Untouchable

by Randall Sullivan

  Branca 4/15/06.

  Tape recording of phone conversation between Joel Katz (co–general counsel of Michael Jackson Estate) and Henry Vaccaro. August 2009 (hereafter cited as Katz and Vaccaro, 8/2009).

  Weitzman to Sullivan and Entrekin, 3/31/11.

  Durst to Reynolds, 4/3/11.

  “FWD: Will and Trust.” E-mail sent from Howard Mann to Randall Sullivan. April 9, 2011 (hereafter cited as Mann to Sullivan, 4/19/11).

  “FWD: New Video for Jackson Secret Vault About HTWF.” E-mail sent from Howard Mann to Randall Sullivan. April 9, 2011 (hereafter cited as Mann to Sullivan “Secret Vault,” 4/9/11).

  “RE: Katherine Jackson.” E-mail from Adam Streisand to Randall Sullivan. June 27, 2011 (hereafter cited as Streisand to Sullivan, 6/27/11).

  Williams to Sanders, 11/3/11.

  Ribera to Sullivan, 11/9/11.

  Ribera to Sullivan, 11/13/11.

  YEAR ONE (BEFORE JUNE 25, 2010)

  “AllGood Socks Jackson Estate Hard.” TMZ, October 16, 2009 (I).

  “Bodyguard Tries to Sell Mask.” mjworld.net, November 29th 2009 (I).

  Duke, Alan. “Attorney: Michael Jackson Had Heartbeat at Hospital.” CNN, March 29, 2010 (I).

  ———. “Jackson Family Lawyer Hints at ‘New Evidence’ in Battle for Estate.” CNN, October 23, 2009 (I).

  ———. “Katherine Jackson Replaces Lawyers in Estate Battle.” CNN, October 22, 2009 (I).

  Fernandez and Collins.

  Friedman, Roger. “Michael Jackson Estate Wouldn’t Pay Randy and Jermaine’s Owed Child Support.” Showbiz411.com, July 24, 2012 (I) (hereafter cited as Friedman. “Owed Child Support”).

  ———. “Michael Jackson: Moonies Want Millions from His Parent.” Showbiz411.com, June 28, 2010 (I).

  Holson. “Bitter Attack.”

  Holson and Holloway. “Sony and Its Star.”

  “It’s All Good for Michael Jackson.” TMZ, August 19, 2010 (I).

  “Jackson Executors—Beyond the Call of Duty.” TMZ, December 17, 2009 (I).

  “Jackson’s Will—Randy Says Not MJ’s Signature.” TMZ, October 21, 2009 (I).

  “Joe Jackson Blames Katherine for Michael’s Death.” TMZ, June 13, 2010 (I).

  “Joe Jackson: Michael ‘Worth More Dead Than Alive.’” Extra, October 28, 2009 (RT).

  Judd, Amy. “Gary, Indiana, Hosts Michael Jackson Tribute June 25, 2010.” Glendale News-Press, June 25, 2010 (hereafter cited as Judd, “Gary, Indiana”).

  Kim, Victoria. “Michael Jackson’s Mother No Longer Objects to Estate Executors.” Los Angeles Times, November 10, 2009.

  Lueck, Thomas J. “Record Industry Is Attacked by a Top Star.” New York Times, July 7, 2002.

  Martin, Brandy. “Michael Jackson’s Dad Demands Medical Records.” examiner.com, January 1, 2010 (I).

  Mayoras, Danielle, and Andrew Mayoras. “Crazy Claims.”

  ——— and ———. “Change of Heart.”

  ——— and ———. “Planning Lessons.”

  ——— and ———. “New Evidence.”

  ——— and ———. “Estate Deal.”

  “McClain Interscope.”

  “Michael Jackson Accuses His Brother of Stealing from Him.” Contact Music, June 18, 2007 (I).

  “Michael Jackson Denies Stories About Illness and Brother Randy Stealing from Him.” starpulse.com, June 29, 2007 (I).

  “Michael Jackson’s Executors—Pay Us Now!” TMZ, December 15, 2009 (I).

