Courtrooms have supplied the epilogue to Michael Jackson's life. They've provided the Forum where his debts have been settled, his final days dissected and his life depicted as a cautionary tale.
In nearly four years of court proceedings, two juries have watched Jackson come to life on video screens. They've watched him spin, dance, and then disappear. They've heard his voice, seen his handwriting and viewed Fotos of his lifeless body.
His role as a father has been described in little Mehr than platitudes. Until now.
The jury hearing a civil case filed Von the superstar's mother — against AEG Live LLC, the promoter of Jackson's ill-fated concerts — are experiencing details of a world previously held under lock and key. They've heard of extravagant birthday parties, secret family outings and the leg-clinging devotion of his children.
Jackson shielded the youngsters from the public eye, home-schooling them and often hiding their faces in public.
Away from the cameras, Jackson tried to create an environment of love, attention and special moments for his children, Michael Joseph "Prince" Jackson Jr., Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael "Blanket" Jackson.
The following are some of some of the stories they've told. They present a portrait of Jackson as a father that outsiders never saw.
The final Monat of Jackson's life was a busy time. There were rehearsals for "This Is It," planning meetings and film shoots for a series of mini-movies that would precede some of his greatest hits at the London shows.
Jackson brought his children to the shoot for a "Smooth Criminal" video that culminated with Jackson leaping through a window while being shot at Von Humphrey Bogart.
Alif Sankey, a backup dancer on the original video who was working on the comeback concerts, sat Weiter to Paris during the shoot. The 11-year-old wanted to share a secret and opened up her purse.
It was filled with candy, Sankey recalled. Jackson didn't want his children to eat sweets, and Paris asked Sankey to keep it quiet.
The dancer noticed something else inside the geldbörse — tiny picture frames with Bilder of her father. "Her geldbörse was full of Süßigkeiten and pictures of Daddy."
Despite being home-schooled, there was no shortage of companions for Jackson's children. Chef Kai Chase recalled numerous pets in the mansion that Jackson was renting while he prepared for his "This Is It" shows. There was the talking bird, Siberia, who whistled at pretty women. The children also had a Schokolade Labrador named Kenya, whom Chase bought a cookbook for so she could bake him treats and a birthday cake. Two cats, named Katie and Thriller, also roamed the house.
During opening statements of the civil trial, some of the jury's first exposure to life in the Jackson Home came from footage shot on a Weihnachten morning several years ago. Jackson's ode to his children, "You Are My Life" played as jurors watched a video of a Weihnachten morning from years Vor of Prince, Paris and Blanket gleefully receiving their gifts, which included the puppy, Kenya.
Chase had been working at Jackson's Home for only a few days when it came time to prepare for Paris' 11th birthday. She wanted a Michael Jackson-themed party. All around the dining room, posters of the King of Pop were hung alongside album covers and other pictures. Jackson's hit songs played as the family ate cheese pizza, hot wings and banane splits, Chase recalled.
Paris' birthday cake was decorated with Lilo & Stitch, her Favorit Disney characters. But the festivities weren't over. Jackson escorted the children into the backyard, where they watched a private Cirque du Soleil-style circus, complete with men on stilts and a woman performing in a giant balloon. Chase watched from the küche window and later described the scene as "the most beautiful expression of Liebe I've ever seen."
Jackson spent the final months of his life in a rented mansion in the upscale Holmby Hills section of Los Angeles. The mansion had all the amenities fit for a pop superstar — a palatial entryway, staircase and parlor and in the basement, a Home theater and dance studio. The house was a hub of activity, with security guards gepostet outside, a pair of housekeepers, a nanny for the children and on many days, a personal chef stationed in the kitchen.
Dinners at the Home occasionally featured special guests, including Jackson's personal physician Conrad Murray and choreographer Travis Payne. But staffers and guests other than Murray weren't allowed upstairs, where the bedrooms were. When Chase wanted to prepare a soul Essen menu for Jackson and his children, she wrote him a note in Magic Marker and left it at the foot of the stairs.
AEG Live's lead defense attorney has pointed to the secrecy of Jackson's upstairs lifestyle — where the superstar was receiving nightly doses of the anesthetic propofol in his locked bedroom — to support the company's contention it couldn't have known about Jackson's drug treatments.
Having a stable Home for his children was a major motivation for Jackson returning to the konzert stage, AEG executives say. After his acquittal of child molestation charges in 2005, Jackson had become a nomad, spending time in various cities, including Las Vegas, often staying with friends.
