Last night Jen and I watched with disgust, sadness, and laughter as British journalist Martin Bashir (he rocks) journeyed for 8 months with the has-been King of Pop Michael Jackson in ABC’s documentary Living with Michael Jackson.
It’s insane how ridiculously loved he is the world over. People screamed and cried and hugged him. It’s also depressing and strange to see this rare glimpse at his private life: Mannequins of old white people transported to 7 different suites in Vegas where he rides an old-person cart up and down the hallways by himself at night; the fact that he believes he is Peter Pan (Bashir: “But you’re Michael Jackson.” Jackson: “No, I’m Peter Pan.”); his strange belief that God and not whatever chemicals and drugs he’s used has transformed him from a black boy into a white man; his lying about having had only 2 nose jobs and no other plastic surgery (yeah, right, Mike); and, most controversial and disturbing of all, his open admission that young boys sleep in his bed and that he sees no problem with this and that those of us who do are “ignorant.” Hmm, come again, Mike? I may be alone on this one, but you seem to be the ignorant one living in your own twisted reality. Good luck dealing with your next lawsuit about how you interact with children.
Despite all this, it was certainly an entertaining glimpse at the secret life of the international man of mystery (not to be confused with Pimp Daddy Austin Powers, of course).
21 responses so far ↓
1 Dave Reed // Feb 7, 2003 at 10:41 am
Michael Jackson is the King of Pop just as much as Elvis Presley is the King of Rock: they both were but have existed long beyond that point. Neither are really the currently royalty of their genres.
As to Michael himself, I have this sad feeling that he’s still a little kid himself. Sure, he makes some very adult decisions and actions in his life, but I can’t help but wonder if he’s never really matured beyond being a little kid on a social standpoint.
I heard a bit of what Michael said about the Peter Pan thing, but I don’t remember it much (it was a commercial for the 20/20 special). From what little I heard, it seemed like Michael was being metaphorical.
2 veronica // May 3, 2003 at 7:20 am
i love michael jackson, just because he got a plastc surgery everyone has been treating him diffrentley. Alot of people get plastic surgury, not just michael jackson. And i dont care what people think, michael inspirend me to folow my dreams. *thanks michael!* and somtimes i cry just thinking about him, and the stuff they say abotu him. I need to meet michael jackson becuase i get so sad when i think that i will never see him. Pleasde i need to talk to michael. please *crying crying crying* please i need to do anything to talk or to see michael jacksin. thank u!
3 Dave Reed // May 3, 2003 at 3:26 pm
Oh dear. 🙂
It was not the plastic surgery that has caused people to see Michael in a different light. He’s been having plastic surgery rather consistently through his career. Had it affected his career? No. Although, it is sad that he was so unhappy with who he initially was that he felt that he had to undergo plastic surgery.
His pedophile charge and crappy sales on new albums are why people treat him differently. Sadly, I’d have to add in the fact that he partakes in a lot of different things that society labels as “weird”, and that prevents people from accepting him. Celebrities tend to be easy targets for their privileges that they tend to have over the common American individual (monetary and other benefits of fame).
Society certainly does overlook what good he has done for the world in favor of being disgusted or jealous of his current life. In some senses, it’s not right, but there’s not much to be done about it.
4 Ben // May 19, 2003 at 8:45 am
Michael Jackson is great plastic surgery was done after teasing of brothers and he didn’t want to look like his abusive father.
Skin is due to vitiligo
Press are jealous of his talents because they have shit lives
I love u mj
5 jean seb // Aug 2, 2003 at 11:28 am
michael is the most beatiful person,inside and outside and he s the king of pop so please respect him
6 ADRIANA // Oct 3, 2003 at 11:57 pm
PPL DONT KNOW HOW MICHAEL REALLY FEELS INSIDE HIS HART, SO JUST LIVE HIM ALONE. MICHAEL IS A GOOD MAN HE HELPT A LOT OF KIDS ALL OVER THE WORLD, MORE THEN ANYOTHER STAR EVER HAS DONE OR WILL. HE IS THE BEST HEARTED MEN I EVER SEAN IN MA LIFE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT JUST LOOK AT THE SIKIN OF A PERSON THE HEART IS IMPORTANT.HE HAS THE MOST DIFFICULT LIFE HE CANT GO EVEN SHOPPING BY HIS SELF LIKE OTHER STARS. ALL THIS IS WHY HE IS CALLED THE KING OF POP. WE SHOUD LOOK FIRST AT OUR MISTSAKES BEFOR WE JUGE HIM.
LOVE YOU MICHAEL JOSEPH JACKSON
7 Anonymous // Oct 25, 2003 at 4:31 pm
Well since everyones picking on his nose, check these two out. http://website.lineone.net/~a1/jocelyne/
Its up to him if he wants plastic surgery or not or if he gets himself bleached. He’s a fantastic and totally unique Artist of the century. Media doesnt show the good side of anybody or anything. Michael has become a victim of the seven deadly sins. Evan Chandler who saw a possibility to frame and ruin a man to break him through the missuse of his son, he got what he wanted…money. Along with media campaignes against Michael he has poor sales but his a fighter and will stand up once again.
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Stage/2943/framed.html
In my heart i pray for Michael. ZanTaG@gmx.net
8 holley sands // Nov 5, 2003 at 3:47 am
i dont see wot the world has against him he is the best thing in this world i love his music and he is the only celebrity that cares about other people! and not his self! leave him alone!!!! let him be! your the best thing ever michael! i hav loved you all ma life xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and i have never doubted u!!!!!!
