Anti Michael Jackson Thread

[Jayd]

After seeing the news breaks, I can already tell we'll be needing it.

[asickchick]

What happened? What did I miss? What has he done now?

[lpelham]

Here's what CNN is saying:

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Investigators from the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office and Sheriff's Department searched entertainer Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch on Tuesday as part of an "ongoing criminal investigation," a spokesman said.

The search warrant was served at 8:30 a.m. (11:30 a.m. ET), said Chris Pappas, a spokesman for the sheriff's department.

A source close to Jackson said the singer was not at or near the ranch, but was in the country. The execution of the search warrant came as a "total surprise," the source said.

No details were released about what sparked the criminal investigation.

The search was conducted on the same day that Epic Records released his greatest hits album and DVD "Michael Jackson Number Ones."

[Momof2totsand1teen]

I just heard a 12 year old boy made "allegations".

[zitra]

Originally posted by Momof2totsand1teen
I just heard a 12 year old boy made "allegations".

Oh man...here it goes again!!

[Hi_Ya!]

Maybe he'll finally be charged this time!

[captorquewrench]

maybe it will be just quicker to ask which kids are NOT making allegations.

my kids saw him on tv earlier this year and yelled for me to come quick and look at the "freaky lady" :eek: LOL

[justme23]

You know, even tho he's a celebrity and they are often accused w/out merit, one has to ask themselves HOW many times someone has to be accused before something will actually happen. One kid w/ a greedy family... I buy, I even buy 2 or 3 (once they see how easy it is), but he's not even big in the news anymore... so I really feel there has to be SOME truth in some of these allegations. The problem I see w/ him being prosecuted is that he can pull out his checkbook and make it go away and I say 'shame on the parents who let this happen'. I can't imagine how guilty i'd feel if I let money come before the safety of another child!!

[schsa]

Unfortunately MJ has a history. I'm sure his lawyers are already trying to determine how much money the accuser wants to keep quiet. Never hurts to pay someone off before the scandal really starts.

[teddy2948]

Originally posted by justme23
... The problem I see w/ him being prosecuted is that he can pull out his checkbook and make it go away and I say 'shame on the parents who let this happen'. I can't imagine how guilty i'd feel if I let money come before the safety of another child!!

ITA

I just cant understand it as a parent. But maybe with all his high priced lawyers, they didn't want to put their kids through such a public trial. I'm sure the press alone would have drove them all crazy! But like you said, it allows the safety of a child to be compromised and no amount of money can be worth that!

[Ireland]

I just read what the boy said happened between him and Michael Jackson on Smoking Gun and it's shocking and sickning!
What mother lets their son sleep in the the bed of a stranger??

[zitra]

Originally posted by Ireland
I just read what the boy said happened between him and Michael Jackson on Smoking Gun and it's shocking and sickning!
What mother lets their son sleep in the the bed of a stranger??

By the same token what kind of a NORMAL grown man/adult sleeps with ANY children other than his own??

[Princess4J]

ANYONE REMEMBER THAT INTERVIEW W/ HIM, WHEN HE CLIMBED THE TREE ?
HIS "RELATIONSHIP" WITH THE BOY WHO WAS FEATURED MADE MY STOMACHE TURN. I DON'T CARE HOW RICH YOU ARE, YOUR'E A 45 YR OLD MAN, MY SON - CHILD, IS NOT GOING TO SLEEP OVER AT YOUR HOUSE !!

[sivohdarba]

Ok. I am confused. I went to www.thesmokinggun.com and read the complaint. It appears to me to be the same one that was on there the last time MJ was accused of sexually abusing kids.
From what I read on reuters, nothing has been disclosed except that a young boy had made allegations against MJ. Has anyone else read the court papers on the smoking gun and agree they look/sound familiar?

[harloo]

I think it is no coincidence that when his album is about to drop the LAPD does a raid on his home. Remember Michael got into that public feud with Tommy Mottola at Sony. I just find it strange that the LAPD would raid his home when their are no new charges being brought forward.

I think Michael Jackson is a sad case. He once was a great artist, and a little african american young man who had everything to be proud of. However he has turned into a freak, who just needs help because even if the allegations are true or false his fascination with children is frightening.

Also any parent that would allow Michael to sleep in the bed with their child should been sent to jail. I am not implying that Michael molests them, but something is just not right with a grown a@! man laying in the bed with young children that are not his own.

[zitra]

I am watching Larry King and Johnny Chchran talk abou it on CNN right now.

[Unicornmom77]

gee i bet he has a recod comihg out soon....

always happens together!!

i dont know what to think but they need to figure it out or move on!

[captorquewrench]

to clarify: what's on the smoking gun has been there for a long time. it is the report from the incident in 1993. the page has only been updated to say there are new allegations. this new case is unrelated to the 1993 incident.

court tv has some info and a video of footage of the investigators' arrival

http://www.courttv.com/home_news/index.html

[Jaidness]

I also agree that the parents should be charged as well. What parent in their right mind would let their kid hang out with him alone? I mean get real...how irresponsible is that on the parents part?I wonder how come all the charities that take all the time and money MJ dishes out have nothing to say?IMO this is another attempt to extort money from MJ and if it proves to be true then the parents should be charged with neglect.it just strikes me as odd that after all the media attention regarding the allegations previously that a parent would allow their adolescent male son to be alone with MJ...make *me* think.

[feliciac]

Originally posted by Jaidness
I also agree that the parents should be charged as well. What parent in their right mind would let their kid hang out with him alone? I mean get real...how irresponsible is that on the parents part?I wonder how come all the charities that take all the time and money MJ dishes out have nothing to say?IMO this is another attempt to extort money from MJ and if it proves to be true then the parents should be charged with neglect.it just strikes me as odd that after all the media attention regarding the allegations previously that a parent would allow their adolescent male son to be alone with MJ...make *me* think.


My thoughts exactly! I think it is about time these parents are responsible for taking care of their chidlren. We gripe and moan when child molestors are let out of prison and live in our neighborhoods, but people willingly let their children go to his ranch. What is wrong with that picture?

[teddy2948]

Arrest warrant reportedly issued for Michael Jackson

Police searched Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch as part of another molestation investigation involving the "King of Pop."

(11/19/03 - LOS OLIVOS, CA) — Pop star Michael Jackson has been accused of multiple counts of child molestation involving a 12-year-old boy and a warrant has reportedly been issued for his arrest.

The official documents in the case have been sealed because it involves a minor and sensitive charges, but Court TV reported, citing anonymous sources, that a Santa Barbara County, Calif., judge signed an arrest warrant for Jackson.

Between 60 and 70 investigators from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department and the district attorney's office carried out a search warrant Tuesday morning at the 45-year-old singer's home in the Santa Ynez Valley, officials said. They spent several hours at the ranch.

Court TV's Diane Dimond said law enforcement sources told her an arrest warrant had been issued which would allow Jackson to be put in handcuffs in all 50 states.

The search was part of an "ongoing criminal investigation," Sgt. Chris Pappas said in a statement, but authorities declined to elaborate. They plan to hold a news conference today. Pappas denied an arrest warrant had been issued.

Brian Oxman, an attorney who has represented Jackson family members in the past, said the investigation involved a molestation allegation.

"The investigation is about a 12-year-old boy. This involves a molestation allegation," Oxman said in a statement. "Sheriff's deputies have been investigating this case for months. There's been an ambulance that has already come and gone. And there is a forensics van, on the scene. Here we go again. This is insane."

Jackson spokesman Stuart Backerman told ABCNEWS that Oxman was not authorized to make official statements on the singer's behalf. In a statement released this evening, Jackson's official representative said he did not know what the investigation was about, but that the entertainer would cooperate with authorities.

Backerman condemned the "malignant horde of media hounds" who claimed to have the inside scoop.

"A rogue's gallery of hucksters and self-styled 'inside sources' have dominated the airwaves since reports of a search of Neverland broke, speculating, guessing and fabricating information about an investigation they couldn't possibly know about," Backerman's statement said.

Backerman said Jackson himself said: "'I've seen lawyers who do not represent me and spokespeople who do not know me speaking for me. These characters always seem to surface with a dreadful allegation just as another project, an album, a video, is being released.' "

The search came as Epic Records on Tuesday released Number Ones, a greatest-hits collection featuring Jackson's No. 1 hit songs and his new single, "One More Chance."

