Michael Jackson (123 page)

The story about Michael Jackson, the Blarney Stone and AIDS was published in the
Rolling Stone
issue of 6 October 1988.

LaToya Jackson’s allegations that Michael had been molested as a child were reprinted in numerous publications and also broadcast
on CNN in July 1988. She and I also discussed the matter in 1993, in Spain, after the original edition of this book was published.

In the matter of Lavon Muhammad, aka Billie Jean, I used as source material Muhammad’s handwritten Petition for Dissolution
of Marriage, 19 January 1988, and the case of
Michael Jackson v. Lavon Muhammad
, 1 February 1987, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Los Angeles County, case number 17925. Numerous employees were subpoenaed
to testify to Muhammad’s harassment of Michael Jackson.

I obtained a copy of Michael Jackson’s current contracts with CBS Records. I also had a number of anonymous sources, many
of whom are still working for Michael Jackson, who provided the bulk of the information in the last two chapters of the book.

Dr Robert Kotler was interviewed on 4 November 1990.

Donna Burton, Dr Steven Hoefflin’s secretary, was contacted on 30 November 1990.

I also referred to the
Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs
, seventh edition, by the American Pharmaceutical Association.

I reviewed the transcript of the Jacksons’ appearance on
Donahue
, 10 November 1989, and the transcript of LaToya Jackson’s appearance on
Donahue
, 9 February 1989. I also reviewed the transcript of Katherine Jackson’s appearance on
Sally Jessy Rafael
, 30 November 1990.

Janet Jackson is the first artist to have seven Top Five singles from one album, her
Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814
. She signed one of the largest recording contracts in history when she pacted with Virgin Records in March 1991 for an estimated
thirty-two million dollars. Some observers feel that Michael may have delayed the finalization of his own ‘billion-dollar’
contract with CBS (now Sony) until Janet’s deal was announced, giving her the chance to hold the record for biggest contract
before stepping back in to reclaim it for himself.

Michael Jackson and the Koreans

Regarding the Korean/Moonies incident, I drew from personal interviews with Jerome Howard on 29 October 1990 and Kenneth Choi
on 11 January 1990.

I also used as source material the following documents filed in the United States District Court for the Central District
of California, all case number CV 90 4906 KN:

Segye Times, Inc., v. Joseph Jackson, Katherine Jackson, Jackson Records Company, Inc., Jackson Family Concerts International,
Jerome Howard, Kyu-Sun Choi, Mi Rae Choi, Michael Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Bill Bray, Ben Brown d/b/a Jackson Marketing
& Distributing Company and Does 1 to 100
, 17 October 1990.

Bill Bray v. Kenneth Choi
, 17 October 1990.

Michael Jackson v. Segye Times, Inc
., 17 October 1990.

Sworn Declaration of Michael Jackson, 17 October 1990.

Michael Jackson v. Kenneth Choi
, 17 October 1990.

Sworn Declaration of Bill Bray, 17 October 1990.

Answer of Defendant Michael Jackson to First Amended Complaint, 17 October 1990.

Answer of Defendant Bill Bray to First Amended Complaint, 17 October 1990.

Katherine Jackson v. LaToya Jackson Gordon and Jack Gordon

Details of the lawsuit brought by Katherine Jackson against LaToya Jackson were culled from the following documents filed
in Los Angeles Superior Court, Los Angeles County, case number NWC55803:

Katherine Jackson v. Jack Gordon; LaToya Jackson aka LaToya Gordon,
February 28, 1990.

Notice of Pendency of Action,
Katherine Jackson v. Jack Gordon; LaToy a Jackson a/k/a LaToya Gordon
, 2 March 1990.

Michael Jackson and Jordie Chandler

I interviewed Michael in August 1994, regarding Jordie and Evan Chandler’s allegations. Most of the material from that interview
was deemed too sensitive at the time and, therefore, went unpublished until now, with the publication of this revised edition
of
Michael Jackson: The Magic and the Madness
. Some of it, however, appeared in the following articles I wrote, from which I also drew for the new edition of this book:
‘Michael Jackson: “I’d Never Hurt a Child” – World Exclusive: First Interview Since Explosive Charges’ by J. Randy Taraborrelli
(Michael’s Noted Biographer),
Star
, 6 September 1994; ‘Save Me, Elizabeth. Save my Life! – World Exclusive’ by J. Randy Taraborrelli,
Star
, 13 September 1994; ‘Shocking Truth About Michael Jackson Strip-Search Photos – What they Show – World Exclusive’ by J. Randy
Taraborrelli,
Star
, 20 September 1994.

