Michael Jackson (108 page)

During this time, Michael Jackson should, it could be argued, only be presented in a way that is credible to critical-thinking
people and not just that faction of the public arena – his fans, mostly – who will believe anything they are told as long as it
is stated by a famous person, or someone described as ‘an official spokesman’. Of course, as soon as Louis Farrakhan made
his sweeping and untrue racial generalization in an attempt to play on the basic fears of people of colour, his support of
Michael lost all credibility, or as one pundit put it, ‘Too bad that after all these years he doesn’t know where to draw the
line.’

It does seem that the Nation has isolated Michael from those in his circle. Even his family members, such as his own mother,
have not had access to him after the generous show of familial support at the arraignment. His videographer, Christian Robinson,
has not seen Michael since the day of the arrest, either. He ‘absolutely’ believes that the Nation of Islam has kept him away
from Jackson. At Michael’s arraignment, a different videographer was at his side when the star leapt atop an automobile to
greet his fans. He says that the Nation’s influence is ‘hopefully the closest thing to a jail Michael will ever see’.

It’s easy to blame the Nation for running interference between Michael Jackson and others, especially lately, but if one traces
Michael’s history, there has always been some person or some group of people charged with isolating him – and at his own request.

Ten years ago, for instance, when Michael didn’t want to be pressured during the Jordie Chandler debacle with the possibility
of another Jackson family reunion venture, his attorneys and Elizabeth Taylor were charged with keeping his parents and siblings
at bay. Remember Katherine Jackson asking why it was that Elizabeth had access to Michael, but she did not? Years before that,
the job fell to Frank Dileo. Everyone in the family complained then that
he
was the one keeping them from Michael. Before that, John Branca was the person certain family members, blamed for preventing
them from having free access to Michael. Going all the way back to the late 1970s, Michael’s managers Ron Weisner and Freddie
DeMann were targeted by Joseph and Katherine as being culprits responsible for ruining their relationship with Michael by
not allowing them to speak to him.

In truth, no one has ever kept Michael Jackson from anyone in his family, or from certain staff members, without his explicit
request that distance be created between him… and ‘them’. The representatives from the Nation of Islam may or may not have
their own financial or political agenda at hand in their association with Michael. However, to Michael they serve what he
feels is a valuable and habitual purpose: they shelter him from those he feels are out to drain him of whatever little joy
he has left in life. Maybe his family has all of the best of intentions, and nothing but love for him, these days. However,
if Michael doesn’t see it that way and if he doesn’t act as if he wants them in his life, the notion of their affection and
loyalty is moot.

As far as Debbie Rowe is concerned, for her to end up on the outside side of Michael’s present circle is a surprising occurrence.
The question remains, though, as to whether or not she has a right to an opinion about Michael’s children, and the way they
are being raised. She and Michael did have a custody and visitation agreement (while she did not have custody, she was allowed
a couple of visits a year if she wanted them, an opportunity of which she had not availed herself in the past), but it can
be changed at any time, said her attorney, ‘with a showing of changed circumstances’. While she gave away custody of her children,
she, apparently, did not give away her parental rights. ‘She can always go back to the courts and re-petition to change custody,’
said one attorney, ‘however, no one ever thought she would, but she did – after she could not get a return call from Michael,
and after she felt disrespected by him.’

When Michael set a dismissive tone with his ex-wife, his loyalists followed suit and froze her out, as well. Suddenly, no
one was returning her phone calls, nor those of her attorney. Whereas just a year earlier, Michael had called upon Debbie
to appear in a documentary defending him against the Martin Bashir allegations, now he wanted nothing to do with her. ‘Doesn’t
she know I have enough on my hands?’ he asked one associate. ‘Why can’t she just leave me and my children alone?’

While Michael’s associates held a major meeting at the Beverly Hills Hotel in January 2004 to discuss his future, Debbie was
in a meeting of her own: at the Ivy in Beverly Hills with two of Michael’s former managers, Dieter Weisner and Ronald Konitzer,
to discuss her concern over the involvement of the Nation of Islam in Michael’s life, and also her options relating to child
custody.

A final straw for Debbie came in the week of 16 February 2004 when she heard rumours that Michael had gone back into rehab,
this time in Colorado.

In truth, Michael was not in rehab in Colorado, but was being treated there by herbalist Alfredo Bowman for what one source
close to him describes as ‘not really an addiction but definitely a dependency’ on morphine and the prescription-drug Demerol.
Michael’s use of such drugs might explain his detached and odd demeanour of late, especially during his interview with Ed
Bradley for
60 Minutes
during which he seemed physically and mentally lethargic. According to reports, he’s been using the medications in order
to cope with the stress of the allegations and with chronic insomnia. It’s dangerous behaviour, especially considering what
happened ten years ago when he became addicted to painkillers during the Jordie Chandler matter and ended up in rehab in England.

Alfredo Bowman maintains an office in Beverly Hills, and another in Honduras. He was treating TLC singer Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes
at his ‘USHA Healing Village’ when she died in a car accident there, in the spring of 2002. Bowman apparently got into trouble
with the New York State attorney general a couple of years ago when that office objected to his claiming to have found cures
for AIDS, cancer and leukaemia. On his website Bowman boasts of never having gone to school – ‘not even kindergarten’. His website
also claims, ‘We are proud to inform you that Cosmo Therapy is part of our healing journey realigning with the energy of life
which is beyond spirituality. Return to MOTHER!!!’