[freeplease]

where MJ finds all these rocks the parents seem to be living under. It's impossible to think that ANYONE wouldn't know about his history. I'm just dumbfounded that he still has his own kids. What does it take to get them away from this creature?

[AngelGrim]

It seemed to be the story from 93 I thought there was a new story about a new kid, or am I lost

[MamaFairal]

After all he has been accused of in the past, why would a sane adult let their child go to his house and spend the night in the first place? I can understand maybe going to check out "Neverland" with adult supervision...but ya just dont let your kids spend the night with celebrities.......i wouldnt!

[schsa]

It comes down to money. Parents see money when they see MJ. And there will always be those people who don't want to think that he is capable of doing anything negative. I think that there are people who will let their kids go with MJ just for the presents that they will receive.

Sad but what other reason would you have to send your 12 year old son off with someone who has had allegations of child molestation against them.

[Blackerose]

I heard on a morning radio talk show today that this case was reported 3 months ago by the child's therapist. The boy told her, not his parents, and she called the police. The police has been investigating this case for 3 months. They also said that in 1994 the law was changed in CA, the family can still sue in a civil court, but the criminal charges cannot be dropped because there is a financial settlement. MJ cannot buy his way out of this one. I don't know if it is true, but I also heard this child has cancer. Anyone who touches a child with a life threatening illness is really sick.

[freebema]

Hes a FREAK!!!!! Thats all there is to it! They need to go on and put him in PRISON then some BIG BIG BURLEY MAN can have his way with him! O O wait that might make him happy!As far as the parents go I assume they are nuts!!!! U might take your child to never never land but leave em there NO WAY!!!!!!! The whole place is as freaky as he is!
Give it up Micheal!!!!!! STOP!!QUIT!!!!!GO AWAY!!!!!! One last thought I STILL CAN"T BELIEVE LISA MARIE PRESLEY A NATIVE TENNESSEE GIRL WOULD MARRY HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:( :( O MY WHAT WAS SHE THINKIN?????

[MySonNick1]

Jackson preparing to turn himself in

The Associated Press

Michael Jackson is accused of multiple counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14 years.

Faces charges of molestation

Wire services
Nov. 20, 2003 12:00 AM


Pop star Michael Jackson late Wednesday was making arrangements to turn himself in to face charges alleging he molested at least one child at his Neverland Ranch compound.

According to a spokesman, Jackson is planning to turn himself in to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, which issued a warrant for his arrest after interviewing at least one child who complained of molestation and after lengthy searches of the Neverland complex and other unspecified buildings in Southern California.

The charges, involving "lewd acts" with a child under 14, carry a minimum of three years in prison and a maximum of eight. Bail will be set at $3 million, officials said.

The 45-year-old singer, whose albums and concerts were hugely popular in the 1980s, denied the charges and questioned their timing, given the fact that he is releasing a new album.

"Michael would never harm a child in any way," spokesman Stuart Backerman said in a prepared statement. "These scurrilous and totally unfounded allegations will be proven false in a courtroom."




Backerman said Jackson and his attorney were making arrangements to meet with Santa Barbara District Attorney Thomas Sneddon, who is expected to file formal charges as early as today. A throng of media watched the arrival of airplanes at Santa Barbara Airport on Wednesday night. Several law enforcement vehicles also were parked on the field, but there was no sign of Jackson.

A decade ago, Jackson was accused of molestation but was never charged because the youngster refused to testify.

"I am sad that there is another victim out there. I feel bad for the family. I feel bad for the victim. Beyond that, I feel it is a sad thing for all those involved," District Attorney Thomas W. Sneddon Jr. said at a news conference.

Sneddon would not say when or where the crimes are alleged to have been committed or how old the youngster is. He said an affidavit outlining the details will be sealed for 45 days.

Brian Oxman, an attorney who has represented the Jackson family over the years, told CBS that the case involves allegations made by a 12-year-old boy. Oxman is not representing Jackson.

CBS immediately pulled a Jackson music special planned for next Wednesday.



"Given the gravity of the charges against Mr. Jackson, we believe it would be inappropriate at this time to broadcast an entertainment special," the network said.

On Tuesday, as many as 70 law enforcement officers spent 12 hours searching the Neverland Ranch for corroborating evidence. The $12.3 million ranch has a mansion, zoo and amusement park.

The announcement of the warrant came at an often-jovial news conference with Sheriff Jim Anderson and Sneddon. The prosecutor looked sheepish after gesturing so forcefully that he knocked over a news organization's microphone.



Asked about parents who let their children go to Neverland for sleepovers, the sheriff responded, "My advice is, don't do it." The remark drew laughter, and Sneddon added, "None of our kids are there."

Sneddon also drew chuckles when he welcomed media to Santa Barbara with the line, "I hope that you all stay long and spend lots of money because we need your sales tax to support our offices." He later noted "that this is a very serious situation."

Jackson's spokesman was not amused by the tone of the news conference.

"We are disturbed by the levity of the environment surrounding the announcement of these very serious charges," Backerman said. "When the evidence is presented and the allegations proven to be malicious and wholly unfounded, Michael will be able to put this nightmare behind him.

Backerman said the singer will be represented by attorney Mark Geragos, who is defending Scott Peterson against charges he murdered his wife, Laci, and their unborn child.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Jackson denounced the media coverage of the raid and noted that "dreadful allegations" always seem to surface "just as another project, an album, a video is being released." Jackson's greatest-hits album, Number Ones, came out on Tuesday.

The district attorney said that the investigation had been under way for a while and that the timing was unrelated to the album.

In a documentary broadcast on ABC earlier this year, Jackson said he had slept in a bed with many children. "When you say bed, you're thinking sexual," he said in the interview. "It's not sexual. . . . I tuck them in. . . . It's very charming, it's very sweet."

Jackson, the father of three, caused an international uproar last year when he displayed his baby, Prince Michael II, to fans by dangling him from a fourth-floor balcony in Germany. Jackson called the incident a "terrible mistake."





Compiled from reports by Cox News Service and the Associated Press.

[Blackerose]

I just heard on Court TV news that the 12 year old boy did have cancer, and MJ was his hero. His wish was to visit Neverland Ranch, and when MJ heard about this, he was happy to oblige. The child states that he was given sleeping pills and wine, then MJ molested him. He also said that he was not allowed to leave when he asked to go home. The DA's office also announced that the family is not interested in filing a civil suit against MJ. If this is true, this is so sick!!

[Anthill]

Ya know if Michael Jackson was Joe Schmo living next door and took an interest in your child no parent would ever allow thier child to interact w/ him. BUT yet because it's Michael Jackson these parents think it's ok to leave them there. On National TV infront of the parents he admitted that he allowed the BOYS to sleep in his bed and that SOMETIMES he would sleep on the floor but the boys would beg him to sleep in the same bed. Do these kids not have parents that teach them that this is WRONG!!!! And as an Adult he should say NO and then go get thier parents etc, but he instead jumps in bed w/ them. ANd it is always BOYS, he now has 2 boys and one girl as his own what he is doing to them god forbid!!!!

[harloo]

It's sick how these parents pimp their kids out for monetary gain. I just do not understand why this parent would let the boy sleep in the bed with Michael, and stay with him after incidents in 93 of accused child molestation. They had to be gaining financially somehow to let their child be subjected to this type of stuff.

If this is true, Michael should go to jail and serve 20 years and the parents should be thrown under the jail for child endangerment.

[Kelsey1224]

Originally posted by Marinafk
I just heard on Court TV news that the 12 year old boy did have cancer, and MJ was his hero. His wish was to visit Neverland Ranch, and when MJ heard about this, he was happy to oblige. The child states that he was given sleeping pills and wine, then MJ molested him. He also said that he was not allowed to leave when he asked to go home. The DA's office also announced that the family is not interested in filing a civil suit against MJ. If this is true, this is so sick!!

This is what I heard as well. The DA stated that the family would NOT be filing a civil case in this situation and was only interested in pressing criminal charges. It doesn't sound like they are after the money to me.

