The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Mother’s fight to stop son leaving
A DISTRAUGHT Perth mother is fighting to stop her 14- year-old son from moving to America to “follow his dream”.
Angela Macfarlane has called for greater parental rights after finding out second-hand that her son Brendan hopes to relocate to Los Angeles to pursue his singing career.
The Perth Grammar pupil, who lives with his father, George Macfarlane, has been performing since he was at nursery school.
However he was rocketed to global stardom last year after a Youtube video of one of his renditions went viral — gaining more than one million views — and has now recorded his first full album, The Road.
Mrs Macfarlane (33) revealed she only recently discovered the teenager had been signed by high-profile US talent scout Lee Q O’denat.
Mr O’denat owns the famous World Star Agency but also runs a successful adult entertainment business, World Star Candy.
Though the young gospel singer will have no direct involvement with the latter venture, his mother is concerned he might come into contact with “unsavoury” characters.
A civil case will call at Perth Sheriff Court later this month, where Mrs Macfarlane will push for an order to prevent her ex-husband from taking Brendan out of the country without her permission. Mr Macfarlane (43) has legal custody. Mrs Macfarlane told The Courier: “It’s so sad it has had to come to this — but I will not sit back and watch my son being taken advantage of.
“I know what I’m saying may not be what he wants to hear right now but I want the best for him.
“He is only 14 years old and although he’s a smart boy, he needs people by his side to ensure he makes the right decisions.
“I don’t want a penny of his earnings — I want to secure his future and help him follow his dreams.”
MRS MACFARLANE said: “He has such an incredible, beautiful talent, which should definitely be made the most of – but only by the right people.
“I just don’t want him around these sorts of people, it makes me so angry.
“I should have a say in his future, I’m his mother – I deserve greater rights.”
Offers from Disney and Universal have reportedly been turned down by Brendan’s management – but Mrs Macfarlane feels they would be “far more appropriate”.
She says is also “increasingly concerned” about the amount of school the S3 pupil has been missing.
She said: “He was in LA the last time for more than three months and I’m not sure if he got much, if any, tutoring.”
Mrs Macfarlane, who lives in Letham with daughter Georgia (16), added: “I’m so proud of everything he has achieved.”
Speaking on behalf of Mr Macfarlane, Brendan’s manager Gordon Scott said: “Everything that has been done is for Brendan.
“Moving out to the States would help his career greatly as there is a real market for the music he makes – gospel and bluegrass – and there are so many brilliant people he could work with.”
Mr Scott said he had been home-schooling the teenager during their trip.
He said Brendan is sacking Multi Talent Agency, part of the World Star Agency group, adding: “Mr O’denat is a silent partner and when we signed with the agency we were unaware of his background.”