McDermott Mystery: Newton-John responds

Where in the world is Patrick McDermott? Olivia Newton-John’s spin machine has addressed Tabloid Baby’s questions about her behaviour regarding the disappearance of her “boyfriend” Patrick McDermott last summer.

In a blitz of long-distance interviews with Australian news media yesterday, Newton-John refused to go into details about the case, but astonishingly used the mystery to promote her new album and concert tour!

McDermott’s disappearance is being used as a selling point, as the Newton-John team plays up the irony of the album’s title and her bravery in going onstage at such a trying time.

In the interviews, however, “she was reluctant to discuss any details about McDermott or speculation she has found love with with wealthy American Michael Klein,” the Sydney Daily Telegraph reports.

Newton-John “will use her upcoming Sydney shows as a form of therapy for dealing with the disappearance of her boyfriend last year,” the paper says, in an article headlined “Liv’s show of strength.”

The Brisbane Courier-Mail, Seven News and Contactmusic.com are among the other outlets spreading the Newton-John spin.

"I didn't think I was going to be singing again, that was how I felt," Newton-John told the Courier-Mail (though her concert plans were underway in the seven weeks she was quiet about McDermoptt’s disappearance). "But I found that performing the songs and singing for people helped me as well."

Newton-John also points out that the title of her new album, Stronger Than Before, “is kind of ironic." She says, "The weird thing was that this album was before all that happened so now it is almost like I have made it for myself." She's dedicated the album to people who have been touched by cancer, marking 13 years since she suffered from breast cancer.

The questions remain: Where is Patrick McDermott, and what does Olivia Newton-John know about his disappearance?