I attended at least a dozen press conferences relating to the allegations and took advantage of the many opportunities I had
to question attorneys Bert Fields and Howard Weitzman and investigator Anthony Pellicano to clear confusing matters in my
mind, and then reported my findings on American television broadcasts relating to the case. (Note that the secretly tape-recorded
conversations between Evan Chandler and Dave Schwartz were played by Anthony Pellicano during two such press conferences,
on 30 August and 1 September 1993. The tapes were also broadcast on the television programme
American Justice
, 21 September 1994.)

Most of my other sources for information regarding the sensitive issue of Jordie Chandler must remain confidential.

In a perfect world, there would be no reason for confidentiality: everyone would be able to speak his mind without fear of
repercussions. However, many of those interviewed are high-profile people who still work in the entertainment industry today.
Others work in the Los Angeles Department of Children’s Services, the Sheriffs Department of Santa Barbara, California, and
the Child Abuse Unit of the Los Angeles Police Department. It is not fair to expect these sources to risk their careers and
the trust of their clients (if they are in the representation field) so that they can assist me in my work with a book. Other
than to set the record straight, these individuals have nothing to gain from offering valuable insight and, in some cases,
everything to lose.

The same is true of reporters who work for Associated Press and other news agencies that utilize confidential sources, I make
every effort to check the legitimacy and accuracy of any source who requests anonymity. If I do not trust a source, no information
from that person is utilized – whether the person requested anonymity or not. Also, I always have more than one source for any
information that might be considered controversial.

Whether to use significant information given under a condition of anonymity is always a difficult decision for a writer. However,
I feel a strong obligation to my readers to present the facts as best I can, just as I feel an obligation to my sources to
protect them should they feel protection is necessary.

From the text, the reader should be able to glean that I have interviewed most of the principals involved in the Jordie Chandler
matter over the years, even though they wish not to be acknowledged here.

I also drew from lengthy conversations with Larry Feldman, Michael Freeman, Anthony Pellicano, Diane Dimond, Vinnie Zuffante,
Mark Quindoy, Jack Gordon, LaToya Jackson, Ernie Rizzo, Lauren Weis, Gary Spiegel, Robert Wegner, Charles T. Matthews, Tom
Sneddon, Harry Benson, Russell Turiak and Susan Crimp.

I also referred to voluminous court records and documents, including complaints, motions and depositions pertaining to ‘
Jordan Chandler v. Michael Jackson
‘ Case Number SC026226.

Moreover, I referred to all of the documents pertaining to
Chandler v. Jackson
(ABC and Diane Sawyer and Lisa Marie Presley), Court Case Number SM097360. This was the case filed by Evan Chandler after
Michael and Lisa appeared in a television broadcast with Diane Sawyer and proclaimed his innocence.

I also referenced:
Rothman v. Jackson
(Weitzman, Fields, Pellicano), Case Number SC32081;
Morris Williams, Leroy A. Thomas, Donald Storks, Fred Hammond and Aaron White v. Michael Jackson
, Case Number BC093593;
Michael J. Jackson v. Diane Dimond, Stephen Doran, K-ABC Radio and Paramount Pictures Corp
., Case Number BC 119773 (as well as ‘Michael Jackson’s Statement Re Lies and Falsehoods’ from Howard Weitzman, Esq., 11 January
1995.

Michael and Lisa Marie Presley

I drew from my interviews with Lisa Marie Presley, which first appeared in ‘Suspicious Minds – The Troubled Life and Times of
a rock ‘n’ roll Heiress’, by J. Randy Taraborrelli, Sunday Magazine (
The Times
), 14 April 1996.

In 1997, as a consequence of the strong reaction to the Sunday Magazine feature, I began researching and writing a book about
Lisa Marie Presley, which was to be called
Elvis, Priscilla, Michael and Me
. However, I abandoned plans for the book when my career went into a different direction (with my biography of Frank Sinatra).
I conducted a great deal of research for the Lisa Marie biography, some of which appeared in articles I wrote, such as: ‘Lisa
Marie Presley –
Seule, toujours seule
‘ by J. Randy Taraborrelli,
Paris Match
, June 1996; ‘Lisa Marie, Michael and Debbie’ by J. Randy Taraborrelli,
Star
, 25 February 1997; ‘Michael and Lisa Marie’ by J. Randy Taraborrelli,
Star
, 4 March 1997; ‘Millionaire Lisa Marie Presley’ by J. Randy Taraborrelli,
Star
, 11 March 1997.

Of course, I also drew from my own interviews with Michael, and stories based on those interviews, such as: ‘Michael Insists:
‘This Marriage is no Joke”’ by J. Randy Taraborrelli,
Star
, 27 September 1994; ‘Jackson Insists Kiss was a Thriller’
USA Today
, 13 September 1994; ‘Jacko Finally Breaks His Silence’ by J. Randy Taraborrelli,
Woman’s Day
, September 1995.