9 Lynn // Nov 15, 2003 at 6:38 pm
We should all just leave him alone. They are worse people. I am a mj fan, and once you know more about him, he isn’t that bad. So who cares how he looks? I dont. He is a very good singer. People judge on the outside, and that is sick. It is like judging the person that wrote this article about him : Who ever wrote this is a rude, ridiculis person that likes to pick on people, and is a total retardo. But I would never say something like that, would I? ;c)
10 cate // Nov 17, 2003 at 12:32 pm
I think that those of you who just slander and prejudice about a man you have never met need to grow up and earn a bit of repect. That man has been through so much and all he doesn’t need is a load of injustice about him from people that havent got a clue what he is like. That interview with martin bashir was like tearing michael’s heart out and stabbing it repeatedly – he did nothing to deserve such crap. I think that the people that have so much shit to say about him need to get a life, do i need to spell it out to you that everyone has feelings, and that it doesn’t matter what a person looks like, or who they are, its whats on the inside that matters? coz you really need to learn that or you will end up a victim of rejection. shame on you all.
for those of us who see michael as a person, i love you all, just as i love michael, and i think he needs all the love he can get.
11 paul // Nov 18, 2003 at 6:00 am
mj is the best i would love to see him
12 Fuck you Morons // Nov 19, 2003 at 1:32 pm
Michael Jackson, is fucked in the head. End of story. He deserves to be repeatedly ass raped in jail for a long long time.
13 NENA // Nov 19, 2003 at 2:07 pm
I have never thought either way about Micheal Jackson Good or Bad. I just happened to run across this web site and read some of the e-mails and decided to comment. I have considered plastic surgery myself at the age of 36, but can’t afford it. People seem to forget we live in a free country and are allowed to make our own decisions. All of you who are prejudging Micheal remember treat people how you want to be treated. The only person who can judge is the all mighty. I have never met you Micheal and don’t know if I ever will, but I’am a open minded person and try to always speak the truth if you ever just need someones ear to bend get ahold of me. nja
14 Dave Reed // Nov 21, 2003 at 5:59 pm
If he’s convicted, I hope it’s because he actually did it. That’s all I hope for. That, and that Scott Peterson doesn’t get screwed over for having his defense lawyer bought from him. Thankfully, it seems that won’t happen.
As for my personal views on Michael, it’s rather sad to me to see someone who did so much good for charities and used to be such a great performer go down like this. I can’t imagine how he’d keep any sort of credibility if these accusations keep cropping up. I’m only saying that because of the way he avoided the law completely back in 1993 and settled out of court. I could be wrong, though.
15 Jenny // Nov 25, 2003 at 2:11 pm
Quit hatin’ ALL. Michael is the best and always will be. The people who judge and condemn him are those who do not know him and what he stands for. I obviously do not know him, but I’ve spent a great deal of my life learning about him and I know without the slightest doubt in my heart that he is genuine. The people who label him a child molester are the same people who make fun of him over his skin. If you haven’t learned by now that he has a skin disease, what makes you so right about whether or not he’s a child molester?
Michael will forever rock my world and be the King of Pop (NOT self-acclaimed, by the way)and he’s going to show judgemental people like you the truth, you just wait and see.
16 tiffany // Jan 11, 2004 at 6:42 pm
micheal is not guilty because he love kids.
why would he do a thing like that
to children that are his.Michael loves children
he would not have tried so hard to concieve them if he didnt love them
so open up your eyes people because you know he
is innocent.
i mean think about it if you had children and you let them stay over a friend house and he or she was or is scared of the dark along with the friend of your child and your child friend suggest to go sleep in his mom room would you turn that down. if you do then your child would be left alone to be even more scared. so think about michael.
people in this world are after one thing and that is money. so maybe the boy who said michael molested him was lying just to get money.
so maybe the mother planned it just to be rich. THINK ABOUT IT PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
17 Lisa // Jan 16, 2004 at 6:04 pm
Just wanted to say that I do not believe that Michael Jackson has done anything wrong and hopefully the truth will come to light. He’s a genious who tries to make the world a better place. It’s hard to understand why people are so bad that they’d do anything to tear the last rips of his sanity and drive him mad. He has had a rough childhood something that we just can’t understand and he has dealed with it in his own way. Who are we to judge something we dont understand? He is a man who just wants to love and to be loved and there should be more people like him in the world. He has a heart of gold and who are we to rip it off. I don’t believe in the accusations because there can’t be something that bad in a person who is so genuine, loving and wants to save the world. Think about it.
18 Damien // Mar 13, 2004 at 3:30 am
Howard Stern RULES
19 Ax // Apr 2, 2004 at 12:07 pm
I notice that most of you, who support michael jackson are defending him by saying all that people think about and dislike about him is his appearance. well I dont care what he looks like and I’ve enjoyed his music for most of my life but unlike you that doesnt render me blind from the truth. Michael jackson is a sick demented petophile who desperately needs therapy and a restraining order between him and any children.
thank you,
your lord and master,
Ax
always remember… AX=truth
20 Keva Wilson // Apr 16, 2004 at 11:59 am
I love Michael with all my heart. I would die for him if I had to. If any one should be loved in the world it should be him. He is so special to the world and needs to be loved by his fans.
21 Anthony Russell // Apr 26, 2004 at 10:19 pm
Don’t forget that Martin Bashir only showed us what he wanted us to see. This style of documentary is extremely didactic and can often distort the truth. I’m not saying Michael Jackson is not crazy, he clearly is messed up. But he was also unjustly portrayed.
Next time you watch this film, think about what Martin doesn’t show us, such as how he gained Michael’s trust to get the interview in the first place, and how he attacked Michael’s way of life using post production tricks. I thought people got tried in courts, not on TV. This media beat up is really starting to irritate and bore me.