Frankly, I agree with other posters and I wouldn't let my child visit this man unsupervised.

However...if my child had cancer...I'm not sure if I would have been so clear-thinking. I mean...I might want to do everything to make him happy and not realize that I was actually putting him in harm's way.

Also...in the first case...the father found out of the actions between MJ and his son AFTER he obtained custody of him. He didn't send his son in there so that he would be able to sue and get money. The mother who had custody at the time could be questioned as to her why she allowed it to happen...but I guess that's why she lost custody.

They did settle for an undisclosed amount of money...in the millions.

I think the important thing to remember is that IF these allegations are true...the child is the victim and the person to blame is MJ! But let's not point fingers at anyone until all the facts are told...if they ever will be.

[Technologist]

Ummm.... not to burst anyone's bubble here (no, not a joke about MJ's monkey, named bubbles)... but:

This is a criminal charge. A civil suit has not been filed. I doubt the "victim's" parents are out to get money from MJ... They have nothing to do with Criminal chrges being brought against MJ.

That being said, I still think he is a freak!

[kybeauty]

Besides the fact this whole thing is disgusting...I have a HUGE problem with the police allowing MJ to "turn himself in"...IF they had a warrant like this on a NORMAL citizen...they would knock the door down and drag us through the streets in front of everybody..what makes MJ special?

[Quaker_Parrots]

Originally posted by Marinafk
The DA's office also announced that the family is not interested in filing a civil suit against MJ. If this is true, this is so sick!!

Ok Correct me if I am wrong, but if they don't wish to file a civil case, doesn't that mean they have no wish to go after money from him? They have no say in the CRIMINAL case, it is out of their hands. By California law, if the evidence is there, he will have his day in court.

[Jayd]

*Silently sits and STILL believe's MJ is innocent.

Don't hate me for not hating Micheal Jackson. I do NOT believe the allegations...yet.
Why must everyone hang him from the tallest tree based on the media's hearsay?

On the sleeping with the childern note...if I am watching a child of a friend or a child relative, IF they wanted to sleep in bed with me I'd let them. Kids get scared and IF you are going to allow them to spend time with someone...ANYONE you'd better be CERTAIN that you can trust the person.

I guess MJ is freakish in appearance but I think his heart is still innocent.

[Kelsey1224]

Originally posted by Jayd
*Silently sits and STILL believe's MJ is innocent.

Don't hate me for not hating Micheal Jackson. I do NOT believe the allegations...yet.
Why must everyone hang him from the tallest tree based on the media's hearsay?

On the sleeping with the childern note...if I am watching a child of a friend or a child relative, IF they wanted to sleep in bed with me I'd let them. Kids get scared and IF you are going to allow them to spend time with someone...ANYONE you'd better be CERTAIN that you can trust the person.

I guess MJ is freakish in appearance but I think his heart is still innocent.

Actually...I don't know whether he is innocent or not. However, I do know that he should be presumed innocent until convicted. He should not be tried in the media.

There is an article in the upcoming Biography magazine about a man who has worked for and gotten the release of many innocent people who have served time for crimes they didn't commit. One of the quotes which struck me as I read the article last night was from a man who had served over half his life for the rape of a 12-year old girl. DNA evidence proved his innocence. He said that he should have been presumed innocent, however, from the beginning he was treated as if he was guilty...by the police...by the attorneys...by the community...and eventually by a jury.

[Njean31]

i wouldn't let a kid sleep with me if i had already been under suspicion for molestation.

[Kelsey1224]

Originally posted by Njean31
i wouldn't let a kid sleep with me if i had already been under suspicion for molestation.

So true.

[harloo]

I feel like this:

You as a parent have a obligation to protect your children. In most child abuse cases the parents are not aware that their child is being abused, and they have no clue that such behaviour is going on which is normal. However these circumstances are different because Michael Jackson was accused of child molestation before in 93. You cannot tell me that the mother was not aware of this and did not know about him. This leads me to believe that she was recieving some type of monetary compensation while her son was laying in the bed with Michael.

And regardless of if they file a civil suit or not, the parents have already sealed their cash cow. That's all they have to do is grant an exclusive interview to one of these shows, or write a book and they will get paid.

Michael needs to go to jail though, I'm sorry because he had a second chance which is something alot of people who are accused of an act of this nature never recovers from, and he is caught up again. If he's innocent(he should be given 20 years for being dumb) if he is guilty he should go for commiting a crime.

But I agree with one poster who says he should not be tried in the media, because he is innocent until proven guilty. He better pray real hard, but it looks like he won't be able to get out of this one.

[Technologist]

http://www.sbsheriff.org/jpg/pio/11200301.jpg

In case it doesn't show up...

http://www.sbsheriff.org/jpg/pio/11200301.jpg

[sharinbo]

Whether he's guilty or not, I couldn't help tearing up when I saw him being led in wearing handcuffs. Maybe it's the preggo hormones...I don't know.

[mom2cvam]

:(

[momfromTN]

He was a handsome young man during the "Thriller" era. Now, he looks like an emaciated skeleton. He doesn't look well. But, I don't tear up over him.
Amazing how fast he got out of the jail. If that were me or you, we would not get to bond out. Money talks. And my guess is that he will get off of this charge too, like before.

[momfromTN]

Double post. Sorry.

[sharinbo]

Originally posted by momfromTN
He was a handsome young man during the "Thriller" era. Now, he looks like an emaciated skeleton. He doesn't look well. But, I don't tear up over him.
Amazing how fast he got out of the jail. If that were me or you, we would not get to bond out. Money talks. And my guess is that he will get off of this charge too, like before.

I was tearing up because I feel like I've grown up listening to his music, and despite his growing freakiness over the years, his music had alot of beautiful messages. It was sad to me to see a man who has destroyed his own life and potentially that of so many others... Just an awful situation all the way around.

As far as the money situation goes, I totally agree with you! Same thing with the warrant..if that were you or I, they wouldn't have made any special arrangements for us to surrender. They'd have hunted us down and dragged us in!

I guess this stuff just makes me really emotional. I have an uncle who was like the star of our family, I mean the man could do NO WRONG. Well years later we find out that the man we trusted and cared about for so long was a child molester. It ripped our family apart, so I guess this is just a touchy subject for me.

[fatesfaery]

On the 11:00 new they reported that he's already back in Las Vegas. They showed film of his SUV cruising the streets of Las Vegas, and people running up to it. To me, many of them looked like kids, but since it was shot from overhead it's hard to tell.

I agree his mug shot is scary....why would anyone pay a fortune to disfigure themself like that?

[joey74]

What I don't get is why MJ keeps having these children over to his house if he is not molesting them? I mean he has to realize he is a target because of his past history. So if he isn't molesting these children--why would he keep putting himself in these situation?? A normal person wouldn't keep bringing other people's children to their home. It is not as if he is desperate for childrens attention, he has two of his own...jmo

[cch]

I wonder if this is the boy that accused him...

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/2020/DailyNews/michael_jackson_doc_030206.html

Whenever kids come here they always want to stay with me," he said.
Jackson allowed the British crew to film him with a 12-year-old boy who said he and his brother had spent a night in the singer's bedroom.

"Why can't you share your bed?" Jackson said, holding hands with the 12-year-old and letting him rest his head on his shoulder. "The most loving thing to do is to share your bed with someone."

The boy, who says he met Jackson after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, said when he asked to spend the night in the singer's bedroom, Jackson gave him and his brother the bed and slept on the floor himself.

In a later interview, Jackson also said he slept on the floor that night, but he added, "I have slept in a bed with many children," including former child actor Macaulay Culkin together with his siblings.

He said there was nothing sexual involved: "We go to sleep. I put the fireplace on. I give them hot milk, you know, we have cookies. It's very charming. It's very sweet. It's what the whole world should do."

[cch]

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=30853

Pop superstar Michael Jackson admitted last night in a television documentary that he loves to have young boys sleep in his bed.


Michael Jackson: "It's what the whole world should do." (file photo)

What's more, everyone should do it, says the 44-year-old Jackson, who was accused of sexually molesting a 13-year-old boy a decade ago, and who admits recently encouraging a 12-year-old cancer sufferer to sleep in his bedroom.

