Members of late actor Patrick Swayze’s family have lashed out at his widow, Lisa Niemi, claiming she’s left them in the lurch over an auction of the star’s possessions.
With Lisa reportedly auctioning off a new collection of personal items that US magazine Globe has described as ‘bottom of the barrel stuff’ – including ‘Patrick’s old dirty pants, some shirts and dancing shoes’ – disgruntled relatives have accused her of an unseemly cash grab, while also complaining they feel insulted by what they’ve been offered from the dead icon’s estate.
Before a previous auction of iconic items like Patrick’s Dirty Dancing jacket and his silk shirt from Ghost – family members claim they were left furious by what Lisa gave them.
‘She gave us a bunch of crap!’ a relative told Globe. ‘Stupid stuff, like ripped T-shirts, a broken horse riding satchel – broken down crap she couldn’t sell at auction.
‘It was right before the auction, so she could tell people she’d actually given us something.’
Patrick’s niece Danielle tried to stop the first auction, complaining that Patrick’s mum Patsy was denied even a pair of her son’s old boots.
‘My family have had enough of being kicked while they’re down.’
Although half of the funds from Lisa’s sale was generously earmarked to go to pancreatic cancer charities, family members are still incensed, complaining that Lisa is living high on the hog thanks to her late husband’s millions.
‘It’s like, seriously?’ one told Globe. ‘Do you really need the money?’