Tuesday, June 14, 2005

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Macaulay Are You Ok?
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Anonymous said...

Book: Jacko Had 'Radar' for 'Woo-able'
Tuesday, June 07, 2005

By Roger Friedman

Jacko Shocker Book: His 'Radar' for 'Woo-able' Boys

Michael Jackson's second-worst nightmare has come true.

His former trusted public-relations man, Bob Jones, is about to publish a memoir of his years working for the singer.

Jones was dismissed unceremoniously one year ago by Michael's brother Randy Jackson after nearly 30 years with the singer. His book, "Michael Jackson: The Man Behind the Mask," will devastate Jackson.

Here we go: "Michael had a sinister gift for identifying these boys; it was as if he had some sort of radar. I was continually amazed by how he could determine which of the many children he came into contact with might be 'woo-able,' whose parents could be bought off and counted on to keep quiet about what was going on. I came to understand that Michael manipulated people and events with a great deal of finesse."

Jones details Jackson's trips abroad in the late '80s and early '90s with boys who were essentially his dates, before the famous Chandler family settlement put an end to that.

"One kid [name changed], with whom Michael managed to carry on a clandestine relationship for years ... Michael and [the boy] spent nearly all of their time together."

Jones recalls that while traveling, the boy stayed in Michael's room while the boy's parents were treated to chauffeur-driven cars that would take them on shopping sprees and sightseeing tours all day long.

Another boy — one of many described — is Brett Barnes, an Australian who testified on Jackson's behalf at the trial a few weeks ago.

It was Barnes' sister, Karlee, who said during cross-examination that her brother slept in Jackson's bed a total of 365 nights over a two-year period.

Jones, calling Barnes "Damon," writes that during a 1992 Jackson world tour, he often tucked Barnes under luggage so the press wouldn't see the boy.

"All of us, including the State Department official and Jet magazine Publisher Bob Johnson, saw the boy enter Michael's private bedroom numerous times and remain for a long time. Characteristically, Michael did whatever he wanted to — hang the risk."

Jones wrote the book with journalist Stacy Brown, another longtime Jackson family friend who testified for the prosecution.

While Jones' book may be discounted by Jackson's current PR people as the work of a disgruntled employee, I got a different reaction today from an insider who took a look at Jones' copy.

"He's telling the truth," my source said, shaking his head.

There's more, lots more, with many stories of Michael and boys — enough to send someone to jail for a long time, if true.

But there's another aspect to the book that I don't want to skip here. That's Michael's attitude toward his siblings.

Jones writes, perhaps even more shockingly, that Michael has purposely worked to kill the careers of his brothers and sisters.

Jones writes that Michael would pay off A&R and radio people not to play their songs, and at the same time would dig up dirt on the siblings, presumably to blackmail them.

"Michael often inquired about what Rebbie [his eldest sister] and Jermaine were trying to do musically ... Janet was the exception. Michael didn't have a clue as to what little sis was doing. He thought she was interested in an acting career. He was both stunned and dismayed when she slipped through the cracks and became a musical force on her own."

More to come from Jones' shocking and revelatory memoir about working for Jackson.

1:47 PM
Peter said...

I seriously doubt there's much validity to this story. Where'd you get this load of rubbish from?

9:03 AM

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