“It's what the whole world should do,” Jackson told interviewer Martin Bashir on the Granada television program, "Living With Michael Jackson," according to a London Times account. Granada is one of the largest independent television companies in the United Kingdom.

Both Jackson and the cancer patient claim no sexual contact occurred during the sleepovers at Jackson's Neverland ranch in California.

Ten years ago, parents of 13-year-old Jordan Chandler accused Jackson of sexually molesting their son during overnight stays at his 3,000-acre ranch. After reaching a multimillion-dollar settlement with Jackson, the family dropped the case and no charges were brought against the pop star.

Nevertheless, Tom Sneddon, the district attorney in charge of the Chandler investigation, will be paying close attention to the new allegations of Jackson "sleeping with boys" when the program airs in the U.S. Friday. "We will be watching the program with interest," a spokesman from his office told the London Times.

According to that report, Jackson granted the interview to Bashir, best known for interviewing Princess Diana, to help rehabilitate his troubled reputation. "Jackson’s friend, Uri Geller, persuaded him to allow Bashir to become part of his entourage for eight months," reported the Times. "But the resulting film, which has been bought by the U.S. broadcaster ABC for £3.5 million, could lead to police action against the fallen star."

Indeed, one executive described it as the "longest suicide note in history," said the Times.

'The most loving thing'

According to a London Telegraph account, the singer, when questioned by Bashir about the settlement with Chandler, said: "I didn't want to do a long drawn-out thing [trial] on TV like O.J. [Simpson] and all that stupid stuff. It wouldn't look right. I said, 'Look, let's get this over with. I want to go on with my life. This is ridiculous. I've had enough."'

Bashir assumed that, since the Chandler scandal, Jackson was now more circumspect about his houseguests. But to his "utter astonishment," the interviewer said he discovered while visiting Jackson on his Neverland ranch that children were still sleeping over, "sometimes in his house, sometimes in his bedroom."

One 12-year-old boy told Bashir he slept in the singer's bed. Commenting on that occasion, Jackson said he had slept on the floor that night, feeling he was "four" not 44, reported the Telegraph. "I see God in the face of children," said Jackson. "And man, I just love being around them all the time."


Jackson admits he still sleeps with young children (photo courtesy The Scotsman)


Although he claimed only "very few" boys had actually stayed in his bed, Jackson strongly defended the practice, saying: "Why can't you share your bed? The most loving thing to do, is to share your bed with someone."

Despite persistent questioning from Bashir, Jackson defended his desire to sleep close to young boys, describing the practice as "very charming" and "very sweet." In fact, he recommended that the interviewer do likewise, sleeping in the same bed as friends of his own children.

According to Jackson, not only do children like to be touched, but the superstar told Bashir he would kill himself if he could not be close to young boys.

The 12-year-old cancer patient, named Gavin, said he met Jackson two years ago, and began sleeping overnight at the superstar's Neverland ranch with his brother and sister.

On one occasion, reports the Times, Gavin asked to sleep in Jackson's bedroom: "I was like, 'Michael, you can sleep in the bed,' and he was like 'no, no, you sleep on the bed,' and I was like 'no, no, no, you sleep on the bed' and then he said 'look if you love me you'll sleep in the bed.' I was like, 'Oh man.' So I finally slept on the bed. But it was fun that night."

"We have guest units," Jackson told the interviewer, "but whenever kids come here they always want to stay with me. They say: 'Can I stay with you tonight?' So I go, 'If it's OK with your parents, then yes you can.'"

According to the Telegraph report, an uneasy Bashir concluded that Jackson is obsessed with children. But the singer dismissed fears of sexual molestation, saying: "When you say bed, they make that sexual. It's not sexual. We're going to sleep.

"I tuck them in and put a little like, er, music on and when it's story time I read a book and we go to sleep with the fireplace on. I give them hot milk, you know. We have cookies. It's very charming. It's very sweet. It's what the whole world should do.

"If there were no children on this earth, if someone announced all kids were dead, I would jump off the balcony immediately."

Speaking of balconies, in November Jackson caused gasps around the world when he dangled his baby son, Prince Michael II, over the balcony of a Berlin hotel, appearing briefly to lose control. Santa Barbara County officials are reportedly considering launching an investigation into Jackson's fitness to be a parent. He has three children.

[Jaidness]

I hope he gets proven innocent, I also hope that the parents get either a wake up call or a investigation by DSS. I can't believe how people can turn so quickly against him.I really hate when he gets termed a wacko and freak.Who are we to judge?Are any of the people that are judgeing him so perfect that they can pass judgement on another? That is what the law is for?Why not judge the parents as harshly as he has been judged?Why don't people just leave him alone and let him live his life instead of making up lies and speculating on how he lives his life? I for one would hate it to have my life scrutinized so closely.Did anyone watch the MTV special they had on him lastnight?There were some things on there that just make me go hmmmmm...

[lpelham]

Originally posted by sharinbo
I was tearing up because I feel like I've grown up listening to his music, and despite his growing freakiness over the years, his music had alot of beautiful messages. It was sad to me to see a man who has destroyed his own life and potentially that of so many others... Just an awful situation all the way around.


To me, Michael's like Elvis - I prefer to remember young, sexy Elvis. I know he got to be an old, fat druggy, but I prefer to remember him the other way. I guess I feel the same way about Michael Jackson - I prefer to remember him as the young, talented black boy, not the freaky white housewife he is now! And WHAT is up with covering his kids heads all the $%^& time!

Libby

[dontwannapay]

I am feeling very sorry for Michael right now. Sigh. I believe the only bad thing about him is his judgement. He's too trusting of people- he should've known that people will take advantage of his goodness, his generosity, and his innocent loving spirit.
I personally think he's beautiful, inside and out. There.
And NOTHING will convibnce me otherwise. Even if they found something "incriminating" in Neverland- I wouldnt believe anything other than that it was planted there.

[dontwannapay]

sorry about the spelling- i get ahead of myself sometimes

[angelic]

Whenever I see photos of him, Im so focused on his face that Ive never realized just how super thin he is. His mug shot says 5'11 and 120lbs... whoa. :o

I have alot of mixed feeling on this whole thing but I hope he gets a fair trial (doubtful at this point). I agree that a grown man shouldnt share his bed with little kids.. but Ive always gotten the impression that he seems to think he STILL is a kid.

[gemini26]

Someone posted here he was abused as a child. He probably has psychological troubles from that and the reality is that the cycle continues but his cycle has taken a different twist (unless he was also sexually molested then it remains the same). For a person to get accused once it might not be true but for it to happen more than once then there is something there. There is something twisted in his mind. No sane grown man is going to sleep in the same bed with kids that are not his!! The police are taking this very seriously as they took 3 months to get their case together and then obtained a search warrant. A search warrant is not given without some good reason. Also an arrest warrant is not going to go out without some good evidence. They know they are dealing with a famous person that got off on the same charge another time by PAYING THE ACCUSOR OFF!!!! If I stated that I was innocent, by gosh, I would not pay off someone!!! Any parents letting their children at his house should also be charged with endangering their kids. I can tell you this, if they put him in gen pop he will not survive. Even criminals don't like child molestors and especially ones that look like freaks!

[Jayd]

I don't know how ANYONE gets a fair trial these days.
People rush to judgement and have become little more than sheep following whatever the herdsman says.
JUST because Catherine Crier,Barbara Walters or some other "know it all" makes a comment on THEIR belief on a subject that does NOT make it a fact.

AND for the record, JUST because MJ paid a family in the past does NOT make him guilty!!!! He also has NO CHARGES against him NOW.
They arrested him and THEN begged for other kids to come out of the woodwork to confirm their ALLEGATIONS.
I hope all of the accusers and flamers get what THEY deserve. I hope the child's family is exposed for money grubbing liars and that the mother ends up destitute and alone!

[gemini26]

Being a person in the spotlight as he has chosen he gets the limelight and he needs to deal with it. I am nobodys sheep and have my very own opinions and thoughts and quite frankly have always thought him a freak and wierdo!! I don't know who this Crier woman is and can't stand babawa walters either. Its pretty sad what he has become. As far as I am concerned paying off someone to go away is the same as admitting guilt. Of course it keeps hims out of prison.

