Michael Jackson ***August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009***

[Don]

This is the only tribute I really need to watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtHplDaZv6Q

Stern's a hoot. He had some good material on filipinos too. A fucking laugh riot.

Filipinos? That must have been after I was finished listening to him (94'-96') cause I never once heard him say anything about Filipinos.

He got sued over it, so he won't be doing an encore anytime soon.

[Voyager]

How fucked up is this?

Three days after his son Michael Jackson death, 80-year-old Joe Jackson hits the red carpet the 2009 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on Sunday (June 28) in Los Angeles.

Towards the end of his interview with CNN, Joe took the opportunity to promote his new business venture, a record label. Watch the interview below! The record label talk starts around the 3:15 mark.

And here is the statement one of the family’s publicists read during the interview: “Our beloved son Michael Jackson loved you all. Michael’s children are our first priority. We will have further announcements to discuss our plans going forward. Until such time, however, we have the personal and legal authority to act, and solely Katherine and I have authority for our son and his children. We wish to handle his memory and legacy with dignity. The attorney for the Jacksons is L. Londell McMillan and no one has the authority to speak on behalf of the Jackson family at this time.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgli9UYUT8M

[Sarah]

How fucked up is this?

Three days after his son Michael Jackson death, 80-year-old Joe Jackson hits the red carpet the 2009 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on Sunday (June 28) in Los Angeles.

Towards the end of his interview with CNN, Joe took the opportunity to promote his new business venture, a record label. Watch the interview below! The record label talk starts around the 3:15 mark.

And here is the statement one of the family’s publicists read during the interview: “Our beloved son Michael Jackson loved you all. Michael’s children are our first priority. We will have further announcements to discuss our plans going forward. Until such time, however, we have the personal and legal authority to act, and solely Katherine and I have authority for our son and his children. We wish to handle his memory and legacy with dignity. The attorney for the Jacksons is L. Londell McMillan and no one has the authority to speak on behalf of the Jackson family at this time.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgli9UYUT8M

Karma should have taken him instead of Michael. I watched a few clips of the BET Awards and it was really sad to hear some of the presenters giving props to Joe.

[Voyager]

How fucked up is this?

Three days after his son Michael Jackson death, 80-year-old Joe Jackson hits the red carpet the 2009 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on Sunday (June 28) in Los Angeles.

Towards the end of his interview with CNN, Joe took the opportunity to promote his new business venture, a record label. Watch the interview below! The record label talk starts around the 3:15 mark.

And here is the statement one of the family’s publicists read during the interview: “Our beloved son Michael Jackson loved you all. Michael’s children are our first priority. We will have further announcements to discuss our plans going forward. Until such time, however, we have the personal and legal authority to act, and solely Katherine and I have authority for our son and his children. We wish to handle his memory and legacy with dignity. The attorney for the Jacksons is L. Londell McMillan and no one has the authority to speak on behalf of the Jackson family at this time.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgli9UYUT8M

Karma should have taken him instead of Michael. I watched a few clips of the BET Awards and it was really sad to hear some of the presenters giving props to Joe.

He had some nerve to promote his new record label when being interviewed about his son's death. I have to wonder if the guy is a sociopath, because he seems to have no empathy. After all the reports of his abusing Michael as a child you think he'd be in hiding. Instead he jumps into the spotlight of his son's tragic death to promote his new label. That is fucked up.

[Barb]

I've been watching MJ tributes on MTV and VH1 all day today. He was just mesmerizing to watch. I'm surprised at my own emotions over his death. I'm not convinced he was a child molester, but I'm not convinced that he wasn't one, either. I just feel complete sadness watching how magnificent he once was and what he became.

Just watching this made me smile, though:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDkcBMRQ ... re=related

[JeremyP]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lVUvOLdg50


This is somewhat of a long read, but I think it would be worth everyone's while to check it out.

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread477059/pg1

An excerpt:

" In early July 1993, Dave Schwartz, who had been friendly with Chandler, secretly tape-recorded a lengthy telephone conversation he had with him.

