Billy Joel's former manager, Irwin Mazur, is pushing back against claims that the upcoming biopic "Billy and Me" aims to defame the iconic singer. In an exclusive interview, Mazur revealed he spent the past year trying to arrange a meeting with Joel to discuss the script before public backlash erupted.
Mazur insisted there's "nothing defamatory" in the film, which focuses on their early years together—from when Mazur discovered a teenage Joel performing with The Hassles in 1966 up to his signing with Columbia Records in 1973. The manager emphasized that the project was never intended to use Joel's famous songs; instead, it centers on his pre-fame "cover band" era.
The biopic has drawn sharp criticism from Joel's camp, which previously condemned the project as "misguided." But Mazur, who grew emotional recounting his discovery of Joel's talent, maintains the script simply celebrates their shared history and his pride in helping launch the Piano Man's career.