[gemini26]

Thats true Chelle and thats where his fame and money help him out. The people doing the accusing don't have that advantage. Just for the record I liked his early stuff and liked the way he looked when he actually looked like the black man that he is. Even the Presley girl mentioned something in an interview that she was not comfortable with her kids around him. Its a sad case all around and I have no sympathy for anyone that would harm a child this includes not only Michael but the kids parents!

[gemini26]

As far as charges, he was arrested because charges were brought against Michael. There are charges and he posted bail until his trial. He is going to trial because of the charges. In court he can try to prove himself innocent as the prosecutor will try to prove him guilty. I just don't see them bringing charges on anyone with his fame and money without due course.

[justme23]

Originally posted by Jayd
I hope all of the accusers and flamers get what THEY deserve. I hope the child's family is exposed for money grubbing liars and that the mother ends up destitute and alone!

Why? What has she done wrong? From what I understand this boys therapist is the one that reported the alegations to the police, not either of the parents... and the FATHER is the one (even tho he is also denying the allegations... to be fair) who allowed the child to go to MJs place, not the mother... and why would you want her destitute? She has not sued for money... this is not about money for her... so I don't really understand your stance. I'm not disputing it, just trying to understand it.


And when it comes to celebrities... they don't generally arrest ppl w/out charges being brought against them... do you have an article you can post that shows he has no charges against him? Why would he have turned himself in wearing handcuffs even if there were no charges brought against him?

[fatesfaery]

Originally posted by Jayd
He also has NO CHARGES against him NOW.
They arrested him and THEN begged for other kids to come out of the woodwork to confirm their ALLEGATIONS.

He has been charged, he just hasn't been arraigned. This is from the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Dept. web site

"On Thursday, November 20, 2003, Michael Jackson arrived by private jet at Santa Barbara Airport around noon. He was taken into custody by Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department personnel by prearrangement at the airport and transported to the Main Jail to be booked on the arrest warrant.

Mr. Jackson was booked on charges of violation of section 288 (a) of the California Penal Code. Bail amount of $3 million was set on the warrant, and bail was posted at the time of Mr. Jackson's booking.

Mr. Jackson will be arraigned on the charges at Santa Barbara Superior Court at 8:30AM on January 9, 2004. "

I'm not saying he's guilty, I haven't heard enough details to make that decision.
I do believe that he has already received preferential treatment. How many people are allowed to negotigate the terms of their arrest and then allowed to leave the state after posting bail? I realize this may be standard treatment for all celebrites, but it's still unfair.

I also believe that if there is enough evidence to take this to trial, the child's parents should also be charged. To me their actions equal selling their child into prostitution.

[justme23]

No one said you could believe everything you hear in the media... but that is the same for EVERY case, not just THIS case. Just look at how the media has helped quite a few of the very ppl in this post hate Jessica Lynch. So how is this different?

[Jayd]

An arrest warrant alleges Jackson committed lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14. The Santa Barbara district attorney has said he does not plan to file charges until after Thanksgiving
www.fox.com
And that fact was repeatedly made clear on Court tv last night.

And here's ABC's quote..." Jackson was booked, fingerprinted and photographed Thursday, and was ordered to appear in court Jan. 9 for arraignment. Authorities said they expected to file charges after Thanksgiving.




There are NO charges filed YET.

Oh and as far as flamers etc getting their's...Gloria Allred and people like her were more what I had in mind.
She's a nosey ***** that jumps into any media circus she can find. I can't stand her!

[fatesfaery]

Maybe I was wrong. I just assumed that the officials who arrested him would know if he had been charged or not.

Can someone explain to me how you can be arrested without being charged? I thought the act of being arrested was the result of being charged with a crime?

[zitra]

Originally posted by fatesfaery
Maybe I was wrong. I just assumed that the officials who arrested him would know if he had been charged or not.

Can someone explain to me how you can be arrested without being charged? I thought the act of being arrested was the result of being charged with a crime?

Actually I heard he will be ARRAIGNED (sp) sometiem around Jan. 9th I beleive..no the police can not arrest you unless you have been charged with a crime..

[lizbet]

"It’s the people who are making the claims who are the problem,” says Jackson family attorney Brian Oxman" on 48 hours tonight. You can read it at the link below. Sounds to me like this boy's mother and father are in a custody battle over him. There might be more to this story than we know just like the boy's family in 1993. Out to get money? Is the DA out to get MJ?
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/22/48hours/main585125.shtml

Someone posted this in Hey, How are Things. OP posted posted an article about this boy's father who denies the charges and 4th person posted another article about this boy's father and mother. Makes you wonder what's going on.
http://www.bigbigforums.com/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=355724

Michael Jackson is innocent until proven guilty. We know sometimes the innocent get sent to jail and the guilty don't. I want to believe he is innocent. If he isn't, then he should do the time and deal with God. I get so tired of the media going over and over this. Then they have to bring up his whole life story. Will we have to listen to this and watch this on TV-specials,news reports, etc., day after day until he goes to trial? I am not so sure why he got Geragos for his lawyer. That guy is Scott Peterson's lawyer(Laci Peterson murder case). He was Wynona Ryder's lawyer, too. Edited to add that he did try to get Thomas Mesereau but he was too busy to take the case. Mesereau is Robert Blake's lawyer and good one, too.
Now is Robert Blake innocent or guilt? That's another thread. I hope he is innocent, too.

[harloo]

Originally posted by *chelle*
UGH i don't like her either

OMG, I cannot stand this women. She is such an opportunist, he attitude is just disgusting.

[zitra]

My take is that I hope the charges are false and that NO ONE was molested..but do I think it is more likely than not? Yes..I really do not beleive that the police would have arrested him if they had not found somethign during their search..I heard (not 100% sure on this) that they found photgraphs of some type at the Neverland ranch..I do KNOW however that there were items the police took out of the Neverland ranch....It has been all over the news, and there are even pictures/photographs of the police taking items from the ranch.
If the police arrested him without any evidence they would open themselves up to ALL kinds of lawsuits, and i really don't think they would do that after the O.J. fiasco..

As somone said earlier, that he had not been charged with anything..yes he has..you CAN NOT arrest somone without charging them with a crime..the court date that is coming up is an arraignment date, which will basically decide before a judge wether oor not they have nough evidence to take it to a jury trial.

[momfromTN]

People say "Don't believe the media" when it comes to things like this, but if it were a smear about our president, BOY would everyone be believing the media then!! Hmmm. Anyway, I personally think he is a freak and probably did something. But, he is innocent until proven guilty, so I cannot say for sure.

[AngelGrim]

You can be arrested and not be charged till later, I sat in jail for 16 days in missouri because I supposedly hindered prosectution because they thought I knew about a car accident and that I knew who was driving when really I didn't, then after 16 days my attorney said either press charges or release her, so they had to release me. I was really ticked off to have to sit there. Sometimes I think small towns make up their own dukes of hazzard laws though so how can I keep it straight lol.

[captorquewrench]

interesting

http://nydailynews.com/front/story/138883p-123365c.html


and MJ defends himself:
http://www.mjnews.us/

[sinned96]

Originally posted by zitra
no the police can not arrest you unless you have been charged with a crime..



Thats wrong. You can be arrested on suspicion and not charged with anything until later. They can hold you for a certain amount of time and if charges are not filled with the court They have to let you go

[CajunBlu]

A little something else I didn't know about "Rubba" "Rubba" Whacko Jacko...


http://crime.about.com/cs/celebritycriminal/a/jacko_rubba.htm

[Jayd]

THERE ARE NO POEMS OR LOVE LETTERS!
It is a RUMOR!
Honestly. The media is wrong...AGAIN (See the pattern here?)

*The deputy's office says they have neither.

[harloo]

Everytime I hear anything about this case I turn the television. Their is more important things going on in the world than Michael Jackson and these charges of molestation. He is innocent until proven guilty and everyone should let the legal system take it's course instead of convicting him through the media.

We are at war with soldiers dying everyday. I hope the media and the circus enviornment they have created concerning Michael Jackson does not overshadow our men and women who are fighting guerilla warfare everyday with the hope that their life would be spared one more day.

