Untouchable
Page 88
Klein meeting MJ through Geffen: Seal. Little follow-up investigation of Klein: 1993, 2003 lines of inquiry petered out. That Klein’s wealth and connections (and litigious nature) helped to protect him is an inference, but it was the only explanation I heard from the people I asked about this. Irena Medavoy case: Seal, and contemporaneous media reports. Klein-Tarlow relationship: arnoldklein.com, UCLA.
Frank Cascio on collecting MJ drugs: Cascio, My Friend Michael. I will disclose here that I did not read all of Cascio’s book, only the ABC News web story about it, which included a couple of brief excerpts. I have used those quotes and others from a Cascio interview here and in the insomnia section. Schaffel quotes: Schaffel. Drugs in black suitcase: AS1, Wiesner, Orth (see Chapter 5 notes). National Enquirer/intravenous drip: “Jacko Bombshell” (see Chapter 5, which refers to unavailable 1999 one). Avram material: Avram court file. Myung Ho Lee: Orth/“Losing His Grip” (see Chapter 6 notes), Los Angeles media covering the court case. Daily Mail photo: cited below; the photo is still posted. “Ate too little and mixed too much”: Rwaramba to Barak. Jackson family suspicions of Grace: family members in public and private statements, based largely on the fact that she spent more time with him than anyone else. Post office box and credit cards in Rwaramba’s name: Rwaramba LAPD statement.
Grace Rwaramba has denied that she ever enabled Michael Jackson’s drug use (and also dismisses the suggestion that she pressured Michael to marry her). But she at one point also denied being interviewed by Daphne Barak and Barak replied by posting video of her interviews with Rwaramba online. Grace then issued a public statement in which she stated “I have never spoken to the Times online, the original source of the story that has now been picked up worldwide.” That was disingenuous. Grace had spoken at length to Daphne Barak, who sold the story to the Times’ parent company, as Rwaramba knew. Grace’s statement labeled as “outrageous and patently false” the “claim that I routinely pumped [Michael Jackson’s] stomach after he had ingested a dangerous combination of drugs.” This disavowal of the remarks attributed to her by Barak, though, came after Rwaramba had been summoned to an interview with the LAPD at which she would be questioned about her knowledge of Michael’s drug use and whether she had, in fact, pumped his stomach. Obviously, I have no direct knowledge of whether Grace pumped Michael’s stomach, enabled his drug use or pressured him to marry her. That said, I think the evidence pretty strongly indicates that Barak’s account of their conversations is far more reliable than Rwaramba’s. I’m basing Grace’s defense of herself in part on what I’ve been told she’s said to the Jackson family and, especially, what I read in her September 12, 2009, statement to the LAPD.
Claims of Bain and Rwaramba collaborating to control MJ: Joe Jackson to fan sites, late spring and summer 2007; confidential sources told me other family members, including KJ, agreed at the time. Raymone and Grace jockeying for control: Mesereau. Jackson family’s attempted interventions: family members in interviews; others have said that the Jacksons did try at various times to get MJ off drugs. Mesereau, Schaffel, and Wiesner all said they believed it, and I do also. See also Boteach on Katherine and Joe seeking his help to intervene; Tito Jackson to Fricker. In this case, I think the Jacksons deserve much of the credit they’re trying to claim. Drug use spiraling after Bashir documentary: firsthand from Schaffel and Wiesner. National Enquirer claim of overdose in Bahrain: “Jacko Bombshell” (see Chapter 5 notes), response: Bain, “Overdose Rumors” (see Chapter 5 notes). Mickey Fine lawsuit: TMZ. 2007 Jackson family intervention attempt: Rolling Stone, People, bodyguards to ABC. Joe Jackson trying to get in: AS1, reported by Roger Friedman who clearly had a source inside MJ’s entourage. Again, AS1 denied being that source.
COURT FILES
Criminal
SBSC 1133603.