"He wanted his kids to have a permanent place to live and a sense of community," AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips recalled Jackson telling him during one meeting held while the family was living in the guesthouse of a rich benefactor. It was Halloween and the children darted in and out of the rooms, wearing masks. Later that night, they'd go with their father to a party at Elizabeth Taylor's home. "I felt incredibly bad that this incredible star, sterne was at this point where he couldn't buy a house," Phillips said.
Jackson was always a magnet for photographers and fans, but he managed to sneak his children into a movie just weeks before his death. The family and a few others went to see the animated film "Up" at the El Capitan Theatre on a touristy stretch of Hollywood Boulevard. They came in a back door and remained in a private room while moviegoers filed into the theater. When everyone else was seated, the entourage, including his longtime makeup artist Karen Faye, director Kenny Ortega and others, hit up the concession stand. The group watched the movie without distraction. "No one knew Michael was there," Faye recalled.
Jackson and choreographer Travis Payne were scheduled to rehearse one-on-one several days a week in the dance studio that was in the basement of Jackson's mansion. It's unclear how often the pair worked out, but when they did they often had a companion, 7-year-old Blanket. He liked to watch his father dance, Payne later recalled, and tried to always stay close to his dad. During their workouts, Payne sagte Jackson talked to his son, mentoring him.
Preparations for the shows meant that Jackson was frequently out of the house at meetings, film shoots oder rehearsals. When he returned home, Prince, Paris and Blanket would rush their father. "They would take off like lightning," Chase recalls, "... and grab him around the ankles and around the waist." They'd be hanging off of him, not unlike a picture shown to jurors during opening statements. In the photo, Jackson was handing Blanket, then a newborn, to President Bill Clinton. Clinging to Jackson's right leg was Paris.
When it came time for a science project, Paris settled on studying snails. She enlisted Chase to help her find snails in the mansion's backyard. The pair carried large flashlights and found several of the slimy creatures and prepared to bring them inside. Jackson was waiting for them.
"At this point, I knew I was going to get fired," Chase recalled. The singer looked at the snails and had a different reaction — he helped make them a home.
The snails ended up in jars made cozier Von moss in the bottom and tiny cocktail umbrellas. They lived on the küche counter, not far from other reminders of the children. Blanket's colorings hung on the refrigerator.
On a chalkboard where Chase would write out menus, Paris scrawled a message that remained on the board the Tag her father died. "I Liebe daddy," the 11-year-old wrote. "Smile, it's free."
Link: link
In nearly four years of court proceedings, two juries have watched Jackson come to life on video screens. They've watched him spin, dance, and then disappear. They've heard his voice, seen his handwriting and viewed Fotos of his lifeless body.
His role as a father has been described in little Mehr than platitudes. Until now.
The jury hearing a civil case filed Von the superstar's mother — against AEG Live LLC, the promoter of Jackson's ill-fated concerts — are experiencing details of a world previously held under lock and key. They've heard of extravagant birthday parties, secret family outings and the leg-clinging devotion of his children.
Jackson shielded the youngsters from the public eye, home-schooling them and often hiding their faces in public.
Away from the cameras, Jackson tried to create an environment of love, attention and special moments for his children, Michael Joseph "Prince" Jackson Jr., Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael "Blanket" Jackson.
The following are some of some of the stories they've told. They present a portrait of Jackson as a father that outsiders never saw.
The final Monat of Jackson's life was a busy time. There were rehearsals for "This Is It," planning meetings and film shoots for a series of mini-movies that would precede some of his greatest hits at the London shows.
Jackson brought his children to the shoot for a "Smooth Criminal" video that culminated with Jackson leaping through a window while being shot at Von Humphrey Bogart.
Alif Sankey, a backup dancer on the original video who was working on the comeback concerts, sat Weiter to Paris during the shoot. The 11-year-old wanted to share a secret and opened up her purse.
It was filled with candy, Sankey recalled. Jackson didn't want his children to eat sweets, and Paris asked Sankey to keep it quiet.
The dancer noticed something else inside the geldbörse — tiny picture frames with Bilder of her father. "Her geldbörse was full of Süßigkeiten and pictures of Daddy."
