Disc Two

Michael Jackson was truly one of the most talented individuals of our time. He sold out shows all around the world and commanded any room he walked in. Born in Gary, Indiana, to Catherine and Joe Jackson, he quickly became known for his singing, dancing and directing skills. The days of living paycheck to paycheck were all but faded memories to Michael. According to The Los Angeles Times: “He became so accustomed to bodyguards and assistants that he once admitted that he trembled if he had to open his own front door” (Boucher 1). 

MJ was on the unusual side of things. One of the things that caused him to be viewed as unusual was being an adult involved with several underage children. In an interview with Oprah back in 1993 he said, “People wonder why I always have children around. It's because I find the thing that I never had through them. Disneyland, amusement parks, arcade games—I adore all that stuff because when I was little, it was always work, work, work" (Winfrey 1). Jackson was publicly accused twice of child sexual abuse – first in 1993 by Jordy Chandler, then again by child cancer survivor Gavin Arvizo in 2003 (Freeman 1). These things to many made “The King of Pop” very unusual.

Michael was sad at the media coverage of him and his life, especially after his interview with Oprah Winfrey hit televisions all over the world. The tabloids discussed his skin color, cosmetic procedures he was said to have had done and the continuous allegations of child abuse. During the interview he told Oprah, “When people make up stories that I don’t want to be who I am, it hurts me” (Winfrey & Goodman 1993).  News outlets such as The Washington Post, LA Times, The Chicago Tribune and even as far as the U.K. via the Sun all reported when the Santa Barbara County Sherriff Department and LAPD showed up to MJ’s home with a search warrant in connection to sexual allegations. On December 22, MJ purchased satellite time to formally make a statement regarding the allegations. During the purchased time he stated, “I am particularly upset by the handling of this matter by the incredible, terrible mass media. At every opportunity, the media has dissected and manipulated these allegations to reach their own conclusions” (Halperin 2015). Michael Jackson went on in that same purchased time to talk about how the search warrant included them being able to strip him down to take explicit photos of him and how it made it him feel. “It was a nightmare, a horrifying nightmare. But if this is what I have to endure to prove my innocence, my complete innocence, so be it” (Halperin 1).  Ultimately, he was sad at the accusations made publicly and privately about his life.

Although he was fondly called “The King of Pop” he was without a doubt very unusual and sad. He was a person that suffered from childhood trauma with the abuse from his dad which facilitated his abuse towards the children he was accused of molesting. In an interview with Larry King, Joe Jackson spoke on the allegations of abuse towards Michael when asked if he’d ever physically harmed him.. "Never. Never have. And I -- and I raised him just like you would raise your kids, you know? But harm Michael, for what? I have no reason. That's my son. I loved him and I still love him" (Duke 1). We as fans may never know all that truly occurred with Michael Jackson, but we will always “Remember the Time” he was “the Man in the Mirror” who gave the world “Thriller” after “Thriller” in the midst of sadness and peculiarity.