Civil
C383387 (Los Angeles Superior Court) Gina Sprague v. Joseph Jackson, Katherine Jackson, Randy Jackson, and Janet Jackson (a minor), September 21, 1981.
LASC D076606.
LASC 05113.
LASC D157554.
LASC D202224.
USDC-CA CV 90 4906.
NWC55803 (Los Angeles Superior Court) Katherine Jackson v. Jack Gordon and La Toya Jackson aka La Toya Gordon, February 28, 1990.
DOCUMENTS
Audiotapes of interviews with Michael Jackson from “Michael Jackson’s Secret Vault” provided by Howard Mann.
Rwaramba, 9/12/09.
ARRIVAL IN LAS VEGAS
Clarke, Norm. “Michael Jackson Landing on Strip?” Las Vegas Review-Journal, December 24, 2006.
English, Whitney, and Natalie Finn. “‘It’s Going to Be a Disaster’: Associate Says Jackson Too Weak for Major Comeback.” E!online.com, July 10, 2009 (I).
“Jackson Confidant Jack Wishna Opens Up About Michael and the Tour that Never Was.” Access Hollywood, January 8, 2010 (I).
Leach, Robin. “In a World Exclusive Interview, Michael Jackson Talks About His New Life in Vegas and His Comeback.” Luxe Life, February 5, 2007 (I) (hereafter cited as Leach, “Vegas”).
“US Exclusive: Michael Jackson’s New House.” Us, December 24, 2006.
JAMES BROWN’S DEATH AND FUNERAL
Daly, Michael. “Michael Jackson’s Grim Fascination with Death, Odd 5-Hour Vigil over James Brown.” New York Daily News, June 28, 2009.
“‘Godfather of Soul’ James Brown Dies at 73.” Associated Press, December 26, 2006.
“Michael Jackson Speaks at James Brown Funeral.” YouTube, December 30, 2006 (I).
Reid, Shaheem. “James Brown Saluted by Michael Jackson at Public Funeral Service.” mtv.com, December 30, 2006 (I).
Tune, Melissa. “Funeral Director Recalls Night Michael Jackson Spent Viewing James Brown’s Remains.” wrdw.com, July 6, 2009 (I).
Vogel, Sara. “James Brown Lies in State at Harlem’s Apollo Theater.” Columbia Spectator, January 16, 2007.
JACKSON FAMILY
Brown, Stacy, and James Fanelli. “Jackson ‘Dive’: Once-Mighty Music Family Goes from Riches to Rags.” New York Post, March 23, 2008.
Caruso, Michelle. “Jackson Tell-All Book Pitch: Thought Jax Was Guilty, Feared Suicide; His Brother Admits Jacko’s ‘Thing for Young Children.’” New York Daily News, March 5, 2006.
———. “Tell-All Writer Warns Jax Bro Rants Were Recorded: Jermaine’s Dis on Tape.” New York Daily News, March 8, 2006.
“Confirmed! Jermaine Jackson Did Write a Disparaging Book About Michael Jackson.” musikfactorytwo.blogspot.com, July 20, 2011 (I).
“Danger Zone: La Toya Jackson’s Marriage Becomes a Danger Zone.” People, May 3, 1993.
Deutsch, Donny. “Stacy Brown Interview About Jermaine Jackson’s Book ‘Legacy.’” CNBC, March 7, 2005 (RT).
Ditzian, Eric. “Michael Jackson’s Family Tree: Janet, Rebbie, Marlon and More.” mtv.com, June 26 2009 (I).
Friedman, Roger. “Jermaine Jackson Told All in Shocking 2003 Book Proposal.” Showbiz411.com, August 12, 2009 (I).
———. “Michael Jackson’s Nanny Locks His Father Out.” Fox News, January 31, 2007 (I).
“Jacksons Refute La Toya’s Charge Michael Kept Boys with Him at Family Home—La Toya Jackson’s Views About Child Sexual Abuse Investigation of Michael Jackson.” Jet, December 27, 1993.