Despite being home-schooled, there was no shortage of companions for Jackson's children. Chef Kai Chase recalled numerous pets in the mansion that Jackson was renting while he prepared for his "This Is It" shows. There was the talking bird, Siberia, who whistled at pretty women. The children also had a Schokolade Labrador named Kenya, whom Chase bought a cookbook for so she could bake him treats and a birthday cake. Two cats, named Katie and Thriller, also roamed the house.
During opening statements of the civil trial, some of the jury's first exposure to life in the Jackson Home came from footage shot on a Weihnachten morning several years ago. Jackson's ode to his children, "You Are My Life" played as jurors watched a video of a Weihnachten morning from years Vor of Prince, Paris and Blanket gleefully receiving their gifts, which included the puppy, Kenya.
Chase had been working at Jackson's Home for only a few days when it came time to prepare for Paris' 11th birthday. She wanted a Michael Jackson-themed party. All around the dining room, posters of the King of Pop were hung alongside album covers and other pictures. Jackson's hit songs played as the family ate cheese pizza, hot wings and banane splits, Chase recalled.
Paris' birthday cake was decorated with Lilo & Stitch, her Favorit Disney characters. But the festivities weren't over. Jackson escorted the children into the backyard, where they watched a private Cirque du Soleil-style circus, complete with men on stilts and a woman performing in a giant balloon. Chase watched from the küche window and later described the scene as "the most beautiful expression of Liebe I've ever seen."
Jackson spent the final months of his life in a rented mansion in the upscale Holmby Hills section of Los Angeles. The mansion had all the amenities fit for a pop superstar — a palatial entryway, staircase and parlor and in the basement, a Home theater and dance studio. The house was a hub of activity, with security guards gepostet outside, a pair of housekeepers, a nanny for the children and on many days, a personal chef stationed in the kitchen.
Dinners at the Home occasionally featured special guests, including Jackson's personal physician Conrad Murray and choreographer Travis Payne. But staffers and guests other than Murray weren't allowed upstairs, where the bedrooms were. When Chase wanted to prepare a soul Essen menu for Jackson and his children, she wrote him a note in Magic Marker and left it at the foot of the stairs.
AEG Live's lead defense attorney has pointed to the secrecy of Jackson's upstairs lifestyle — where the superstar was receiving nightly doses of the anesthetic propofol in his locked bedroom — to support the company's contention it couldn't have known about Jackson's drug treatments.
Having a stable Home for his children was a major motivation for Jackson returning to the konzert stage, AEG executives say. After his acquittal of child molestation charges in 2005, Jackson had become a nomad, spending time in various cities, including Las Vegas, often staying with friends.
"He wanted his kids to have a permanent place to live and a sense of community," AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips recalled Jackson telling him during one meeting held while the family was living in the guesthouse of a rich benefactor. It was Halloween and the children darted in and out of the rooms, wearing masks. Later that night, they'd go with their father to a party at Elizabeth Taylor's home. "I felt incredibly bad that this incredible star, sterne was at this point where he couldn't buy a house," Phillips said.
Jackson was always a magnet for photographers and fans, but he managed to sneak his children into a movie just weeks before his death. The family and a few others went to see the animated film "Up" at the El Capitan Theatre on a touristy stretch of Hollywood Boulevard. They came in a back door and remained in a private room while moviegoers filed into the theater. When everyone else was seated, the entourage, including his longtime makeup artist Karen Faye, director Kenny Ortega and others, hit up the concession stand. The group watched the movie without distraction. "No one knew Michael was there," Faye recalled.
Jackson and choreographer Travis Payne were scheduled to rehearse one-on-one several days a week in the dance studio that was in the basement of Jackson's mansion. It's unclear how often the pair worked out, but when they did they often had a companion, 7-year-old Blanket. He liked to watch his father dance, Payne later recalled, and tried to always stay close to his dad. During their workouts, Payne sagte Jackson talked to his son, mentoring him.
Preparations for the shows meant that Jackson was frequently out of the house at meetings, film shoots oder rehearsals. When he returned home, Prince, Paris and Blanket would rush their father. "They would take off like lightning," Chase recalls, "... and grab him around the ankles and around the waist." They'd be hanging off of him, not unlike a picture shown to jurors during opening statements. In the photo, Jackson was handing Blanket, then a newborn, to President Bill Clinton. Clinging to Jackson's right leg was Paris.
