# Michael Jackson Interview **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 29, 2003, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-interview/221491 "2003-12-29T00:55:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-interview/221491/81 "2003-12-30T04:09:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AcidKid \* > \*\*If I lived in FantasyLand only to be hadcuffed I’d consider it brutal. \*\* Whoa! That just brought to mind an image of Mr. Roarke, Tattoo and a dungeon - I’m seriously sleep deprived - that’s not an image I want in my head. Ever! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-interview/221491/82 "2003-12-30T05:05:22Z")
I would think that they’d be screaming bloody murder if he was truly harmed. I mean, c’mon, everyone knows that Michael Jackson is a SERIOUS hypochondriac! ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-interview/221491/83 "2003-12-30T06:35:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*He actually makes Elvis look pretty normal and well-adjusted. Elvis had very bad taste and lots of money to indulge it, but at least his hedonism didn’t go beyond the rock and roll basics-- women, drugs and cars. No zoos or pirate rides or chimps or little boys. \*\* Knee-jerk reaction was to hate you for life for comparing The King to MJ. Then I realized it was only an anaolgy. But weak! You forgot that Elvis’s heyday was in the '70’s. His taste was all things expensive. And being the black-hole decade, that meant owning not shit, but gawdawful shit. I’ll never forget my trip to Graceland, the museum next door with his cars and stuff was breathtaking. Back to the OP. Jackson is either the most villified or victimized person since Fatty Arbuckle. Unfortunately, I’m not sure we’ll ever know which. I have no dog in this fight, just opinion. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-interview/221491/84 "2003-12-30T06:37:54Z")
Oops, the museum is actually across the street, next to the “office” you buy the tour tickets at. (Fie on all who wanted to slam me on that) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Xploder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a183cd/32.png) [@Xploder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xploder)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-interview/221491/85 "2003-12-30T12:35:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by nisosbar \* > \*\*And he has had SO much plastic surgery, that it appears that it’s affected his speech - his mouth looked lopsided and he wasn’t forming his words well, almost slurring. > > Sometimes I think the fascination with him is that he’s a wealthy, talented and successful performer who happens to be black, and thus, his whole life people have been reticent about telling him the facts of life, since the history of black men in America is so otherwise than his life, and people want him to succeed and, more importantly, be associated with him. > > Sadly, though, this “glorification of Michael Jackson” may have been counterproductive to forming a healthy frame of mind. > > Hope this doesn’t sound racist. \*\* Michael Jackson is black? Coulda fooled me… ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-interview/221491/86 "2003-12-30T13:39:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by whuckfistle \* > \*\*MJ is not Black. Whatever he is, it`s clearly not race or even gender specific. > \*\* Beat you to it on page one **Xploder**.😉 Anyway, as someone who has had my shoulder dislocated 6 times, - You know when your shoulder is dislocated! He may have had it seperated or strained, but not dislocated. A dislocation is extremely painful and requires manipulation to get it back in place. In my cases I was able to auto-manipulate without the use of the emergency room. I doubt, however, that MJ could have done that himself and he would surely have gone to the ER for medical attention. A dilsocation is a rather gruesome event and I seriously doubt that was the case with him. An X-ray or MRI won`t always prove that a dislocation occured, but *could* if there was damage. And another thing........., what manner of Devil`s Spawn would allow their children to attend Never Never Land? Any parent that sends their child off to spend any time at all with MJ (even before all the recent events) should be checked in to the nearest sanitarium. Even if all the allegations are false, rumors have been floating around for years. I, as a parent, would never allow my children to get any where near the place or the man. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-interview/221491/87 "2003-12-30T13:42:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by duffer \* > \*\*Back to the OP. Jackson is either the most villified or victimized person since Fatty Arbuckle. Unfortunately, I’m not sure we’ll ever know which. I have no dog in this fight, just opinion. \*\* Actually, for some reason (probably because I work in PR), I tend to really to listen to his position and give him the benefit of the doubt. So much so that I’m sure on the boards I sound like some kind of weird Jackson apologist. But when I see nonsense that has been debunked time and again, still being held as truth and reported as fact (rubbish about the oxygen tank etc.) in the general media and even on the boards where we’re supposed to know better, I have to say “hm, just what _if_ his version is an honest one?” So I try and see it from his side, or at least with genuine objectivity. Otherwise, I’m not a fan, don’t like his music, don’t like his voice. But hey, it’s kinda fun to play devil’s advocate. That being said, the interview irked me. No, actually it pissed me the hell off! A child could punch holes through his version of events: 1. The media was standing outside watching and waiting while he was booked. In and out of the building in 30-40 minutes. I remember reports saying :“he emerged from the buidling 40 minutes later.” Jackson alleges “they locked me in a filthy bathroom for 45 mintues!” :dubious: 1. He wasn’t aressted in a struggle and take down, he surrendered and was handcuffed as a legal formalty. His lawyer was present the entire time. Likely never left his side. His lawyer says not a word about witnessing rough handling, and video footage shows Jackson coming out of the building raising his right arm high above his head with the peace sign, then raising his left arm up high waving, then rasing his right arm up high waving. Jackson alleges they handcuffed me in a way that it would hurt deliberately. And dislocated his arm(s). “This is, see this arm? This is as far as I can reach it. Same with this side over here.” :dubious: A pshycologist (or psychiatrist) said Jackson seemed “convincing”. No he didn’t! He appeared to lie outright and undermined everything else that _could_ be substantiated. Gah! Even if his pain genuinely manifested later, the video footage makes his whining look like a total lie. His “45 minutes” exaggeration is contradicted by existing news reports. GAH! **No wonder his main spokesman quit today!** ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-interview/221491/88 "2003-12-30T18:58:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eats\_Crayons \* > \*\*CNN said it took 30-40 minutes. > > Then he was back out in front of the cameras and crowds. > > So how the hell can he say he was locked in a bathroom for **45** minutes?!!? \*\* You know what really chaps my hide about these so-called news programs? The interviewer so rarely insists on getting straight answers. Over and over, I’ve seen the interviewee say contradictory things, or things that just don’t make sense, or just fail to answer a question, and the kiss-ass interviewer just soft-pedals right past it. I virtually never watch 60 Minutes because of the deplorable quality of the reporting, but I was at my folks’ house and they wanted to see it. And when I found out it was to be a Michael Jackson interview, I had to watch. He’s fascinating in the trainwreck sense. Anyway, I just couldn’t believe it when Ed Bradley didn’t question him on the time discrepancy, or any of the other contradictory statements that he made. It would have been SO easy to press him about the claim of being locked in the bathroom for 45 minutes. As soon as he said it, I said “But wasn’t he in the police station for well under an hour?” In other words, if I, just an average Jane, knew that he was in the police station for such a short time, shouldn’t Ed Bradley, who presumably had done some preparation for the interview, have known that? Bradley either didn’t notice the discrepancy, or chose not to pursue it. Either way, he missed the chance to _prove_ that Michael Jackson was either delusional or a liar or both. I guess Ed Bradley was more interested in kissing ass than in investigating the story. Whatta shmoe. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-interview/221491/89 "2003-12-30T19:58:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Green Bean \* > \*\*In other words, if I, just an average Jane, knew that he was in the police station for such a short time, shouldn’t Ed Bradley, who presumably had done some preparation for the interview, have known that? Bradley either didn’t notice the discrepancy, or chose not to pursue it. Either way, he missed the chance to _prove_ that Michael Jackson was either delusional or a liar or both. \*\* MJ’s lawyer was hovering in the room. While Bradley _could have_ asked him about the discrepancy (as well as the raised-arms-waving despite a “dislocated shoulder” discrepancy) any attempt to do so would have been “adversarial” and possibly resulted in the termination of the interview. There were probably “terms and conditions” for the interview and/or the questions were pre-approved. MJ was digging his own hole just fine on his own. Though it would’ve been interesting to see how MJ would have answered. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-interview/221491/90 "2003-12-30T21:29:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fairblue \* > \*\*I’d heard some stirrings in the news recently about a secret third marriage in June to a 20-something Islamic woman. Going by memory (hopefully accurate cuz I’ve been sick since then), but supposedly she’s a pianist with an IQ of 154, and the ceremony was arranged and done by the Nation of Islam at his ranch. Haven’t heard anything else about it, strangely enough. > > Anyone got the dirt on that? \*\* I found some articles about Jacko marrying a 23-year-old Muslim pianist with a 154 IQ who goes by the name Alisha but they all seem to be either tabloids or other meda quoting the tabloids. I can’t help but wonder if this stemmed from an inference that Jacko has a 1.54 inch penis. ---
**Author:** ![nisosbar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@nisosbar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nisosbar)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-interview/221491/91 "2003-12-30T23:25:15Z")
Wait a minute, folks. Watching ET last night, it seems that MJ was in the station for 45 minutes plus 20+ minutes, in ET’s words (paraphrasing): “leaving 20 some minutes to get processed by police.” Any cites as to the actual time spent in the police station? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-interview/221491/92 "2003-12-31T02:11:30Z")
Plus, if Bradley had tried really grilling him…remember how Michael was bitching and moaning about how Bashir treated him? And Bashir handled him with kidgloves! ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-interview/221491/93 "2003-12-31T03:36:10Z")
Speaking as someone who has had his shoulder(s) dislocated before; If it actually happened, then there’s no way in hell he would have waved his arms in the air after leaving the police station. Hence: He lied. Just like he has lied about so many things. The man is a pathological liar with no sense of reality or self responsibility. And lucky him, he’s got legions of worshipers to help him in his delusions and to make sure that he never has to pay the penalties the rest of us would face in the same situations. Yeah, Ed Bradley got some flack for throwing softballs. But as **Guinastasia** said, just look how much he complained about the Bashir interview. I’m sure even now his Legal team is making bleating noises at 60 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-interview/221491/94 "2003-12-31T04:48:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Green Bean \* > \*\*I guess Ed Bradley was more interested in kissing ass than in investigating the story. Whatta shmoe. \*\* I think Bradley is more of the ilk - “I am black, you are black (well, at least you used to be) so let’s be black together”. Am I wrong about this? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-interview/221491.md?page=4)