It's pretty sad how the situation in Iraq has taken a back seat to MJ because the situation with the troops is more important than MJ's troubles.

[justme23]

Originally posted by harloo
Everytime I hear anything about this case I turn the television. Their is more important things going on in the world than Michael Jackson and these charges of molestation. He is innocent until proven guilty and everyone should let the legal system take it's course instead of convicting him through the media.

I completely agree w/ this... but the question is why MJ is far more special than anyone else. Ppl had no problem listening to the media and deeming Jessica Lynch a horrible person because of what they heard. Ppl had no problem listening to the media and deeming Scott Peterson guilty based on what they heard. The list could go on for days. (I am not speaking to you harloo, btw, I just quoted you cause you were worded so well) The logic of 'ignoring the media' can't pertain to just Michael Jackson, you can't claim one mans innocence despite the media and then turn around and claim anothers guilt BECAUSE of it. I just don't understand the logic. Ppl post stories and we read them and SEVERAL of the ppl on this board will say 'string him/her up' w/out even batting an eyelash... but god forbid Michael may actually be guilty!

[moogle]

My parents just wish he'd get out of Green Valley Ranch, so
they can go back there for the brunch. (Which is excellent!)
They don't want to go out there with all the media and people
around!

[Njean31]

i'm beginning to think he's innocent. just read the family of the little boy are sue happy, seems the little boy stole some merchandise from jcpenny and security guards caught them. the family claimed they roughed them up and even sexually assaulted the mother, they sued and won 187,000. they either have bad luck with people tyring to sexually assault them, or ran out of the 187,000. and if he is innocent, how shameful of them to do this to jackson after he granted that child his make a wish.

[cleaningla]

http://www.9news.com/storyfull.aspx?storyid=21368

"Meanwhile, the Santa Barbara County district attorney pushed back the anticipated filing of molestation charges against Jackson to mid-December."

They say it is so they can put information on a website. If they had evidence you think they would file charges. Sounds bogus to me.

Besides if he were John Doe, they wouldn't put info on a web site. This is nothing less then a freak show.

[justme23]

Originally posted by Njean31
i'm beginning to think he's innocent. just read the family of the little boy are sue happy, seems the little boy stole some merchandise from jcpenny and security guards caught them. the family claimed they roughed them up and even sexually assaulted the mother, they sued and won 187,000. they either have bad luck with people tyring to sexually assault them, or ran out of the 187,000. and if he is innocent, how shameful of them to do this to jackson after he granted that child his make a wish.


I'm not sure where you read that or how true anything in print is anymore... but every night on the local news here they've been saying that the mother has no intentions of filing a civil suit (money) and that the father completely denies the charges all together (there's a thread about that in OTC). I know one thing, if they haven't and have no intention to file charges as of yet, I'd be damned if I would have showed up at the courthouse wearing handcuffs to 'turn myself in'. That to me says 1 or 2 things, that he's innocent and will fully cooperate or that he really is guilty and he knows he's caught this time ... and that is the ONLY thing that has influenced my opinion that I've 'seen on tv' at this point, but obviously not much either way.

Oh, I also wanted to add, if he is innocent I wouldn't settle any civil matter since as a matter of law these ppl can't 'just drop the charges cause they got a check' anymore. The state can prosecute regardless... so I'd say let it go to trial, let me prove my innocence to the world once and for all (maybe he shouldn't have to do so, but I personally would want to rather than saying 'ok, here's a check, now go away'). If he were found innocent it's doubtful they'd even bother taking it to a civil court, they'd get laughed out of town w/ an innocent verdict in a criminal matter.

[schsa]

I've been reading the same things and it appears that the mother is a nut case. The authorities had better have conclusive proof or this may just blow up in their faces. The more I read about this kid's family the less I believe that Michael did anything. It sounds as if the mother is out for cash and is going to try anything to get it.

Sorry Michael. I hope for your sake that this kid is a liar and that you are vindicated even though I think that you are really sort of weird.

[janelle]

CAL THOMAS: LOOK OUT; PEDOPHILIA NEXT SIN TO NORMALIZE

If Michael Jackson did, in fact, as it is alleged, have sex with a minor boy, what's wrong with that? The question is not meant to be cute; I am serious. If a male child was fondled or sodomized by Michael Jackson, why shouldn't he and the boy be allowed the orientation of their choice? If you disagree, who are you to impose your morality on them?

Are you outraged by this? Do you think we have gone too far? Not far enough, some say. Yesterday's unacceptable (divorce, premarital sex, abortion, homosexuality, group sex, domestic partnerships and, soon, same-sex marriage) are today's acceptable. It's just a matter of conditioning. Groups exist that promote adult-child sex. Expect an alliance -- composed of academics, theologians and cultural commentators -- to ram this home through the media, crushing whatever resistance remains.

Nothing shames us. In pursuit of freedom we have embraced license and now licentiousness, throwing off all restraint.

The Abercrombie & Fitch Christmas Field Guide magazine, targeted to 10- to 13-year-olds, contains 45 specific portrayals of sexual imagery in the first 120 pages, according to Kevin McCullough, who counted them for an essay on WorldNetDaily.com. The images, he writes, "include overt portrayals of group sex, lots of teen and young adult nudity, men kissing and teens/young adults frolicking in a river engaging in sexual activity in multiple group settings."

Should we be surprised when some people act on the permission the media give them? Seen those Calvin Klein underwear commercials featuring children in poses appealing to pedophiles?

Professional organizations are trying to catch up in the race to normalize what we once called "depravity." The American Psychiatric Association, which declared homosexual practice normal, has recently entertained the notion of similarly downgrading pedophilia.

The APA's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual once contended that merely "acting upon" one's urges toward children was enough to generate a diagnosis of pedophilia (DSM-III). But in the revised DSM-IV, a person who molests a child is considered psychiatrically sick only if his actions "caused clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning."

That seems to mean that if the molester is OK with it and the child doesn't complain, it's healthy. It can't be wrong if it feels so right, right?

English philosopher Roger Scruton wrote in "Modern Sex: Liberation and Its Discontents" that "the hysteria over pedophilia is indicative of a society that has come to the brink of self-destruction and stands there accusing the void. People reach for their old certainties: words like 'pervert' and 'perversion' suddenly seem right to them; they look round for the culprit with a view to shaming, humiliating and ostracizing him. And they recognize the vastness of the evil that is around them and within them, an evil they only imperfectly confess to."

It's too late for any of that now. For some, Michael Jackson is not a pervert but a pioneer.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[janelle]

I heard on TV if you can believe what you hear on TV that the family of the first child was treated terribly. The father was a dentist and his practice was harrassed. The family was advised to change their name and go into hiding. Jackson has lots of money to hire just about anyone he wants to hire to do ???????:mad:

[janelle]

I haven't read the whole thread yet. But I think we can all agree that he is very stupid. After the first accusation then still sleeping with children? He has children of his own now. He is endangering his own children. They can be taken away. How dumb is that? Would you do something, even slightly appearing to be weird, if your children's lives with you were on the line?

How hard is it to give up sleeping with other people's children? Sleep with his own children if he has to have a child in bed with him at night. He can give anything he wants to children in other ways. A million other ways, just keep them out of your bedroom and bed. If you aren't a pedophile then stop acting like one. Even his biographer says as much.

[harloo]

What's disturbing is how the public actually believes the sound bites from the media who distort reality for ratings. I believe what's so sickening about high profile cases is that alot of heresay, and baseless information is presented to the public like a beautifully wrapped christmas gift.

The reality of the situation is that Michael is innocent until proven guilty, and everything else is speculative at this point. Everything that's done in the dark shall come into the light, and new revealations are being brought forth everyday about this family and Michael's dealings with them.

Now while it seems the media and even some in the public have convicted him already, he has not had his day in court. The circus enviornment that the media is creating exemplifies everything that's wrong with our legal system in relation to the media's audacity to convict someone through the airwaves.

The unprofessionalism of the LAPD is astounding. The press conference concerning serious criminal charges was treated as a comedic sideshow performance. IMO, these are very serious charges and tone when making allegations such as these should be serious.
As someone who has been accused of a crime I know the reality of those who can fasely accuse you of something without much evidence.

