Believe it or Not

Sometimes things can really get out of control.   Back when “Totally Obsessed” first aired,  I thought it was getting out of control as I was getting calls from different talk shows wanting me to come on as a guest.  Most of these I only turned down because they were asking for the names of bullies that I had to face against as a kid, and I’d rather not bring them on TV.  So shows like Tyra Banks and Ellen Degeneres were declined, even though I wouldn’t have mind appearing on their shows.  I had to tell Dr. Phil’s people no a few times.  Though these were people who called and wanted to get the stories from me to be published in their shows, and even newspapers.  I’ve been in The Detroit Free Press, Real Detroit and Metro Times.  Most major companies had the respect to come to me, before doing their publish story. Though one internationally known book did not.

I remember it was November 2005 and I was in New York City at Big Apple Con, getting to meet up with TMNT voice actors and artists from the 4Kids Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  As I was talking with these amazing people, I got a phone call from my mom.  “Did you know you were in “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not?”” she asked me.  I was surprised.  They never contacted me and there’s nothing really that far out to put me in one of those books.   Though I’m in their  Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Planet Eccentric edition of the book.

My mother went on to explain how she went to church and one of the church goers found me in the book.  So my mom raced to the store and bought a handful of copies.  I find it funny that right on the cover of the book it says “Take a look at the World’s Weirdest Facts” when they did not even try to contact me to see if what they were publishing was fact.  I’ve never been hard to contact and I reply to most any business that gets a hold of me for interviews.  I have nothing to hide.  So for them to put me in their book without checking with me was a big surprise.

The story reads:

Turtle Mutates

Michele Ivey of Ferndale, Michigan, see herself as the fifth Ninja Turtle.  At the age of 11, she fell in love with Michelangelo, the green-masked party dude of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and she’s spent the past 15 years chasing her obsession.  In that time she has spent $5,000 (£2,700) on Karate lessons, and has even bought a replica head of Michelangelo to wear. She says the turtles give her inner strength.

My jaw dropped open.  How can a story so short have so many lies in it?  I know some of the stuff that they got came straight from the VH1 show, who were the first to spread the rumor that my karate lessons were $5,000.  Though the replica head?  Replica?  In the interview on VH1 I even say that this head is a real movie prop.  I have confirmed this.  They assume that I don’t know what I’m talking about, when they even said that I’ve spent the past 15 years chasing this obsession?  They give and take away credit in those few words.  And I did not buy the head to wear, I bought it for the idea of my Ninja Turtle Museum.

About the karate lessons, here’s an interesting fact for those who don’t know.  The first style I took was $50 for 6 months, and I was there less than two years.  Then I joined NAAMA Karate, where it was $59/month for two years, and then $50/year.  I was with them from 1994 to 1999.  Please do the math and see if that adds up to $5,000.  When I do the math I have under $1,800 in karate lessons, plus the cost of gear, gi’s, weapon classes, weapons, tournament and testing fees.  What VH1 did was add in two lifetime memberships, one was not mine.   So from 1991 to 1999, I may have spent around $5,000 with karate, but less than $1,800 of it for the lessons.  And I know others who were spending more than I was, going to different classes, buying each book that came out, the jackets for the dojos and more.  So it’s not really as big of a deal as they’re making it out to be.

When I got home from the trip, I sat down and looked at the book.  I saw in the front of the book they had “for information regarding submission - an email and snail mail address.” So I decided to write them and say “Hi, I’m Michele Ivey”.  I explained that their facts were wrong in the book, and if they would like the correct story to please write me back.  I never did hear back from Ripley’s.  So when asked about “Believe It Or Not”, my word is I do not believe it.  Ripley’s does not double check the facts that they print.  They help spread lies and rumors.  For me to believe Ripley’s, they have to have photos or video.

Am I upset about this?  Not really.  It’s funny to be able to grab this book out and show it to people.  To be able to say “Hey, I’m in Ripley’s” is great for a laugh.  I know the facts are off, and anyone who knows me realizes that this is full of lies.  I have a copy of the book that stays in my computer desk to pull out, whenever I want to refer to this book.

Have you seen this book?  Would you be upset if an Internationally known book printed lies about you?  What are your thoughts on this subject?  Please post comments and questions in the comment area below.  All emails are kept private.