....Elsewhere on the tape, Chandler indicated he was prepared to move against Jackson: "It's already set," Chandler told Schwartz. "There are other people involved that are waiting for my phone call that are in certain positions. I've paid them to do it. Everything's going according to a certain plan that isn't just mine. Once I make that phone call, this guy [his attorney, Barry K. Rothman, presumably] is going to destroy everybody in sight in any devious, nasty, cruel way that he can
do it. And I've given him full authority to do that."

Chandler then predicted what would, in fact, transpire six weeks later: "And if I go through with this, I win big-time. There's no way I lose. I've checked that inside out. I will get everything I want, and they will be destroyed forever. June will lose [custody of the son]...and Michael's career will be over."

"Does that help [the boy]?" Schwartz asked.

"That's irrelevant to me," Chandler replied. "It's going to be bigger than all of us put together. The whole thing is going to crash down on everybody and destroy everybody in sight. It will be a massacre if I don't get what I want." "

[SusieP]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lVUvOLdg50


This is somewhat of a long read, but I think it would be worth everyone's while to check it out.

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread477059/pg1

An excerpt:

" In early July 1993, Dave Schwartz, who had been friendly with Chandler, secretly tape-recorded a lengthy telephone conversation he had with him.

....Elsewhere on the tape, Chandler indicated he was prepared to move against Jackson: "It's already set," Chandler told Schwartz. "There are other people involved that are waiting for my phone call that are in certain positions. I've paid them to do it. Everything's going according to a certain plan that isn't just mine. Once I make that phone call, this guy [his attorney, Barry K. Rothman, presumably] is going to destroy everybody in sight in any devious, nasty, cruel way that he can
do it. And I've given him full authority to do that."

Chandler then predicted what would, in fact, transpire six weeks later: "And if I go through with this, I win big-time. There's no way I lose. I've checked that inside out. I will get everything I want, and they will be destroyed forever. June will lose [custody of the son]...and Michael's career will be over."

"Does that help [the boy]?" Schwartz asked.

"That's irrelevant to me," Chandler replied. "It's going to be bigger than all of us put together. The whole thing is going to crash down on everybody and destroy everybody in sight. It will be a massacre if I don't get what I want." "

That does not surprise me at all.

But Michael Jackson was naive enough to get himself into a situation where he could be manipulated like that.
And he carried on spending time with young boys after that.
Even if he didn't molest them, he ought to have learned his lesson with the Chandler case.

[NealIsGod]

Some of the autopsy details have been leaked.

Harrowing leaked autopsy details show the singer was a virtual skeleton — barely eating and with only pills in his stomach at the time he died.

His hips, thighs and shoulders were riddled with needle wounds — believed to be the result of injections of narcotic painkillers, given three times a day for years.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/ne ... topsy.html

[bluejeangirl76]

Some of the autopsy details have been leaked.

Harrowing leaked autopsy details show the singer was a virtual skeleton — barely eating and with only pills in his stomach at the time he died.

His hips, thighs and shoulders were riddled with needle wounds — believed to be the result of injections of narcotic painkillers, given three times a day for years.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/ne ... topsy.html

That Sun UK site appears to be their equivalent of our National Inquirer. In other words... exaggerated dramatic attention-getting headlines and stories. I don't recommend taking any of that as fact at this point.

[Marabelle]

When we are all dead and buried I hope that our family and friends choose not to stand around and discuss ad nauseum all the terrible things we may or may not have done in life but instead concentrate and make joy of the wonderful gifts and blessings we have bestowed upon the world.

[SusieP]

Yeah, The Sun newspaper is a joke.

On British tv today they interviewed Mark Lester. He was the child star of the film musical "Oliver" and Godfather to Michael Jackson's children.
He has now retired from showbiz and is an Acupuncturist and Osteopath.
He said that he offered to give Michael treatment for his pain but Michael did not like the 'clicking' noises involved in Osteopathy and he allowed him to practice Acupuncture on him only once because he was terrified of the needles.

