Reports that Prince lived a clean life are coming into question, according to TMZ news, April 26, 2016. A lawyer for two of Prince’s deceased siblings allegedly claimed that he abused painkillers and cocaine.
Michael Padden claims he was a longtime attorney for Lorna Nelson and Duane Nelson, who were Prince’s half-siblings. After Prince died, Mr. Padden contacted the investigators to let them know that the Purple Rain singer had an alleged problem with drugs. Even though Lorna passed away in 2006 and Duane died in 2011, they allegedly told Mr. Padden that Prince was addicted to Percocet and cocaine and that he had certain “straw buyers” that would obtain the substances for him.
“Lorna told me that her brother would die young … before his time and of a heart attack.”
However, those who worked closely with Prince Rogers Nelson, along with his fellow colleagues, all maintain that Prince did not abuse substances of any kind. He didn’t drink, or do drugs, because he was very health conscious.
The Associated Press asked lawyer L. Londell McMillan, who had known Prince for 25 years and was his former manager, what his thoughts were on the article TMZ published. In the story, TMZ cited unidentified sources who claim Prince’s plane had to make an emergency landing because he overdosed on Percocet. He was rushed to a hospital in Moline, Illinois, and they administered a “save shot” which is often used to “mitigate the effects of opiates.”
Mr. McMillan answered that Prince may have been in pain and that he could have taken a pain medication, but Prince was “not on any drugs that would be any cause for concern.”
L. Londell went on to say, “ People use medication. The question is, are you on meds in a dangerous way? Everybody who knows Prince knows he wasn’t walking around drugged up. That’s foolish. No one ever saw Prince and said, ‘He looks high.’ It wasn’t what he was about.”
Another person to speak highly about Prince Rogers Nelson living a clean life was Robbie Paster. This Twin Cities limo driver worked for Prince from 1984 to 1992 as a valet and personal assistant.
“I never knew of any opiate or cocaine problem. There’s no way you can do both of those and be as driven as he was. I never saw it.”
Sheila E., who was Prince’s drummer and former fiancé, said she has “never seen him take anything, not even aspirin, in the 38 years I’ve known him.”
The comments following many of the overdosed stories are mixed. One poster wondered why lawyer Michael Padden was divulging information when it was between him and his clients. In an article by Minnesota’s Star Tribune, the reason may be that Duane and Lorna Nelson hired Michael Padden when they filed a lawsuit against Prince.
According to the website, “Padden, who filed “four or five” lawsuits against Prince and Paisley Park in the past, said he eventually developed a personal relationship with Duane and Lorna Nelson, who hired him for other cases. In one, Padden represented Duane Nelson in a suit against Prince after Duane was fired by the musician.”
Because Prince is no longer around to defend himself, this could be an easy way to slander him and darken his image. An autopsy was done, but it will take weeks or even months before the results of those tests come in. Maybe when the results are finalized, the truth can come out on Prince and his alleged drug problem.
