Will Christian Audigier Move Into Michael Jackson's Rental?

Christian Audigier, the permatan designer behind the flamboyant Ed Hardy style has made a quite a show of his sadness over Michael Jackson's passing. The Los Angeles Ed Hardy store features a billboard and large posters paying tribute to the star and showing Audigier together. Jackson appeared at Audigier's 50th birthday celebration in 2008 and the pair were spotted as recently as last February. Audigier has also said that he was working on merchandising with the King of Pop and that the two were planning on collaborating on a clothing line.

But the strangest rumor comes from TMZ. Their sources say that Audigier will be leasing the Holmby Hills mansion where Michael Jackson was living from Ed Hardy CEO Hubert Guez, who owns the estate. Jackson was renting the seven-bedroom home for $100,000 a month while he prepared for his London shows. Audigier plans to do business from the home and will move his company in to the estate by the end of the year.

Audigier was in London last night for the launch of his new Champagne, the latest addition to his line of wines. Decanter reports that cases of the Champagne wine were stolen from London's MoVida nightclub jours before they were to set to be poured and so still wines were served instead.