The guy seemed pretty genuine and said he has been a friend of Michaels for over thirty years and during the time spent with him, he had never witnessed him taking any medication.

[SusieP]

interesting..........

http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/celeb ... r-mum.html

[StoneCold]

Janet Jackson & Jamie Foxx at BET Awards
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z53RvtKMFw

[UncleKG]

The guy seemed pretty genuine and said he has been a friend of Michaels for over thirty years and during the time spent with him, he had never witnessed him taking any medication.

This guy would be more credible if it wasn't for the fact that everyone acknowledges Michael was in rehab for addiction to painkillers at one time. I'm not discounting everything the man said, but this is something that's public knowledge.

[Don]

The guy seemed pretty genuine and said he has been a friend of Michaels for over thirty years and during the time spent with him, he had never witnessed him taking any medication.

This guy would be more credible if it wasn't for the fact that everyone acknowledges Michael was in rehab for addiction to painkillers at one time. I'm not discounting everything the man said, but this is something that's public knowledge.

I was watching an old interview with MJ last where he himself talked about going into a treatment center after his last tour because he had become dependant on pain medication.

[SusieP]

The guy seemed pretty genuine and said he has been a friend of Michaels for over thirty years and during the time spent with him, he had never witnessed him taking any medication.

This guy would be more credible if it wasn't for the fact that everyone acknowledges Michael was in rehab for addiction to painkillers at one time. I'm not discounting everything the man said, but this is something that's public knowledge.

He said he had never witnessed him taking anything. Which is fair enough. If families spend time together and someone is taking medicine or pills they would take them in the privacy of their room or bathroom, so the fact that this guy never saw MJ take anything doesn't mean he wasn't taking anything.
I think he chose his words very carefully.

But it was the fear of needles comment which I was most interested in - because of the alleged leaked autopsy report saying his body was covered in needle marks.

Why do these tests take so many weeks?

[The Sushi Hunter]

Tabloids are nothing but a big joke so don't read them. Too bad tabloids don't go out of business, cause it would be nice.

[SusieP]

Tabloids are nothing but a big joke so don't read them. Too bad tabloids don't go out of business, cause it would be nice.

I don't pay for them.
I sneak a peek at them for free in my local coffee shop.

As you say, they are mostly rubbish.

[Jana]

interesting..........

http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/celeb ... r-mum.html

They're saying that was a 2004 interview reprinted. But this reminds me of the family weekly interview she did a couple of years ago. In the interview she was kind of a loner, sad figure. She should definitely not be given custody of these children even if she fights for them. The three siblings should be kept together. It would be nice if their ex-nanny could help take care of them with the Michael's mother having custody.

[Don]

interesting..........

http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/celeb ... r-mum.html

They're saying that was a 2004 interview reprinted. But this reminds me of the family weekly interview she did a couple of years ago. In the interview she was kind of a loner, sad figure. She should definitely not be given custody of these children even if she fights for them. The three siblings should be kept together. It would be nice if their ex-nanny could help take care of them with the Michael's mother having custody.

She gave up the kids TWICE for money according to the judge who precided over over one of the cases. Even if their not his kids by blood, once parent actions had been going on over two years, Michael was for all intensive purposes , their parent (according to California anyway). The Judge and most lawyers say she is going to have an expensive uphill battle to get custody of them.

[SusieP]

interesting..........

http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/celeb ... r-mum.html

They're saying that was a 2004 interview reprinted. But this reminds me of the family weekly interview she did a couple of years ago. In the interview she was kind of a loner, sad figure. She should definitely not be given custody of these children even if she fights for them. The three siblings should be kept together. It would be nice if their ex-nanny could help take care of them with the Michael's mother having custody.