King, Larry. “Interview with La Toya Jackson.” CNN, March 9, 2003 (RT).
———. “Interview with Jermaine Jackson.” CNN, May 6, 2006.
“La Toya: Charges Are True; Family Says Jackson Never Molested Kids.” Washington Post, December 9, 1993.
“La Toya Jackson Interview, Go’ Aften Danmark,” TV2, May 19, 2008 (I).
“La Toya Jackson Says Michael Committed Crimes Against Boys.” Houston Chronicle, December 9, 1993.
“La Toya Jackson Tel Aviv Press Conference 1993.” YouTube (I).
Netter, Sarah. “Michael Jackson Bodyguards Dish on Living with Eccentric King of Pop.” abcnews.com, March 8, 2010 (I) (hereafter cited as Netter, “Jackson bodyguards”).
VH-1, “Secret Childhood” (RT).
“Wedding Bells Were a Hoax, La Toya Says.” Deseret News, September 8, 1989.
Yazmeen. “Katherine Jackson and Howard Mann: The Whole Story.” musikfactorytwo.blogspot.com, March 1, 2011 (I).
———. “Katherine Jackson and Melissa Johnson: The Whole Story.” muzikfactorytwo blogspot.com, April 15, 2011 (I).
MJ AND DRUGS/DR. KLEIN AND LIZ TAYLOR
Benet, Lorenzo. “The Neverland Drug Case That Never Was.” People, July 23, 2009.
Boshoff, Alison. “Michael Jackson Was So High on Painkillers That He Spent Days in a Stupor.” Daily Mail, June 26, 2009.
“Drugs and Alcohol: Jackson Family Attempted Vegas Intervention.” People, June 26, 2009.
Fricker, Martin. “Michael Jackson Was Confronted by Family over Drugs.” Daily Mirror, July 15, 2009 (hereafter cited as Fricker).
“Grace Rwaramba Michael’s Biggest Enabler?” News of the World, October 16, 2009 (hereafter cited as “Biggest Enabler”).
“Help for Safely Using Opioids.” Opioids911.org.
“Jacko Sued for Not Paying for His Meds.” TMZ, January 12, 2007 (I).
“Jackson Doc Hid Medical Records, Deputy Says.” TMZ, July 13, 2009 (I).
“Jackson Drug Aliases.” TMZ, July 20, 2009 (I).
“Jackson’s Knack for Picking Friendly Docs.” TMZ, July 11, 2009 (I).
James, Susan Donaldson. “Friend Says Michael Jackson Battled Demerol Addiction.” abcnews.go.com, June 26, 2009 (I).
King, Larry. “Interview with Dr. Arnold Klein.” July 8, 2009 (RT) (hereafter cited as King, “Klein”).
Klein, Dr. Arnold. “In the Beginning.” drarnoldklein.com (I) (PR).
Kreps, Daniel. “Report: Janet Jackson Planned Intervention for Michael in 2007.” Rollingstone.com, July 9, 2009 (I).
Munzenrieder, Kyle. “Miami Beach Doctor Prescribed Michael Jackson Drugs, but Was He Trying to Help?” Miami New Times, July 10, 2009 (I) (hereafter cited as Munzenrieder).
Nutting, John Blight. “Understanding Addiction Cycles.” www.voice-dialogue-inner-self-awareness.com (I).
Posner, Gerald. “Did the Doctor Do It?” Daily Beast, July 24, 2009 (I).
———. “Jackson and the ‘Pill Mills.’” Daily Beast, July 12, 2009 (I) (hereafter cited as Posner, “Pill Mills”).
———. “Jackson’s Doc’s Drug Dealing Past.” Daily Beast, July 16, 2009 (I) (hereafter cited as Posner, “Jackson’s Doc”).
“Quotes by the Michael Jackson Doctors.” spotlight.vitals.com, July 3, 2009 (I) (hereafter cited as “Quotes”).