  “Michael Jackson’s Will Fake, Says His Former Advisor.” Radar Online, June 21, 2010 (I).

  “MJ Bodyguard Claims Singer Ordered Hit on Randy Jackson.” TMZ, May 8, 2012 (I).

  “MJ Estate to Publicist: You’re Not Getting a Cent!” TMZ, April 19, 2010 (I).

  “Raymone Bain’s Claim Denied.” mjworld.net, May 8, 2010 (I).

  Roberts, Soraya. “Michael Jackson’s Father, Joe, Claims Wife, Katherine, Is to Blame for Their Son’s Death.” New York Daily News, June 14, 2010.

  Ryan, Harriet. “Michael Jackson’s Father Seeks Allowance from Singer’s Estate.” Los Angeles Times, November 7, 2009.

  “Statement by Michael (2007) Regarding Rumors Saying Randy Stole Michael’s Money.” Facebook/Friends of Randy Jackson, January 3, 2011 (I).

  YEAR TWO (AFTER JUNE 25, 2010)

  Adams, Tim. “Taylor Swift Edges Susan Boyle for 2009’s Top-Selling Album.” Billboard, January 6, 2010.

  “AEG Live Responds to Katherine Jackson’s Lawsuit.” Associated Press, September 17, 2010.

  Bourke, Philippa. “Michael’s Gravesite No Longer Guarded.” Sydney Morning Herald, March 10, 2010.

  Christman, Donahue, Mitchell, Peoples, and Waddell.

  Eager, Sophie. “Jackson Fans Graffiti Tomb.” National Ledger, July 14, 2010.

  Friedman, Roger. “The Michael Jackson Vultures Circle June 25th for 1st Attack.” Showbiz411.com, June 11, 2010 (I).

  Hernandez, Miriam, and Melissa MacBride. “Michael Jackson Mourned on Death Anniversary.” abcnews.go.com, June 25, 2010 (I).

  “Jackson Family Suing AEG in Wrongful Death Lawsuit.” X17, September 15, 2010 (I).

  McCartney, Anthony. “Joe Jackson Sues Murray for Wrongful Death.” Associated Press, June 25, 2010.

  “Michael Jackson’s Father Files Wrongful Death Suit.” BBC, June 25, 2010 (RT).

  “Panish Shea and Boyle LLP Files Lawsuit Against AEG for Wrongful Death of Michael Jackson.” psandb.com, September 15, 2010 (PR).

  Sisario, Ben. “A Year Later, Jackson Estate Is Prospering.” New York Times, June 23, 2010 (hereafter cited as Sisario, “A Year Later”).

  Wilson, Stan. “Father of Michael Jackson Accuses AEG of Singer’s Death.” CNN, June 18, 2010 (I).

  CHAPTER 28

  I have, obviously, heard a great deal about life inside the Hayvenhurst compound, and about life at Katherine Jackson’s new home in Calabasas. I tried to draw as much as possible, though, on published reports and public records. The fact that most of my sources of information (Schaffel and Mann being notable exceptions, along with Adam Streisand) have requested confidentiality is the principle reason for this. Where I’m drawing on my own sources will be acknowledged.

  “Camp Jackson”/life inside compound: Tresniowski/“Michael’s Last Wish”/People. Children’s circumstances/behavior: Tresniowski/“Michael’s Kids: Inside Their World.” “Sodom and Gomorrah”: Klein in “Joe Jackson’s a Hypocrite!”/TMZ. Prince and Paris descriptions: confidential sources close to the family, plus Tresniowski, TMZ staff, La Toya to Daily Mail. MJ bringing dog Kenya home, eating Snickers atop Luxor: Paris to Oprah Winfrey (see Chapter 2 notes), others. Squabbling among Jacksons: confidential sources, Duke, Dimond. Randy leading opposition to Branca, KJ unhappy with allowance: confidential sources. Branca’s response/upping of allowance: same, but also probate file documents. Estate payments for vacations, etc.: accounting statements, also Friedman. Pressure from children (especially Randy and La Toya) for KJ to challenge estate: confidential sources. Apprehension among Jacksons/estate ending payments if KJ died or was unable to continue as guardian: confidential sources; that mood was amplified when some of them either heard, or heard about, the taped conversation between Joel Katz and Henry Vaccaro, in which Katz and Vaccaro’s attorney can be heard chuckling about the fact that the Jacksons would be cut off completely when Katherine died. Rebbie and Janet only candidates to raise kids if Katherine died: confidential sources.