When it came time for a science project, Paris settled on studying snails. She enlisted Chase to help her find snails in the mansion's backyard. The pair carried large flashlights and found several of the slimy creatures and prepared to bring them inside. Jackson was waiting for them.
"At this point, I knew I was going to get fired," Chase recalled. The singer looked at the snails and had a different reaction — he helped make them a home.
The snails ended up in jars made cozier Von moss in the bottom and tiny cocktail umbrellas. They lived on the küche counter, not far from other reminders of the children. Blanket's colorings hung on the refrigerator.
On a chalkboard where Chase would write out menus, Paris scrawled a message that remained on the board the Tag her father died. "I Liebe daddy," the 11-year-old wrote. "Smile, it's free."
Link: link
my beautiful Michael
La Toya Jackson thinks a lot of Michael Jackson haters have had a change of herz since her brother died -- but it's unclear whether she's including Gene Simmons in that group.
You'll recall KISS got dropped from the upcoming MJ tribute konzert in part because Gene has sagte he believes Michael was a child molester.
This weekend in Bev Hills we asked La Toya if she thought the konzert should be off limits to artists who disrespected Michael. Her answer is all about forgiveness ... but are Du buying it?
You'll recall KISS got dropped from the upcoming MJ tribute konzert in part because Gene has sagte he believes Michael was a child molester.
This weekend in Bev Hills we asked La Toya if she thought the konzert should be off limits to artists who disrespected Michael. Her answer is all about forgiveness ... but are Du buying it?
Rosie
Sources directly connected to Dr. Conrad Murray tell TMZ ... the Doc will not accept any plea bargain from the L.A. County District Attorney in the Michael Jackson manslaughter case.
We're told Dr. Murray feels so strongly about his innocence, even a plea with no jail time would be out of the question.
Fact is ... Dr. Murray shouldn't hold his breath, because no plea bargain has been offered and sources tell us the D.A. will not offer one.
As for Murray's defense ... we're told the centerpiece revolves around the fact that only two people were in the room around the time MJ died, and Murray insists he did not administer the fatal dose of Propofol.
The operating theory of Murray's lawyers -- when the Doc left to go to the bathroom, a frustrated MJ woke up and administered the fatal dose himself in a desperate attempt to get some sleep.
We're told Dr. Murray feels so strongly about his innocence, even a plea with no jail time would be out of the question.
Fact is ... Dr. Murray shouldn't hold his breath, because no plea bargain has been offered and sources tell us the D.A. will not offer one.
As for Murray's defense ... we're told the centerpiece revolves around the fact that only two people were in the room around the time MJ died, and Murray insists he did not administer the fatal dose of Propofol.
The operating theory of Murray's lawyers -- when the Doc left to go to the bathroom, a frustrated MJ woke up and administered the fatal dose himself in a desperate attempt to get some sleep.
Michael my heart,
last night I dream of you,
Du were embracing me from my back.
I heard your heartbeat and it beats so fast,
like our promise that our Liebe will never end.
We had so much fun together,
that I wished to go on forever.
Talks and laugh ,kissing and cuddling,
like no other people existing.
Holding each others hands while we walked,
all your attention was just for us.
I can't think of anything when Du talked,
but I Liebe Du Mehr and more, Du see.
We stopped walking and Du looked at me sweetly,
then Du leaned over and kissed me.
My herz popped out and I saw butterflies,
Du sagte Du Liebe me truly. oh sorry and then, I awake up and my dream was to end.
It was still a memory to reminisce, your KISS was so tender and sweet.
Liebe and miss Du !! ♥
last night I dream of you,
Du were embracing me from my back.
I heard your heartbeat and it beats so fast,
like our promise that our Liebe will never end.
We had so much fun together,
that I wished to go on forever.
Talks and laugh ,kissing and cuddling,
like no other people existing.
Holding each others hands while we walked,
all your attention was just for us.
I can't think of anything when Du talked,
but I Liebe Du Mehr and more, Du see.
We stopped walking and Du looked at me sweetly,
then Du leaned over and kissed me.
My herz popped out and I saw butterflies,
Du sagte Du Liebe me truly. oh sorry and then, I awake up and my dream was to end.
It was still a memory to reminisce, your KISS was so tender and sweet.
Liebe and miss Du !! ♥
Michael Jackson's children definitely have the bug -- the one that makes Du give away large sums of money -- because they just helped make a $10,000 donation to one of MJ's Favorit charities.