She gave up the kids TWICE for money according to the judge who precided over over one of the cases. Even if their not his kids by blood, once parent actions had been going on over two years, Michael was for all intensive purposes , their parent (according to California anyway). The Judge and most lawyers say she is going to have an expensive uphill battle to get custody of them.

I think common sense will preside over that decision.
Remember when Michael Hutchence passed away? And his daughter TigerLily lived with her half-sisters?
And Hutchence's mother & sister tried for custody but the Judge ruled that the little girl should not be separated from her half sisters and he gave custody to Bob Geldof because TigerLily was used to being around him etc.
Maybe the Judge in this case will let them go to Michaels' Mom but also rule that the nanny who has been with them all their lives should be retained as a condition of the custody?

[Jana]

interesting..........

http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/celeb ... r-mum.html

They're saying that was a 2004 interview reprinted. But this reminds me of the family weekly interview she did a couple of years ago. In the interview she was kind of a loner, sad figure. She should definitely not be given custody of these children even if she fights for them. The three siblings should be kept together. It would be nice if their ex-nanny could help take care of them with the Michael's mother having custody.

She gave up the kids TWICE for money according to the judge who precided over over one of the cases. Even if their not his kids by blood, once parent actions had been going on over two years, Michael was for all intensive purposes , their parent (according to California anyway). The Judge and most lawyers say she is going to have an expensive uphill battle to get custody of them.

I think common sense will preside over that decision.
Remember when Michael Hutchence passed away? And his daughter TigerLily lived with her half-sisters?
And Hutchence's mother & sister tried for custody but the Judge ruled that the little girl should not be separated from her half sisters and he gave custody to Bob Geldof because TigerLily was used to being around him etc.
Maybe the Judge in this case will let them go to Michaels' Mom but also rule that the nanny who has been with them all their lives should be retained as a condition of the custody?

Excerpt from article by Deepak Chopra's son on Nanny:

"Michael had a pattern of letting those close to him in and out of his life, and Grace was no exception. Lisa Marie Presley’s reflection on her emotional relationship with Michael expressed beautifully the power Michael had with those he loved. Over the years, Grace faced a similar cycle of wanting to save him and being hurt by him. It was an endless cycle that seemed similar to those faced by friends and families of other addicts. Michael had a knack of surrounding himself with enablers, and avoiding people who wanted to help him like his family, real friends who cared deeply about him, Grace and my father, Deepak Chopra"

He had just recently let her go again.

It was an interesting story written by the son on tabloid journalism and using people to write a story. Apparently, someone got to the nanny after his death pretending to be her friend to write a tabloid story on Michael and twisting her words.

[strangegrey]

What do you people, who are in favor of canonization of this pedo-predator, say to the insistence of jurors in the 2003 case that they believed Michael Jackson was guilty, yet were pressured from all directions to acquit?

OJ was acquitted of murder by this same court system....how many of you felt he was innocent? Come on...be honest, for a change.

[SusieP]

What do you people, who are in favor of canonization of this pedo-predator, say to the insistence of jurors in the 2003 case that they believed Michael Jackson was guilty, yet were pressured from all directions to acquit?

OJ was acquitted of murder by this same court system....how many of you felt he was innocent? Come on...be honest, for a change.

I have been thinking about these Jurors and wondering if they will now come out and give interviews and speak openly.

[Don]

What do you people, who are in favor of canonization of this pedo-predator, say to the insistence of jurors in the 2003 case that they believed Michael Jackson was guilty, yet were pressured from all directions to acquit?

OJ was acquitted of murder by this same court system....how many of you felt he was innocent? Come on...be honest, for a change.

I have been thinking about these Jurors and wondering if they will now come out and give interviews and speak openly.

8 white jurors, (no blacks on the jury at all) and they all were scared to vote differently than what they felt? On every single count?

[strangegrey]

What do you people, who are in favor of canonization of this pedo-predator, say to the insistence of jurors in the 2003 case that they believed Michael Jackson was guilty, yet were pressured from all directions to acquit?