I think everyone should just wait and hear the evidence and then determine whether he is innocent or guilty instead of forming opinions on emotions.

[janelle]

Personally I have not listened to the media circus or any reports in the media about the whole thing. I don't watch that much TV. I am basing my opinion on Michael Jackson's interview itself.

It was a very weird interview. The reporter spent lots of time with Michael Jackson for the story. Michael Jackson was trying to repair his reputation with the public doing that show. It backfired big time with his justifications on why he does what he does. It never made sense. He sleeps with children because they want to sleep with him. Everything was because the children wanted him to do it.

I bet if you get an expert in pedophilia they would say he fits perfectly the profile of one. It's the children who want to do it. He has lots of toys to entice the children to him. After he wins the trust of the child AND THE PARENTS he sends the parents off and keeps the child with him.

Yes his money does play a big part in it. He gives the child and the parents lots of gifts. He seduces the parents right along with the child. Then after he gets their confidence he sends the parents off on shopping sprees or to fancy hotels for the weekend and keeps the child with him.

The reporter said Michael acted very irrattic at times, almost manic. He was there when Michael dangled his child from the balconey. Where is the mother to these children. He has children with her and then sends her off with more money. Strange, strange, strange. Let's not be blinded by fame. Lots of people are now a days. OJ could do no wrong because he was famous and people loved him.

I agree, let justice take it's course but I've seen enough to be very suspicious. I'm beginning to believe Michael Jackson subconsously wants to be stopped. His terrible childhood does not give him the right to do anything bad to others especially children.

[dena_darling]

I heard on the radio that Michael Jackson might get out of this charge
again. The Dad is saying that a few years ago, the Mom & kids went to a store and the kids were caught shoplifting by security guards.
The Mom claims they sexually assaulted her. The Dad said that the Mom
wrote out and coached the kids what to say in the depositions. The
store finally paid her off instead of going to trial about it.

I think it is horrible though if this is true about Michael Jackson.
He definitely needs help. There is no reason for an adult to "sleep"
in the same bed as a child that is not yours. And the parents that let this happen should be locked up too. JMO.

[Jaidness]

has anyone else considered that the DA may have a personal vendetta?I think that after the last charge he handled against MJ and the song that MJ made on his CD about him says alot about what *may* be part of the DAs motives for this whole thing.I find it funny that after MJ flew back to turn himself in he was made to do the perp walk and that the DA seems to be having a grand ole time with the press that no charges have been filed although 70+ cops and detectives stormed his ranch and searched so thouroghly.It was also kind of odd that his bail was set so high when other public figures have done worse and had bail set much lower.I understand about the flight risk but seriously...there is so much that just makes me lol and to doubt the veracity of the charges and who is bringing them that I cannot wait to see the outcome of this one.I hope if and whn he gets proven innocent that he brings a major lawsuit against the PD and the DAs offices.

[cleaningla]

"He definitely needs help. There is no reason for an adult to "sleep"
in the same bed as a child that is not yours."

I agreed with this whole heartidly at first, but last night I started wondering if it makes a difference when a child has cancer or something like that. I know 12 is kind of old, but when a child is sick or scared, the parents may not see it, because some children put up a brave front, like that first boy that ahd AIDS.

I guess I'm as wacko as Jacko, cause now I'm starting to wondeer what kind of a place someone would have if they truly do love children. Would it have a zoo and rides and games and stuff?

Maybe they were riht about banning Willy Wonka and the Chocholae factory, maybe it does make people to idealalistic. That's who he reminds me of, Willy Wonka.

[momtofuss]

:eek: He is totally weird, and I just hope he gets a fair trial with all the media viewing

[janelle]

Michael Jackson: Lost in a Cultural Neverland
Rebbe With a Cause
Rabbi Shmuley Boteach


Michael Jackson: Lost in a Cultural Neverland
'Don't try to make him normal' I was told. 'He's famous because he's not normal.'

The tragic events of Michael Jackson's arrest, which have broken the heart of all like me who know him, are an indictment not just of a man, but of a culture. America is increasingly becoming the land of damaged celebrity. But who is to blame for the fall of so many "heroes"?

Many accuse Michael Jackson of living in a world of fantasy. But superstars live in a world not of their own creation, but of our creation. Our worship of celebrities has gone from a pastime to a devotion, from a form of recreation to a form of veneration, from entertainment to religion.
Detached as we are from G-d and estranged from lofty pursuits, we have invented new gods here on earth. Where once people were awed by the heavenly stars, today they prostrate themselves before movie stars. Where once man pondered the secrets of the Universe, we today seek to uncover the enigma of Michael Jackson. Is it surprising, then, that the objects of this worship begin to believe that they have a right to make up and live by their own rules, even when it becomes completely ruinous?

Many believe that it is drugs and failed relationships that spoil celebrities. But I have discovered that it is sycophantic friends who are the worst poison of all. When I was close to Michael between 1999 and 2001, I tried to convey to him that famous or not, he must incorporate the basic ingredients of a healthy life, and that among these are time spent with family, involvement with a spiritual community, and being prepared to take criticism.

When he mentioned to me that his greatest wish was to promote the welfare of children, I told him he could only do so if he attained a modicum of credibility. This meant never being alone with children who were not his, meeting and learning from respected child-development and education experts, and speaking at serious rather than sensationalistic events.


I introduced him to Elie Wiesel, Shimon Peres, and Prof. Stanley Greenspan, one of America's foremost child-rearing authorities. We lectured at Carnegie Hall and Oxford University. And when Martin Bashir's people asked to do a documentary, I told Michael he'd be crazy to accept because the last thing he needed was to be more famous. He needed dignity rather than celebrity, and I advised him instead to accept an invitation to speak at Harvard.
But by this time my influence with Michael was waning. There was tension between us because of his resistance to making major modifications in his life that would have brought positive change, and rather than be supported, I was being undermined by managers and apparatchiks who accused me of diminishing his star power by making him too available. What really upset them was when I pushed Michael to publicly distribute books to poor children in Newark. I knew how much Michael loved children, so this puzzled me. But I was lectured to in Michael's hotel suite by his manager who said, "Shmuley, you want to make Michael normal. What you don't understand is that he's famous because he's not normal."

Humans are not gods, and when the public expects them to be gods, they must conceal or dismiss their humanity in an effort not to appear to be ordinary. It is against this backdrop that much of Michael's bizarre behavior must be understood. But while some view Michael as the most obvious example of an irresponsible celebrity, and he must indeed take responsibility for his actions, I believe that people like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, whose antics have sexualized our children, are not far behind. The American public thought it was funny as we watched the Osbournes make up their own rules about how to run a family. But when their son checked into drug rehab, many of us stopped laughing.

Of course, while Michael must ultimately accept responsibility for his serious mistakes, I pray that he is not guilty of the charge of molestation as it would mean that the boy, whom I met at Neverland along with his parents, has not been harmed. It would also be a terrible tragedy to see Michael, or any other person, destroy his or her life.

Still, I find it surprising that a society that reads Us Weekly, People, and Hello! magazines, and engages in endless celebrity gossip, could ask seriously why certain parents allowed their unaccompanied children to visit one of the world's most famous people at Neverland. I will not judge those parents. But I will say that had they never allowed their children to stay over, and had Michael understood that it is completely immoral and unacceptable for a child to share your bed, no matter how innocent you claim your intentions to be, we would not have witnessed the terrible spectacle of a man who once inspired us all being led away in handcuffs.

The time has come for "ordinary" people as well as our celebrities to understand that we all have to live by rules.

[Jayd]

New Update
It is now being reported that the child's EXTREMELY sick. His one kidney is now failing. He is in need of a transplant.
He may not survive to pursue this case himself, therefore he'll never benefit from a "guilty" verdict. I REALLY don't think anyone else BUT the child should (IF MJ is even guilty)

[Anthill]

Ppl had no problem listening to the media and deeming Scott Peterson guilty based on what they heard. The list could go on for days. (I am not speaking to you harloo, btw, I just quoted you cause you were worded so well) The logic of 'ignoring the media' can't pertain to just Michael Jackson, you can't claim one mans innocence despite the media and then turn around and claim anothers guilt BECAUSE of it. I just don't understand the logic. Ppl post stories and we read them and SEVERAL of the ppl on this board will say 'string him/her up' w/out even batting an eyelash... but god forbid Michael may actually be guilty!

