Linda Ronstadt Ejected From Aladdin Casino For Praising Michael Moore

The management of Las Vegas Aladdin Casino and Resort evicted the famed crooner from the premises during a concert after members of the audience reacted furiously to her praise of Michael Moore, whose film bashes US President George W Bush.

"She was removed from the hotel towards the end of the concert," a hotel official who declined to be identified told AFP.

"The company decided to remove her from the property after she dedicated a song to Michael Moore."

"This angered our guests who spilled their drinks and demanded their money back," the official said.

The liberal Ms Ronstadt, 58, a 10-time Grammy Award-winner and an icon of the politically-agitated 1970s, praised Mr Moore as a "great American patriot" who "is spreading the truth."

She also dedicated the song "Desperado" to Mr Moore and urged the audience to go and see "Fahrenheit 9/11," which mercilessly slams Mr Bush's decision to go to war in Iraq and his handling of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.

According to local media, members of the 4,500-strong audience stormed out of the concert hall, tore down concert posters and tossed cocktails into the air.

Hotel president Bill Timmins then ordered security guards to escort Ms Ronstadt off the premises.

Mr Moore reacted furiously to the hotel and casino's decision in an open letter to Timmins on the filmmaker's website.

"What country do you live in?," Mr Moore asked in the letter.

"For you to throw Linda Ronstadt off the premises because she dared to say a few words in support of me and my film, is simply stupid and un-American," Mr Moore said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200407/s1158278.htm