Seal, Mark. “The Doctor Will Sue You Now.” Vanity Fair, March 2012 (hereafter cited as Seal, “Doctor Will Sue”).
“Shocking Pictures Which Show Michael Jackson’s Drug-Ravaged Legs as Police Say They Are Treating His Death as a Homicide.” Daily Mail, Muly 16, 2009 (hereafter cited as “Drug-Ravaged legs”).
Taraborrelli, J. Randy. “I Saw in His Eyes He Was Dying.” Daily Mail, June 29, 2009.
“UCLA Announces New Endowed Chair: The Arnold Klein, M.D., Chair in Dermatology.” Newsroom.ucla.edu, July 23, 2004 (PR).
Waxman, Sharon. “Exclu: 5 Doctors Named in 2004 Police Report.” Thewrap.com, July 6, 2009 (I) (hereafter cited as Waxman, “Doctors Named”).
CHAPTER 13
The AP’s “Michael Jackson Returns to U.S.” story had been set up as an announcement of MJ’s trip to Japan and some newspapers made that the headline; most though, led with MJ’s coming back to America. That his location was being kept secret is evident from the “Michael Jackson Sets the Record Straight” allmichaeljackson.com post. MJ’s long relationship with Las Vegas: Weatherford. Gordy, and Abner predicting failure for the Jacksons’s 1974 Vegas shows: Taraborrelli. Scene after 2003 raid on Neverland: Schaffel. Million Dollar Listing of Neverland: Bain’s press release February 7, 2007. Considering sale of Neverland, refinancing deal stalled due to pending legal claims: AS2, Boshoff, Siklos (see Chapter 1 notes). MJ unhappy about inability to shop, spend freely: AS1 and AS2. Japan trip details: Talmadge/AP, allmichaeljackson.com, Bain PR releases, Michael Jackson Timeline. “Drugged up,” “incoherent”: Wishna to Duke/Saeed/CNN shortly after MJ’s death. Movements, plans in Las Vegas: Clarke, Katsomiletes. Condition of Monte Cristo house: Wishna in Clarke’s “Jackson changes Las Vegas address.” Assorted brokers: Zar Zanganeh promotes himself as MJ’s Las Vegas real estate broker, and he was the one who arranged the Monte Cristo rental, but MJ used a number of other brokers to search for properties. MJ robot: first appearance seems to be NME.com March 2007. “Heading back to Europe”: Clarke/“Michael Jackson is leaving Las Vegas.” Prince Azim’s birthday party: AS1; also Tohme (who heard about it later). Randy Phillips on meetings with MJ: interviews pre- and immediately post-MJ’s death, including Lee-Ryan/”Deep pockets”/LA Times, Adams/”Final decline”/Independent. Description of initial meeting and Phillips’s “He was listening”: Hoffman/Rolling Stone. MJ and Phillips discussing something like Celine Dion’s show: Tohme, secondhand; a Dion-like residency was being reported almost from the time MJ arrived in Las Vegas. Declining BET Awards: AS1, Friedman/“Michael Jackson Moving to Virginia,” later in Posner/“Michael’s Missing Millions” (see Chapter 6 notes). “Too incapacitated”: Ron Weisner; Raymone Bain denied saying this: starpulse.com. Jackson family concerns about Bain’s attempts to control MJ: Mesereau, Tohme, Friedman/“Michael Jackson’s Family Calls for Help.” Raymone Bain background: Wiltz, Washington Post (flattering); confidential sources (less so). MJ looking at real estate in D.C. area: Bain to Post’s Argetsinger/Roberts. Venable: venable.com. Memo warning staffers not to “gawk”: Howard King; Argetsinger/Roberts. Venable deposition: King, Wiesner; King also permitted me to read and take notes from his transcript. Roger Friedman apparently got a copy, also, because he quoted dialogue exactly in his “Michael Jackson Admits Drug Use in Testimony” column.
