# The guy who interviewed Jacko is a fucking tool. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 17, 2003, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-who-interviewed-jacko-is-a-fucking-tool/155615 "2003-02-17T13:23:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Forbin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@Forbin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Forbin)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-who-interviewed-jacko-is-a-fucking-tool/155615/41 "2003-02-17T20:35:46Z")
I share the views of **Diogenes the Cynic**. I also share his skepticism re: AcidKid’s links. I believe Jackson is what he appears to be, Diogenes’ “duck” as it were. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2003, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-who-interviewed-jacko-is-a-fucking-tool/155615/42 "2003-02-17T20:53:22Z")
Hands up everyone who honestly thinks that this guy would _not_ be in jail right now, if he was some ordinary fellow rather than a super-wealthy & famous entertainer. _crickets chirp_ ---
**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:** [February 17, 2003, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-who-interviewed-jacko-is-a-fucking-tool/155615/43 "2003-02-17T21:25:54Z")
It isn’t Bashir’s job to sugar coat it. Some people are saying he was too nasty-some are saying he was too easy on Jackson. I think he did a good job, and I don’t think Bashir is a bad guy. (He doesn’t SEEM like a jerk). If he had been harder on Jacko, the thing would never have aired-Michael’s too vain and too paranoid. If he was nicer-he would have done a huge disservice. Like it or not, what is going on there is NOT right, and Bashir would be amiss NOT to say anything. As for being nice to Michael-I don’t think he was being two-faced so much as he was being polite. His voice over was to express concern. I certainly am concerned! ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2003, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-who-interviewed-jacko-is-a-fucking-tool/155615/44 "2003-02-17T23:49:35Z")
Wow people. What a nice hijack. Couldn’t the arguement about MJ being a child molester have continued in one of the other 5 Wacko threads? This one was about Bashir being a backstabber, which he was. Now its just another MJ molester thread. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-who-interviewed-jacko-is-a-fucking-tool/155615/45 "2003-02-18T00:45:52Z")
> [@](#): > > _Stinkpalm_ > Wow people. What a nice hijack. Couldn’t the arguement about MJ being a child molester have continued in one of the other 5 Wacko threads? This one was about Bashir being a backstabber, which he was. > > Now its just another MJ molester thread. I think the reason for this is that, while Bashir may be a backstabber, it’s just really hard to feel sorry for MJ. ---
**Author:** ![Forbin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@Forbin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Forbin)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-who-interviewed-jacko-is-a-fucking-tool/155615/46 "2003-02-18T01:55:36Z")
Yeah, sorry I hijacked Stinkpalm. ☹ I don’t watch TV, so I didn’t see the show. My instincts tell me that your conjecture about Bashirs motives is correct, but I can’t feel sympathy for Jackson. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-who-interviewed-jacko-is-a-fucking-tool/155615/47 "2003-02-18T02:14:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by White Lightning \* > \*\*I’m staggered that neither MJ nor any members of his presumably large legal team thought to try and get him some control over the content of this piece before it was broadcast. If I were him, knowing what it was likely to be like and how it was likely to be perceived, I’d never have signed off on allowing a single camera into my home or a single interview question to be asked before getting veto power over any segments of the final product that I didn’t like. \*\* He did, according to Bashir-he tried to get them not to air it-but he didn’t have a legal leg to stand on. [Here](http://www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind/psychology/pedophiles/7.html?sect=19) TELL ME that doesn’t fit Michael Jackson. These are the most daming, in my opinion: > [@](#): > > He displays a fascination or unusual interest in children. If an adult has an inordinate amount of interest in pre-pubescent children, it doesn’t confirm he is a pedophile, but it should at least arouse suspicion. > He makes frequent references to children in exalted or exaggerated terms such as “pure,” “innocent,” ”God sent,” “blissful” and other descriptive labels that seem inappropriate and excessive. Remember that a pedophile cannot help the way he behaves and therefore will inadvertently reveal aspects about himself during speech. > He has hobbies or interests that commonly belong in the realm of a child’s world such as toy collecting, building models of cars or planes. His home or room is decorated in a child’s theme. And often, that theme will reflect the age bracket of his preferred victim. As for the hijack, I think it’s probably because there’s very little to suggest that Bashir is a backstabber. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-who-interviewed-jacko-is-a-fucking-tool/155615/48 "2003-02-18T02:51:28Z")
