect has seemed to go out of the window.

Statement from Vincent Paterson following last night’s Dancing With The Stars Final from his Facebook page:

PLEASE SHARE THIS POST.
THIS THIEVERY MUST STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What is on my mind this morning is how TRAVIS PAYNE STOLE MY CHOREOGRAPHY FOR SMOOTH CRIMINAL on DWTS. He is a thief.
He took credit for my work.
I AM AN ARTIST AND MY WORK IS ALL I HAVE.

To not only watch him STEAL my work but to have the uniformed or misinformed contestant on the show say “This is incredible to have the guy who taught MJ these moves teach them to us!”
How dare both TRAVIS PAYNE and DWTS.
This is not the first time TRAVIS has stolen my work. He did for the 2 Cirque shows he “choreographed.”
This is unforgivable thievery.
I never even hired Travis to DANCE in Smooth Criminal.
If this show cares so much about dance, they should not allow this kind of thievery and lies to be told to the viewers.