Stay with Cascios: Cascios interviews with Oprah Winfrey (see Chapter 1 notes), ABC, New York Daily News; Rwaramba to Barak (see Chapter 1 notes); Rwaramba statement to LAPD, Friedman, MJ to Dieter Wiesner, AS1, Mesereau; Taraborrelli/“Jacko the hobo” also contributed. I think it should be obvious which is which, certainly in the case of Rwaramba’s recollections. Dominick and Connie Cascio quotes: Oprah; Frank remarks: ABC; Eddie: Drew Today. Bodyguards’ concerns about not being paid, MJ kicked out of hotels: interviews with ABC. Ayscough claim: Ayscough’s complaint, confidential source. Claims by Randy Jackson and Taunya Zilkie: claims that became part of estate probate case. Halloween Store: Daily News. Departure from Cascios: AS1, who told me in separate conversations that MJ left because he knew the media had found him, and because of Jesse Jackson’s birthday party.
COURT FILES
Civil
BP 117321
YCOF2627 (Los Angeles Superior Court), Ayscough & Marder v. Michael J. Jackson, July 25, 2006.
DOCUMENTS
Deposition of Michael Jackson by Howard King in the Dieter Wiesner lawsuit at the offices of the Venable law firm in Washingtyon, D.C. (not actual title, document reviewed by author).
MJ AND LAS VEGAS
Weatherford, Mike. “Michael Jackson’s Relationship with Las Vegas Started at Young Age.” Las Vegas Review-Journal, June 26, 2009.
EARLY LAS VEGAS STAY/MONTE CRISTO HOUSE PERIOD/FINANCIAL STRAINS
Bain, Raymone. “Brand New Music from Michael Jackson.” February 12, 2007 (PR).
Boshoff, Alison. “Michael Jackson—the Man Who Blew a Billion.” Daily Mail, November 24, 2008.
Clarke, Norm. “Jackson Changes Las Vegas Address.” Las Vegas Review-Journal, July 3, 2007.
Duke, Alan, and Saeed Ahmed. “Portrait of Jackson’s Pill Consumption Emerges.” cnn.com, July 10, 2009 (I).
“John Katsomiletes Stamps Out a Rumor with the Help of a Man Who Pu
t His Stamp on Las Vegas.” Las Vegas Sun, March 4, 2007.
Littlefield, Christina, and Sito Negron. “After Arrest, Pop Star Takes Crowds for a Ride.” Las Vegas Sun, November 2003.
“Michael Jackson Denies BET Awards Snub.” starpulse.com, July 6, 2007 (I).
“Michael Jackson Returns to U.S.” Associated Press, January 26, 2007 (I).
“Michael Jackson to Build Robot Replica in Las Vegas?” NME.com, March 27, 2007 (I).
Miller, Steve. “Inside Vegas: Vegas Is a Second Chance Town.” AmericanMafia.com, June 20, 2005 (I).
“Raymone Bain Releases Statement.” February 7, 2007 (PR).
“Statement from Raymone Bain Regarding Lawsuit.” January 13, 2007 (PR).
JAPAN TRIP/RETURN
Talmadge, Eric. “Jackson ‘Wouldn’t Change a Thing.’” Associated Press, March 8, 2007.
DEPARTURE FROM LAS VEGAS/EAST COAST STAY
Adams, Guy. “Michael Jackson: The Final Decline of a Pop Legend.” Independent, June 26, 2009.
Argetsinger, Amy, and Roxanne Roberts. “The Return of Jacko.” Washingtonpost.com, July 27, 2007.
Clarke, Norm. “Michael Jackson Is Leaving Las Vegas.” Las Vegas Review-Journal, July 2, 2007.
Friedman, Roger. “Michael Jackson Admits Drug Use in Testimony.” Fox News,
October 25, 2007 (I).
———. “Michael Jackson Evidently Moving to Rental Home in Virginia.” Fox News, July 3, 2007 (I).