**Stinkpalm** , I disagree that Bashir is a tool. I think MJ is a tool for allowing this documentary to be done, and giving a journalist all the access he gave him. In other words, I think MJ made his own bed and is lying in it now. As far as I know, all he had to do to prevent a biased or unpopular documentary airing about him was refuse all interviews. I don’t know what MJ hoped to accomplish with this, but at 44 he should know what modern journalism is all about. He should know better than most people, even. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-who-interviewed-jacko-is-a-fucking-tool/155615/49 "2003-02-18T07:16:47Z")
Stinkpalm I’m afraid I just don’t get where you are coming from. You admit MJ is weird. You don’t appear to deny that MJ was weird during the interviews and footage that Bashir obtained. But you seem to think that Bashir was being a tool because the documentary showed that MJ is weird (which is what _you say_ MJ is). Colour me confused. How exactly do you think MJ should have come across? As normal? If so, logically you would now be denouncing Bashir as a tool for misrepresenting MJ. What could Bashir have done to keep you happy? ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-who-interviewed-jacko-is-a-fucking-tool/155615/50 "2003-02-18T07:41:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Princhester \* > \*\*What could Bashir have done to keep you happy? \*\* First of all he could have left out the unneccessary commentaries that were there to lead the viewers to see what he wanted them to see. Take out his voiceovers about his “impressions” about MJ and the thing would not have been 10% as bad as it was. If you have seen the commercials for this upcoming fox special where MJ fights back you can hear some of the things the bashir was saying to MJ to get his trust. Its fucking sick. Fuck this guy. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-who-interviewed-jacko-is-a-fucking-tool/155615/51 "2003-02-18T08:05:10Z")
I didn’t see the whole Bashir thing. The bits I saw, Bashir was saying that he had seen and heard certain things about MJ, and he just didn’t see how he could leave them alone. I can understand that. I don’t doubt that Bashir got his foot in the door by saying to MJ he’s going to be nice, he’s not going to do a hatchet job. Then he starts interviewing and filming and finds that (for example) despite child molestation investigations and millions of dollars spent on settling that down, MJ is continuing to have boys stay in his bedroom and sleep in his bed. You think that at that point Bashir should have just said well fuck the truth, I’ll just leave all that out and pretend MJ’s normal and do a complete snowjob? If Bashir did that, that’s when I’d lose all respect. Do you think that when Bashir reassured MJ he’d portray him in a good light he knew that MJ would admit that he was still inviting boys into his bedroom? As to the documentary where MJ fights back, well, it sounds to me like the standard tactic. When you don’t like the message, and all attempts to cover it up fail, a vicious ad hominem attack on the messenger can work wonders. Never mind that I’m weird, concentrate on how much of a tool the person who let you know I am weird is. ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-who-interviewed-jacko-is-a-fucking-tool/155615/52 "2003-02-18T09:17:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by featherlou \* > \*\*\*\*In other words, I think MJ made his own bed and is lying in it now. \*\* Now _there’s_ a true statement if ever I heard one. My apologies, too, for the hijack. ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-who-interviewed-jacko-is-a-fucking-tool/155615/53 "2003-02-18T10:09:01Z")
When I first saw transcripts and read about the show, I thought “hatchet job.” But since then I’ve read much other stuff about things they didn’t include. Questions MJ refused to answer (sure, he has every right to silence). The Jordy transcript as published in the News of the World. Then other facts start to stand out. MJ’s predilection for children of one gender and the same age. The unashamed outrageousness of his statements given the context, even if he is describing innocent “touching”. The utter unlikelihood of MJ only having ever had one nosejob, and no other plastic. So I think **Princhester** is probably spot on. It may have been that Bashir anticipated finding murky stuff from the start (what journo wouldn’t?!) but in all the furore over this interview, icebergs and tips come to mind… ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-who-interviewed-jacko-is-a-fucking-tool/155615/54 "2003-02-19T01:11:24Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Libertarian_ > **Kids these days might be maturing more slowly, but when I was twelve back in the olden days, I knew better than to take a bath with a grown man. My momma would have slapped us both.** > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dijon Warlock \* > \*\*You know, I’m suddenly (but mostly idly) curious: which would you have considered to be more harmful–bathing with a man or being hit by your mother? 