Earlier this week, Prince, Paris, and Blanket presented a check for $10K to the L.A. Housing Corporation -- a group that provides shelter for homeless families. Sources tell us Michael used to take his kids to volunteer with the group.
We're told the massive chunk o' change came from grandma Katherine Jackson's memorabilia biz.
MJ's heirs made the donation on behalf of his Heal the World Foundation. All three of them joined the group's Youth Board of Advisors last year.
Earlier this week, Prince, Paris, and Blanket presented a check for $10K to the L.A. Housing Corporation -- a group that provides shelter for homeless families. Sources tell us Michael used to take his kids to volunteer with the group.
We're told the massive chunk o' change came from grandma Katherine Jackson's memorabilia biz.
MJ's heirs made the donation on behalf of his Heal the World Foundation. All three of them joined the group's Youth Board of Advisors last year.
The producer/director of Michael Jackson's "This Is It" tour is scoffing at Katherine Jackson's wrongful death suit in which he's named as a defendant, because he had nothing to do with the drugs oder treatment that caused the singer's death.
Kenny Ortega just filed legal docs -- obtained Von TMZ -- asking the court to remove him as a defendant in Katherine's suit, claiming, "Kenneth Ortega is not alleged to be involved in the medical treatment oder administration of drugs that allegedly caused Michael Jackson's death."
Ortega's lawyer adds ... Kenny never had a contract with Dr. Conrad Murray oder with Michael Jackson, nor has he had any official affiliation with AEG.
Ortega's lawyer says, "The naming of Kenneth Ortega as a defendant in this action, without any basis, without any substantive charging allegations against him, is a gross error."
Kenny Ortega just filed legal docs -- obtained Von TMZ -- asking the court to remove him as a defendant in Katherine's suit, claiming, "Kenneth Ortega is not alleged to be involved in the medical treatment oder administration of drugs that allegedly caused Michael Jackson's death."
Ortega's lawyer adds ... Kenny never had a contract with Dr. Conrad Murray oder with Michael Jackson, nor has he had any official affiliation with AEG.
Ortega's lawyer says, "The naming of Kenneth Ortega as a defendant in this action, without any basis, without any substantive charging allegations against him, is a gross error."
Michael Jackson could live again on the big screen -- TMZ has learned a former Jackson associate is trying to Shop around a full-length movie featuring unseen rehearsal footage from MJ's 1981 konzert series.
The man behind the deal is Ron Newt -- who claims he was so close with Michael, that the singer gave him special behind-the-scenes footage from Jackson's 1981 Triumph Tour.
Now, after seeing the success of "This Is It " -- Newt tells TMZ he's put together a 64-minute feature film from his footage ... which includes several candid moments involving MJ and his brothers. Michael can also be seen dancing, Singen and directing the stage production.
Newt tells us he's already getting offers from several interested parties -- with proposals reaching into seven figures.
The man behind the deal is Ron Newt -- who claims he was so close with Michael, that the singer gave him special behind-the-scenes footage from Jackson's 1981 Triumph Tour.
Now, after seeing the success of "This Is It " -- Newt tells TMZ he's put together a 64-minute feature film from his footage ... which includes several candid moments involving MJ and his brothers. Michael can also be seen dancing, Singen and directing the stage production.
Newt tells us he's already getting offers from several interested parties -- with proposals reaching into seven figures.
Originally gepostet May 13th 2010 5:30 PM PDT Von TMZ Staff
Lisa Marie Presley's desperate plea for Fans to bring Mehr Blumen to Michael Jackson's tomb must have fallen on deaf ears -- because as of today the entrance to the tomb was pretty bare.
Michael Jackson's ex-wife complained about too much "empty space" around the singer's tomb on her MySpace page yesterday -- and urged Fans to fill the void with lots of sunflowers ... but obviously that didn't happen.
Fans have since fired back, claiming they've been faithfully doing their part flowers-wise since MJ died last year.
Read more: link
Lisa Marie Presley's desperate plea for Fans to bring Mehr Blumen to Michael Jackson's tomb must have fallen on deaf ears -- because as of today the entrance to the tomb was pretty bare.
Michael Jackson's ex-wife complained about too much "empty space" around the singer's tomb on her MySpace page yesterday -- and urged Fans to fill the void with lots of sunflowers ... but obviously that didn't happen.
Fans have since fired back, claiming they've been faithfully doing their part flowers-wise since MJ died last year.
Read more: link