On 18 January 1996, I appeared on CNN to announce that Lisa Marie Presley had filed for divorce from Michael Jackson. For
that broadcast, I conducted my own, independent research, from which I also relied for this updated book.

I also drew on my article, ‘Princess Heartbreak’ by J. Randy Taraborrelli,
New Idea
, 28 January 2002.

I also referred to my research for the following articles: ‘The Secret Power of Liz Taylor’ by J. Randy Taraborrelli,
Woman’s Day
, 11 December 2000; ‘Taraborrelli Defends Jackson (and Himself!)’ by Michelle Cushing, ‘King of Pop’, the
Official Magazine of MJ News International
, Issue Number 6, 1996; ‘Jackson scandal will be History’,
New York Post
, 22 June 1994; ‘Michael Promises No More Plastic Surgery’ by J. Randy Taraborrelli,
Woman’s Day
, 25 December 2000; ‘Diana Ross and Michael Jackson’ by J. Randy Taraborrelli,
Woman’s Day
, December 2000.

Regarding Michael’s hospital stay in 1995, I reported the story for CNN on 6 December, and did my own independent research
for it at that time.

Thanks to Donald Trump, Hugo Alvarez-Perez, Marcel Marceau, Brett Livingston-Stone, Monica Pastelle and Otis Williams of The
Temptations.

Of course, I was the reporter at the Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills to whom Elizabeth Taylor said, ‘I am not in the business
of clarifying rumours,’ and then issued the somewhat startling order, ‘Now, be gone!’

I also referred to reams of press coverage and TV interviews given by Lisa Marie Presley to publicize her Capitol Records
2003 release,
To Whom it May Concern
, including ‘Q and A with Lisa Marie Presley’ by Rob Tannenbaum, for
Playboy
, May 2003.

I also referred to the court records relating to Lisa Marie Presley’s petition to dissolve her marriage to Michael Jackson
(Case Number BD22906).

Michael and Debbie Rowe up to Present Day

For most of these chapters, I drew from my own television reporting on Michael Jackson in the United States and Europe. It
would be too lengthy a list for me to detail all of the television programmes I have appeared on having to do with Michael,
Lisa Marie Presley and Debbie Rowe since the publication of the first edition of this book; I have made literally hundreds
of appearances on shows such as
Today, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Prime Time – Live, Dateline, The Larry King Show, CNN Headline News
, and many others, expressing my views about Michael based on my own independent research.

Some of my most recent television appearances relating to Michael Jackson had to do with analyzing his interview with Martin
Bashir, on programmes such as: ‘Michael Jackson – UnMasked’,
Dateline
, NBC, 17 February 2003; ‘Michael Jackson,’
Prime Time
, 6 February 2003;
The Many Faces of Michael Jackson – Prime Time Special Edition
, ABC, 17 February 2003;
CBS-This Morning
, 18 February 2003. I also reported on Michael for
Michael Jackson: The E! True Hollywood Story
, June 2003.

I was also a contributor to the highly rated documentary
Michael Jackson’s Face
, on Channel 5 in the United Kingdom, the highest-rated original programme ever broadcast on the channel.

I also drew from my research for ‘The Secret Michael Jackson’” (three-part series,) by J. Randy Taraborrelli,
Daily Mail
, September 1998.

Thanks also to Gordon Rowe, Steve Shmerier, Marsha Devlin, Tanya Boyd, Mavis McDermott, Mario Pikus and Theodore Miller for
their assistance in understanding Michael’s marriage to Debbie Rowe.

Library Research

The following institutions were extremely helpful to my research:

American Film Institute Library; Associated Press Office (New York); The Bancroft Library (University of California, Berkeley);
The Brand Library Art and Music Center; British Film Institute Library Archives; Born Free Foundation; Boston Herald Archives;
The Beverly Hills Library; British Broadcasting Corporation; University of California, Los Angeles; California State Archives
(Sacramento); Corbis-Gamma/Liaison; The Glendale Central Public Library; Hayden Library; The Hartford Public Library; The
Hollywood Library; The Houghton Library (Harvard University); Hulton Picture Library; Lincoln Center Library of the Performing
Arts; Kobal Collection; The Los Angeles Public Library; the
Los Angeles Times
; The Margaret Herrick Library (Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences); the
Michigan Chronicle
; Museum of Modern Art (The Film Study Center); Museum of the Film; National Archives and the Library of Congress; The Neal
Peters Collection; New York City Municipal Archives; New York Public Library;
New York Daily News; New York Post; New York Times
; Occidental College, (Eagle Rock, California), Philadelphia Free Library (Theater Collection); Philadelphia Public Library;
Philadelphia Historical Society; the
Philadelphia Inquirer
and the
Philadelphia Daily News
; Photofest; Princeton University (The William Seymour Theater Collection).