Debbie tried to obtain information about Michael’s so-called ‘detox’, but, again, was unsuccessful in contacting him, or anyone
around him. The walls around Michael and his children were up, and she was on one side, while the Jackson camp was on the
other side. She has always said that Michael is not a paedophile; however, according to sources close to her, she is no longer
sure what to believe about him – and until she makes up her mind, she wants guardianship of her two children. She’s even indicated
in court papers filed in Los Angeles that the children are not biologically Michael’s, no surprise to his critics who have
always been sceptical of the paternity of his children.

In a court order filed on Friday 20 February 2004, Superior Court Judge Carolyn Kuhl approved an agreement reached by the
Rowe and Jackson camps to have retired Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Stephen M. Lachs preside over the case. The order
said his appointment would continue ‘until the conclusion of all matters’.

Judge Lachs works with a centre for alternative dispute resolution that allows parties concerned about their privacy who are
involved in civil disputes to hire private judges at a rate of $650 an hour. ‘They hire private judges so that everything
can be done behind closed doors,’ said attorney Dana Cole, an expert in family law who is not involved in this case. However,
Lachs has said that much of what occurs in his ‘private’ court room will still be open to public scrutiny. The private judge’s
rulings will be as binding as if they were made in a regular family court.

While Michael does not wish for the matter to proceed as it is in the court system, he has had little choice in it. Ironically,
the millions he has paid Debbie over the years have made it possible for her to become one of his biggest adversaries, and
maybe one of his biggest nightmares. He’s going up against a woman who can afford to retain legal counsel as powerful as his
own – and using money he has paid her to do it! Michael’s signature on the paperwork is big and sprawling, as if he was extremely
agitated when he committed it to the document.

Those in his private world say that Debbie Rowe’s re-emergence in Michael Jackson’s life as an opposing force is as hurtful
to him as the allegations of child molestation. In retrospect, Michael handled the matter of Debbie’s discontent the way he
handles most problems – he tried to avoid it. As has been repeatedly stated by those who know him, he is childlike in many ways,
and, it seems, has become more so in this last, traumatizing year – especially when it comes to dealing with unpleasantness.

Like a youngster facing some disagreeable situation, Michael simply could not, or would not, cope with it. He was frightened
that Debbie Rowe was positioning herself to pose a serious threat to his family. His hands would shake when he would pick
up the telephone to call her. He couldn’t follow through, he was so fearful of what it was she wanted from him and how she
might impact his relationship with his children, all three of who have given him the greatest joy he has ever known. One of
his associates recalled it best: he handed him the phone to call her. ‘Do it, Mike. You gotta call her,’ he said. Michael
looked at him with such an anguished expression, it appeared that he was about to let out a long, desperate scream. But he
didn’t. Instead, he put the phone down and walked away in tears. ‘Not Debbie too,’ he said, shaking his in disbelief. ‘Not
Debbie too.’

In April 2004, a secret Grand Jury convened in Santa Barbara County to hear from witnesses brought forth by District Attorney
Tom Sneddon to testify against Michael Jackson – including his present accuser. The jury then handed down an indictment against
the entertainer on molestation charges. The decision means that a majority of the members of the Grand Jury felt enough evidence
existed in the case against Jackson to bring it to trial. However, a California Grand Jury is simply a function of the prosecution;
the defence does not have the opportunity to present its case, and isn’t even present at the proceedings. Therefore, with
DA Sneddon vociferously offering everything he has against Michael Jackson – and with no rebuttal or cross-examination of witnesses
from Jackson’s team – how could the result have been anything but an indictment?

After the indictment, to make matters even more complicated, Michael suddenly dismissed his attorneys, Mark Geragos and Benjamin
Brafman. They were replaced by Thomas Mesereau Jr., another well-known criminal defence attorney, who represented actor Robert
Blake in his murder case (until they parted company, citing irreconcilable differences). In an interview, Brafman indicated
that the decision did not come directly from Michael (though he believes Michael had a hand in it), but rather from ‘advisers
and family members’. He further added that the parting of ways was ‘for reasons we choose not to discuss publicly’. It was
reported that Michael’s brothers Randy and Jermaine were influential in the matter, as was Leonard Muhammad of the Nation
of Islam.

It now seems clear that there are members of Michael’s family who have future career plans in mind for him… and probably for
themselves, as well. They are trying to protect their brother (which is admirable) and, perhaps, their own interests (which
is probably not as commendable, but also not particularly surprising, if one reviews family history). Again, one is forced
to wonder how much decision-making power Michael has, or even wants, in his present dilemma… and how many other key players
with mixed agendas may enter stage left and exit stage right before the Jackson show plays before judge and jury.

It is obviously a tragic turn of events if Michael Jackson is being targeted with untrue allegations of child-molestation.
At this writing, he is enduring the saddest, most agonizing period of his life. Ironically, prior to this ordeal, he was beginning
to rise to the challenge of looking at his world in a new and profound way, trying to come to terms with the ugliness of some
of his past. He seemed to be finding a measure of contentment, perhaps for the first time, as he raised his children. He had
also just begun to rediscover the joy of music. Finally, the Jordie Chandler matter of a decade ago was beginning to fade
from public consciousness. Then, this new
thing
happened, a matter so awful as to lay waste to any personal progress he had made – setting him back years, perhaps making it
impossible for him to ever reconcile any of his troubles and to take full responsibility for his choices, indeed his life.
However, until he does so, perhaps he is destined to repeat the same mistakes, as if he is the beleaguered star of a horrible,
Greek tragedy. In truth, there seems to never be a time when he is free of crisis.