  La Toya on Grace: to Daily Mail. Grace’s departure from Hayvenhurst, explanations: “overplaying her hand”: my sources; due to Barrack interviews: other sources; children’s fear of losing Grace: “Jackson Kids Secret Terror”/National Enquirer; Paris having Grace fired: see below. Grace’s presence influencing Debbie: Schaffel, other sources. Grace suggesting (or perceived as) that she might do a tell-all: confidential source, see also X17.com below. Buckley School plan/change of plan: TMZ, Tresniowski’s second People article; confidential sources. Department of Children and Family Serv
ices/stun gun: ABC online; Streisand refutation of story: Associated Press, others. Debbie Rowe custody situation: Schaffel, NY Daily News, Us. Rowe petition for legal fees: estate case file, Contact Music (including Tito quote). Stun gun incident /TMZ questions re. Streisand account: TMZ cited below. “World Exclusive” video, Haraszti comment: Radar Online below. Debbie’s concern about kids, never having been to Hayvenhurst: March 4 story. I’ve heard otherwise, but perhaps a visit came later; see also Friedman June 21, 2010. Jacksons’s questions/accusations about leak of stun gun/video: confidential sources; X17 on Grace as “snitch”/“threatening to write a tell-all book”: “Stun Gun Snitch.” Schaffel said Grace wasn’t the snitch; he was not my only source who said Grace wasn’t fired but left Hayvenhurst of her own volition, because of Alejandra, and what Schaffel knows comes mainly from KJ. “Strong recommendation” of Department of Children and Family services (DCFS): Schaffel, other sources I regard as equally or even more reliable. Claim Alejandra called DCFS/sold slapping video: “Jackson insider” letter/TMZ (see Chapter 26). Observations about MJ’s children’s reality/lack of privacy: my own. Kids at Cascios’ for Christmas: confidential sources; I don’t know that it’s been reported. “Don’t have any friends”: KJ to Daily Mirror. Enrollment at Buckley: TMZ August 27; insistence of Prince, reluctance of Paris, Blanket remaining homeschooled: confidential sources.

  Michael controversy: media (more below) and confidential sources close to Jackson family; in this instance I’m pretty sure the estate’s position was the true one—at least with regard to whether that was MJ’s voice or not. The back and forth, and how people involved with the album on the one hand, and with MJ in the past on the other, divided between the two sides, was widely reported. Michaels/Guardian gave an account very close to the one I heard from my sources. Teddy Riley account: Nicholson/Guardian. Best source on assembly of album, review of music: Pareles “After Death, the Remix” (though I think he should have given “Behind the Mask” a little more respect). Existence of “Breaking News”: MTV. Commercial performance, radio response, first to predict the controversy: Friedman, who reported the heck out of the story. Eddie Cascio: to “Oprah,” NY Daily News. MJ’s children saying it wasn’t his voice: first, TMZ; see also TMZ video more than a year later of Paris Jackson telling friends (one of whom clearly sold her out) “It’s not him . . . the whole album isn’t even him!” Weitzman defense of album, especially “Breaking News,” Dileo, Riley quotes: Sisario/New York Times. KJ/Randy Jackson complaints: Michaels/Guardian. Will.i.am: to Rolling Stone. Quincy Jones: to Us. Estate’s defense of album: Sisario article on Howard Weitzman. Disappointing sales Gail Mitchell’s Billboard international success Friedman’s December 22, 2010, column. “Self-referential rehash”: Infantry/Toronto Star. I stand by my own opinion of “Behind the Mask.”