'Cause if it was _just_ bathing, you know…I don’t see how hitting would be better. \*\* **Dijon** , I think you have somewhat of a point there. If I thought my kid were being molested, the last thing I would do would be to slap hir, literally or figuratively. Pedophiles prey on vulnerable kids. The fact that “J. Chandler”'s parents were going through an unpleasant divorce makes it, IMHO, just as likely that MJ found it easy to take advantage of him as that Chandler’s father brought a trumped-up charge. Go off on your kid, and s/he’ll run to the pedophile, who already has their trust, tell that person “Mom hit me/yelled at me; she doesn’t want me to see you any more!”, and the pedophile will find all kinds of ways to comfort hir. ---
**Author:** ![Fearless\_Freap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e56c9b/32.png) [@Fearless\_Freap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fearless_Freap)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-who-interviewed-jacko-is-a-fucking-tool/155615/55 "2003-02-19T06:05:46Z")
“He also seemed to show only small blips of MJ acting nutty or weird shit at a time.” Pee Wee Herman only acted nutty for a little bit and look at the shit sandwich he got!! No one makes Jacko a headcase, and that reporter capitolized on it. Ho hum. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-who-interviewed-jacko-is-a-fucking-tool/155615/56 "2003-02-19T07:54:53Z")
M.J was a dork for letting Bashir interview him so intimately (I’m no MJ fan but from the interveiw I got the impression MJ would have a problem masturbating let alone inflicting his penis on others…even after “fathering” 3 children, am I the only one that thinks those children are wayyyyyyyyyyyyy TOO white to be MJ’s?) but I do think Bashir probably let down MJ in a big way. He has also probably shot his own career in the foot. I can’t see any other celebrity lining up to be examined by him in the near future. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-who-interviewed-jacko-is-a-fucking-tool/155615/57 "2003-02-19T14:42:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*I find that angle unconvincing. Even if it was an extortion attempt, MJ still molested that kid. \*\* I find your statement unconvincing. Where is your proof? Accusations without proof are anathma here at the SDMB. \*note: the above is about statements couched as "fact’ that are nothing but suposition and has nothing to do with MJ and whether or not he is or isn’t a pedophile. I wouldn’t let my 9 year old son stay with him, however. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-who-interviewed-jacko-is-a-fucking-tool/155615/58 "2003-02-19T17:19:52Z")
> [@](#): > > _Weirddave_ > I find your statement unconvincing. Where is your proof? Accusations without proof are anathma here at the SDMB Let’s just say IMO, he molested that kid. I find the kid’s affadavit very peruasive in conjunction with all of the other variables taht I’ve already mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-who-interviewed-jacko-is-a-fucking-tool/155615/59 "2003-02-19T20:57:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*I think the circumstancial evidence that Jackson is a pedophile is pretty overwhelming. Here’s what we have: > > 1. A 44 year old man who has never had a romantic or sexual relationship with an adult (I’m not buying the Lisa Marie marriage for a second. From what I’ve read, she was rarely at Neverland and when she was they slept in separate rooms)\*\* FWIW, I remember reading an interview in Playboy with Ola Ray, the former Playmate who costarred with Jackson in his “Thriller” video. She flatly said she had tried to get it on with him, and he wasn’t interested. She didn’t say it in an insulting way, or put him down at all; but she all but said she thought he was a virgin. “He’ll do it when he’s ready,” is, I believe how she put it. Of course, it’s _possible_ there are straight, unattached males in their early 20s who would turn down a proposition from a woman who looked like Ola Ray in her prime (Do a web search. She was **stunning** ). Yeah, it’s possible. But likely? Like I said, FWIW. And I’m with **wring**. After all he’s been through, to continue to engage in this provocative behavior with children betokens a compulsion that is pathological, and anything but “innocent.” Jackson is very obviously disconnected from reality in a major, major way. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-who-interviewed-jacko-is-a-fucking-tool/155615/60 "2003-02-19T21:20:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lizard \* > **Of course, it’s _possible_ there are straight, unattached males in their early 20s who would turn down a proposition from a woman who looked like Ola Ray in her prime (Do a web search. She was stunning). Yeah, it’s possible. But likely? Like I said, FWIW.** He’s a eunich! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-who-interviewed-jacko-is-a-fucking-tool/155615.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-who-interviewed-jacko-is-a-fucking-tool/155615.md?page=4)