Jurie Els reveals all in book
2010-09-05 23:19
Johannesburg - Singer Sonja Herholdt is "flabbergasted" about the fact that Jurie Els refers to her abortion in his book Ver van Vrede - My Volle Verhaal, which will hit shelves on Monday.
"It's old news," said Herholdt, "Jurie is just wasting people's time."
She also said the things he says in his book have no bearing on her, and she doesn't know what he is trying to accomplish with the book.
In his autobiography Els talks about how he crossed swords with Herholdt and other musicians such as Patricia Lewis, and about how he was insulted by Huisgenoot, Son, radio presenter Gareth Cliff and comedian Leon Schuster.
He also refers to Lewis' alleged sex video and the damage it did to his career.
"I felt like Peter at the fire on the night that Jesus was arrested. I was guilty by association. That's simply the risk you take if you choose a singing partner," writes Els.
Els devotes nearly the entire third part of his book - entitled "Niks" (Nothing) - to "Robbie's lies".
Scandals
The other two parts, entitled "Niemand" (No-one) and "Iemand" (Someone), covers his life from birth until he and his family moved to New Zealand in 2008.
He refers to specific incidents, such as Patricia Lewis' wedding - to which he was not invited - and arguments between the Elses and Huisgenoot regarding wedding pictures and the way in which his first child was depicted in the media.
Els dedicates his book to his children, Chrizette and Jason John, "so that one day they'll understand what it was all about".
According to Johnny le Roux of Naledi publishers, Els will not be in South Africa for the official launch of his book.
"Jurie wrote the book to clear his name after the Robbie Klay scandal," says Le Roux.
"If it hadn't been for the supposed scandals we probably wouldn't even have published the book."
Le Roux says he couldn't put the book down, and that it deals mainly with things that "bothered" Els.
Klay's agent, Gert van Schalkwyk, said it is "outrageous" that Els would launch such a book now, "just as Robbie is managing to get back on his feet".
Van Schalkwyk says Klay will not bother to buy a copy of the book.