  MJ’s belief in conspiracy to take ATV catalog from him: Mesereau (who remembers MJ constantly begging him not to “let them get to you”), Schaffel, Wiesner, Tohme, Bain in Stealing Michael Jackson interview, La Toya to Independent, Orth (see Chapter 5 notes), confidential source; based on things she said in my presence, KJ believes it’s all or mostly true. Conspiracy theories surrounding MJ’s death: Daily Telegraph; David Icke’s Web site has some truly arcane theories, and other sites picked up the one that the CIA was behind MJ’s “assassination.” David Rothenberg really MJ in disguise: Sun. MJ alive at coroner’s office: photographs as described in text, also, YouTube videos purported to show it. Geller comments: Geller. Joe Jackson’s letter telling MJ fans to lay off Conrad Murray: TMZ. Joe describing Murray as “fall guy”: Duke/CNN story, months earlier and well before Jermaine would. Joe’s complaint to the California Medical Board: Associated Press; similar allegations have been and are being made in AEG wrongful death suit, per documents filed in connection to it. Murray on how he might have saved MJ: the now-defunct News of the World, via Times of India. “Fall guy,” “Michael was murdered”: CNN story on La Toya’s Piers Morgan Tonight appearance. Murray’s lawyers’ claim Arnold Klein overmedicated MJ: court file/Murray trial. MJ showing signs of drugs after seeing Klein, Dileo’s remark: Faye statement to LAPD, used in “Do You Want Fries With That”/ TMZ. I’ve seen the claims Dr. Klein submitted to the Michael Jackson estate and all of the details about the treatment Klein provided to MJ are from one of those documents. “Needle-phobic”: Klein to Ephron/Daily Beast. The attorney general’s office was just one of a number of agencies investigating the relationship between Klein and other doctors with MJ. Klein himself was the first to announce (on Facebook.com/arnold.klein) that he was being investigated by the California Medical Board. “Upstanding physician”: first filing by KJ attorneys in wrongful death lawsuit against AEG.

  Conrad Murray preliminary hearing: almost entirely from testimony and evidence; a few pieces of information were from the media but I mainly read those to see how the hearing was being covered. Kenny Ortega, as noted in the text, was named as one of the defendants in the original filing in the AEG suit, but did not remain among them for very long and is now likely to be called, as I understand it, as a witness for the plaintiffs. Though I refer to it as Katherine Jackson’s lawsuit, Prince, Paris, and Blanket are also plaintiffs; Katherine was the one who initiated it. Obviously, assertions such as that the paramedics were powerful witnesses and that the testimony of the phone company representative indicated that the prosecution was holding evidence in reserve were my own. The same is true of the statement that the failure to secure the evidence at the scene provided an opening for the defense. In fact the defense did attempt to take advantage of that at trial, but not very effectively.

  MJ’S KIDS/HAYVENHURST

  “Arnie Klein—Joe Jackson’s a Hypocrite!” TMZ, June 14, 2010 (I).

  Dimond, Diane. “The Jackson 8’s Family Feud.” Daily Beast, August 13, 2009 (I).

  Duke, Alan. “Michael Jackson Estate Fight Becomes Public Family Dispute.” CNN, November 11, 2009 (I).

  Friedman, Roger. “Michael Jackson’s Kids: Spending Time with Debbie Rowe.” Showbiz411.com, June 21, 2010 (I).

  Graham, Caroline. “Michael Was Murdered . . . I Felt It from the Start.” Daily Mail, July 13, 2009.

  “Jackson Kids’ Secret Terror.” National Enquirer, October 22, 2009.

  “Jackson’s Mum Remembers.”

  “Katherine and MJ’s Kids—Pilgrimage on Anniversary.” TMZ, June 19, 2010 (I)

  “Katherine Jackson: Michael’s Kids Have No Friends.” TMZ, June 20, 2010 (I).

  “Michael Jackson’s Kids Could Turn Preppy.” TMZ, August 23, 2009 (I).

  “Michael Jackson’s Kids Get School.” TMZ, August 27, 2010 (I).

  “Paris Jackson Has Nanny Fired.” tribute.ca, May 27, 2010 (I).