OJ was acquitted of murder by this same court system....how many of you felt he was innocent? Come on...be honest, for a change.

I have been thinking about these Jurors and wondering if they will now come out and give interviews and speak openly.

8 white jurors, (no blacks on the jury at all) and they all were scared to vote differently than what they felt? On every single count?

how does color of their skin have anything to do with the outcome of the case? You said it not I. Why is race always a hot button here?

[SusieP]

Where can I read stuff about them saying they were pressurised, please strangegrey?
I do vaguely remember something about it - but it is a while ago and I can't remember clearly.

Who allegedly pressurised them?

[Don]

What do you people, who are in favor of canonization of this pedo-predator, say to the insistence of jurors in the 2003 case that they believed Michael Jackson was guilty, yet were pressured from all directions to acquit?

OJ was acquitted of murder by this same court system....how many of you felt he was innocent? Come on...be honest, for a change.

I have been thinking about these Jurors and wondering if they will now come out and give interviews and speak openly.

8 white jurors, (no blacks on the jury at all) and they all were scared to vote differently than what they felt? On every single count?

how does color of their skin have anything to do with the outcome of the case? You said it not I. Why is race always a hot button here?

it's not, obviously, so we can't say they voted that way to help a brother out. I'm saying how could intimidation be so strong that not even one of counts went through, even the alcohol one. I have been on juries and can't see how someone, let alone 12 people can be that scared to vote their mind.

[strangegrey]

Where can I read stuff about them saying they were pressurised, please strangegrey?
I do vaguely remember something about it - but it is a while ago and I can't remember clearly.

Who allegedly pressurised them?

I'd have to go hunting for it Susie, I've really lost alot of my energy to pursue this issue. But the main interview was with 2-4 jurors who went on National TV TWO MONTHS after the acquittal and basically asserted their emphatic belief that Jackson was guiltier than dirt....a belief they held during deliberation. Why the acquittal then?

....obviously, there was pressure from somewhere. One can come up with some theories...


I'll look for it, but for the most part, I've lost my energy to discuss this, most of all here.... I've seen alot of all out hypocrisy here over this weekend that makes this place tremendously ugly. I see people that will yell "RACIST" at the first drop of a hint that someone doesn't like Arnel Pineda singing for Journey......yet they mysteriously lose their moral values when it comes to discussing a pedo-predator, just because he was a singer (and not a garbage man or lawyer)

Granted, I knew all along that those jumping headfirst into battle waving the "you're a racist" flag were hypocrites...I never thought it was nearly as pervasive as it really was here.

[SusieP]

I'd have to go hunting for it Susie, I've really lost alot of my energy to pursue this issue. But the main interview was with 2-4 jurors who went on National TV TWO MONTHS after the acquittal and basically asserted their emphatic belief that Jackson was guiltier than dirt....a belief they held during deliberation. Why the acquittal then?

....obviously, there was pressure from somewhere. One can come up with some theories...


I'll look for it, but for the most part, I've lost my energy to discuss this, most of all here.... I've seen alot of all out hypocrisy here over this weekend that makes this place tremendously ugly. I see people that will yell "RACIST" at the first drop of a hint that someone doesn't like Arnel Pineda singing for Journey......yet they mysteriously lose their moral values when it comes to discussing a pedo-predator, just because he was a singer (and not a garbage man or lawyer)

Granted, I knew all along that those jumping headfirst into battle waving the "you're a racist" flag were hypocrites...I never thought it was nearly as pervasive as it really was here.

Its ok, thanks. xxx
I'll look.
I do remember one of the elderly female jurors saying on BBC news [after the verdict] that she was unhappy. But my memory was that she was in the minority and was upset that the other jurors had voted not guilty and she thought he was guilty.
I don't remember her saying she was made to vote the opposite of how she wanted to.........................but as I said, it was a long time ago and I can't really remember.
But don't go to any trouble for me, mate. I'll have a look myself.
I'm just curious.

They say money talks.
But it also makes people stay quiet.