I agree. The problem w/ lynching the likes of Scott Peterson, Jessica Lynch etc. Is that they are people like you and I. They are not famous people. People do not want to believe that their Hero's can do any wrong. Even if he admitted it on national TV and It was filmed where he is dangling his baby over the railing. If I was caught on national TV they would hunt me down and take away my child. BUT when it comes to MJ we all sit back and make excuses for him. And then blame it on the MEdia. How is this the Media's fault? Did they alter the conversation he had w/ Martin about allowing boys in his bed? He said it on National TV for everyone to hear, that he does not see a problem w/ boys sleeping in his bed w/ him. MJ said he would let the boys sleep in his bed and that he was going to sleep on the floor but the boys beg him to sleep in his bed. So he does, he never said that he actually stayed on the floor. We are not talking about 4 year olds who gets scared these are 12 year old boys. And as for the parents again they look at MJ and think it's all lies, because he is FAMOUS. He is not born any different from you or I, or the next door neighbor. BUT if your child was freindly w/ the next door neighbor, who happened to be a Male and wanted to sleep over. YOU would say NO.

[harloo]

Originally posted by Anthill
Ppl had no problem listening to the media and deeming Scott Peterson guilty based on what they heard. The list could go on for days. (I am not speaking to you harloo, btw, I just quoted you cause you were worded so well) The logic of 'ignoring the media' can't pertain to just Michael Jackson, you can't claim one mans innocence despite the media and then turn around and claim anothers guilt BECAUSE of it. I just don't understand the logic. Ppl post stories and we read them and SEVERAL of the ppl on this board will say 'string him/her up' w/out even batting an eyelash... but god forbid Michael may actually be guilty!

I agree. The problem w/ lynching the likes of Scott Peterson, Jessica Lynch etc. Is that they are people like you and I. They are not famous people. People do not want to believe that their Hero's can do any wrong. Even if he admitted it on national TV and It was filmed where he is dangling his baby over the railing. If I was caught on national TV they would hunt me down and take away my child. BUT when it comes to MJ we all sit back and make excuses for him. And then blame it on the MEdia. How is this the Media's fault? Did they alter the conversation he had w/ Martin about allowing boys in his bed? He said it on National TV for everyone to hear, that he does not see a problem w/ boys sleeping in his bed w/ him. MJ said he would let the boys sleep in his bed and that he was going to sleep on the floor but the boys beg him to sleep in his bed. So he does, he never said that he actually stayed on the floor. We are not talking about 4 year olds who gets scared these are 12 year old boys. And as for the parents again they look at MJ and think it's all lies, because he is FAMOUS. He is not born any different from you or I, or the next door neighbor. BUT if your child was freindly w/ the next door neighbor, who happened to be a Male and wanted to sleep over. YOU would say NO.

I am not a die hard fan of MJ and never will be, however I still do feel the media persuades the public to believe someone is guilty before they have their day in court. I do feel you have a point about the likes of Scott Peterson and Jessica Lynch, because everything is presented in the media first and it does not give them a chance to prove their innocence(if they are indeed).

The problem I see with the Michael Jackson case is that the media is so quick to say he's guilty without much detail of what happened in the situation.

A couple of facts about the mother of this young boy:

1. She went to the same civil lawyer as the other alleged victim from 93.

2. She has a history of telling her children to lie for money.

3. Once the payments from the Jackson estate stopped she runs too get an attorney.

4. The state of California investigated the new charges and established that their was no abuse.

5. She confessed on tape that nothing occurred.

6. What is she doing allowing her sick child to sleep in the bed with MJ?

Is Michael innocent, I don't know but I will wait before I pass judgement and act as if he is guilty. When you compare Michael's situation with money then it's always possible that someone is lying.

If Michael is convicted then so be it, he is guilty. But I also think the mother should go too jail with him for pimping out her child which is child endangerment.

[harloo]

Originally posted by Jayd
New Update
It is now being reported that the child's EXTREMELY sick. His one kidney is now failing. He is in need of a transplant.
He may not survive to pursue this case himself, therefore he'll never benefit from a "guilty" verdict. I REALLY don't think anyone else BUT the child should (IF MJ is even guilty)

He is sick and this is so sad. However, a new law was passed in California for MJ specifically. LOL. The law now states that if the victim is a child a statement can be presented as testimony and is admissable in court.

[BigLyd1]

I tend to believe he is guilty. But I haven't paid that much attention to the stories because I can't stand to look at him.

Anyway, having typed numerous search warrants on sexual predators, I think there must be some substantial evidence against him. Yes, the media takes advantage of it. Yes, some people are money-hungry. But I have yet to type a search warrant on a "non-guilty" person.

*runs out of thread now*

[AngelGrim]

Well in my opinion the media brings a lot to light, and how can you call down the media when he uses it to his advantage as much as he possibly can as when he went to court recently and it was a circus. I believe that this will be like the Oj trial and will be a mess either way. But if he is guilty, then I pity him, as he will have to live with it and he ought to serve time in a regular prison just like any normal shmo of the street if he is.

[cleaningla]

Originally posted by harloo
I am not a die hard fan of MJ and never will be, however I still do feel the media persuades the public to believe someone is guilty before they have their day in court. I do feel you have a point about the likes of Scott Peterson and Jessica Lynch, because everything is presented in the media first and it does not give them a chance to prove their innocence(if they are indeed).

The problem I see with the Michael Jackson case is that the media is so quick to say he's guilty without much detail of what happened in the situation.

A couple of facts about the mother of this young boy:

1. She went to the same civil lawyer as the other alleged victim from 93.

2. She has a history of telling her children to lie for money.

3. Once the payments from the Jackson estate stopped she runs too get an attorney.

4. The state of California investigated the new charges and established that their was no abuse.

5. She confessed on tape that nothing occurred.

6. What is she doing allowing her sick child to sleep in the bed with MJ?

Is Michael innocent, I don't know but I will wait before I pass judgement and act as if he is guilty. When you compare Michael's situation with money then it's always possible that someone is lying.

If Michael is convicted then so be it, he is guilty. But I also think the mother should go too jail with him for pimping out her child which is child endangerment.

OMG it's so nice to see that these things matter to someone else.


I just don't see how people can be so certain he is guilty when there is so much that points to reasonable doubt.

[harloo]

Originally posted by AngelGrim
Well in my opinion the media brings a lot to light, and how can you call down the media when he uses it to his advantage as much as he possibly can as when he went to court recently and it was a circus. I believe that this will be like the Oj trial and will be a mess either way. But if he is guilty, then I pity him, as he will have to live with it and he ought to serve time in a regular prison just like any normal shmo of the street if he is.

I do feel that the media should not be used for any parties involved, MJ included. I noticed that he has started a campaign and IMO that is the wrong way to go. The public wants an O.J. like atmosphere, and the media is willing to oblige.

However, I don't think an O.J. like court case is a thing that's good for the justice system. All that case did was make people upset at each other over nothing. IMO, that whole case is an example of why it is dangerous to broadcast a high profile case like it's a made for T.V. movie.

I hope the judge keeps cameras out of the court. But I also will go as far as saying they should not allow MJ to have his fans at the courthouse, or any reporters. This is my opinion, and I know about the first amendment and all but I also feel that the circus enviornment is damaging to the judicial process. :)

[nanajoanie]

I think the parents of the boys MJ slept with should be charged right along with MJ. The parents put their children in harm's way. MJ didn't have to go soliciting. The stupid parents offered their children to him. WHY???

[msbabygirl]

Originally posted by captorquewrench
maybe it will be just quicker to ask which kids are NOT making allegations.

my kids saw him on tv earlier this year and yelled for me to come quick and look at the "freaky lady" :eek: LOL

ROFLMBO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D :D

[Jerseygal]

I always say "where there's smoke....there's fire".

The man is not all there and any parent allowing their children to sleep over is just as crazy as him.


jerseygal:mad:

[babymaniac]

It scares me to think of what he may have been doing to that poor chimp all these years...;)