  Tresniowski and Dyball.

  Tresniowski, Alev. “Michael Jackson’s Kids: Inside Their World.” People, September 17, 2010.

  “The Jackson Kids’ Education—Home Works.” TMZ, September 8, 2009 (I).

  STUN GUN AND SLAPPING INCIDENTS/DEBBIE, ALEJANDRA, AND GRACE

  Chernikoff, Leah. “Debbie Rowe Concerned for Safety of Michael Jackson’s Kids After Reports of Stun Gun Threat.” New York Daily News, March 5, 2010.

  “Debbie Rowe Wants Jackson Estate to Pay Bills.” Contact Music, September 9, 2010 (I).

  “Debbie Rowe ‘Worried’ After Jackson Kids Stun-Gun Reports.” Us, March 5, 2010.

  Goldman, Russell. “Jackson Nephew, 13, Investigated for Playing with Stun Gun.” abcnews.go.com, March 2, 2010 (I).

  “Jackson Stun Gun Snitch Exposed.” X17, March 4, 2010 (I).

  McCartney, Anthony. “Child Services Probes Stun Gun at Jackson Home.” Associated Press, March 3, 2010.

  “Michael Jackson’s Ex Debbie Concerned About Blanket.” Radar Online, March 4, 2010 (I).

  “The Story of Alejandra Oaziaza Jackson?” desireespeakssolisten.blogspot.com, June 10, 2010 (I).

  “World Exclusive Video: Shocking Violence Inside Jackson Family Home.” Radar Online, March 5, 2010 (I).<
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  MICHAEL ALBUM

  Friedman, Roger. “Michael Jackson: ‘Secret’ Work Tapes Will Prove It’s His Voice on Tracks (‘Hold My Hand’ Now Available).” Showbiz411.com, November 14, 2010 (I).

  ———. “Michael Jackson’s New Album Finishes at Number 3 in U.S., but It’s an International Hit.” Showbiz411.com, December 22, 2010 (I).

  ———. “New Michael Jackson Album May Pose Legal Problems.” Showbiz411.com, May 3, 2010 (I).

  Infantry, Ashante. “Review: Michael Jackson’s New Single Is Bad News.” Toronto Star, November 17, 2010.

  “Michael Jackson Kid—They FAKED My Dad’s Voice on ‘Michael’ Album.” TMZ, Feburary 29, 2012 (I).

  “Michael Jackson’s Kids: It’s Not Daddy’s Voice.” TMZ, November 1, 2010 (I).

  Michaels, Sean. “New Michael Jackson Songs Are ‘Fake,’ Says His Mother.” Guardian, November 8, 2010.

  ———. “Randy Jackson Denounces Michael Album Tracks as Fakes.” Guardian, November 19, 2010.

  Mitchell, Gail. “Michael Jackson’s ‘Michael’ Album Sales Pale Next to ‘This Is It.’” Billboard, January 21, 2011 (hereafter cited as Mitchell, “Album Sales”).

  Nicholson, Rebecca. “The Row Behind the New Michael Jackson CD.” Guardian, December 12, 2010.

  Pareles, Jon. “After Death, the Remix.” New York Times, December 12, 2010.

  “Quincy Jones: Lady Gaga Is ‘Madonna Jr.’” Us, November 22, 2010.

  Roberts, Soraya. “Michael Jackson Recorded Album of New Music with Eddie (Angel) Cascio in November 2007.” New York Daily News, May 3, 2010.

  Ryan, Chris. “New Song: Michael Jackson, ‘Breaking News.’” mtv.com, November 8, 2010 (I).

  Sisario, Ben. “‘Breaking News’: Lawyer Says, It’s Michael Jackson’s Voice.” New York Times, November 11, 2010.

  “Will.i.am Explains His ‘Disgust’ for New Michael Jackson Album.” Rolling Stone, December 13, 2010.

  Oprah. “Cascio Home.”

  CONSPIRACY THEORIES

  Bingham, John. “Michael Jackson Death: Conspiracy Theories and Unanswered Questions.” Daily Telegraph, June 26, 2009.