Michael Jackson’s family can’t wait anymore. They’re starting to plan events to cash in on Michael’s memory.
First, eldest sister Rebbie planned a tribute to Michael in Scranton, Pa., with a second-tier lead singer from the Temptations. It was too sad for me to write about.
Now Katherine Jackson has lent her name to a Michael fanfest set for just outside Gary, Ind., Aug. 26-29.
This is almost too sad to write about. If only Robert Altman were alive, he could film it as the sequel to “Nashville.” Promised for the event are Michael’s first cousin Keith Jackson, who promises in a video to exhibit his Michael memorabilia; self-published author Aphrodite Jones; and Omer Bhatti, the Michael Jackson imitator who is NOT Michael’s son but has tried his best to cash in on that rumor. Bhatti’s parents worked for Michael after offering up their 12-year-old son to him at a Tunisian hotel in 1996.
The International King of Pop Fanvention seems too good to be true. It’s being produced by a company called Fluid Prods., which is owned by St. Croix-born L.A. musician Padriac Coursey. It’s unclear whether he’s related to Gary B. “Court” Coursey, a controversial entrepreneur who once tried with his partner to get Michael to invest in an online ticket selling business.
And certainly, before too long, there will be issues of intellectual property since Jackson’s image is owned by his estate and not his heirs. His executors may have something to say about all this.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Poor Michael.
February 24th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Maybe they should wait for Murray to go to jail. Poor Michael.
February 24th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
freidman every day you make money off of mmichael jackson. stfu & go away
February 24th, 2010 at 5:38 pm
Katherine had better be careful – signing up for dubious projects in Michael’s name is why she has a judgement against her for 8 million dollars. The whole thing sounds very dubious.
February 24th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
Thanks Roger, you hit it on the head….SAD….who’s the 2-tier Temptations singer? Are any of them still alive besides Otis and Dennis? This is indeed sad and I hope people don’t support it. Support the Estate, which is his legitimate spokesperson.
February 24th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
this “fanfest” sounds cheesy as hell.
THANKFULLY the executors of Michael’s estate is NOT his family!
February 24th, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Oh Michael……the vultures still picking at your bones.
I am so sad for you. Who amounst us can blame you for how you lived your life. You did the best you could and through it all you smiled and LOVED. God Bless you and your children. I L.O.V.E. U forever and a day.
February 24th, 2010 at 7:33 pm
I don’t believe this for a minute.
February 24th, 2010 at 7:51 pm
cash in on Michael’s memory ?
How much more rude can you get ?
all some people think of is $ signs. Now that’s sad…
February 24th, 2010 at 8:22 pm
The only one that is disrespectful is the person who wrote this article. So what the family wants to plan a fanfeast. It is their right. That was his mother and family. It is ok for AEG to make money from his This is It Tour and I am sure not all of the money is going towards his children. What is everyone saying that the family should not do anything but sit back and let other people honor their brother and son? Get a life. I hate when someone judges others. Look in the mirror.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Ridiculous!
If MJ’s family wants to pay tribute to their lost son, sibling, or relative (of any sort) they can.
This family can’t do anything without someone suspecting them for cashing in. And ironically this family has to be the most talented family (combined) on the planet who is capable of making a lot of money anyway they wish.
I wonder, when was the last time any of you, along with your sisters and brothers, got up on a stage and performed their hearts out? Let me guess. Not too many and not lately right?
And, doesn’t anyone remember that MJ had his roots in the Jackson 5, which was a highly successful family group. And though Michael was the strongest link, together they were phenomenal and distinctively their own. So much so that the Jackson 5 was untouchable and unmatchable.
And to digress back to a section in this article, there is no 2nd tier 2nd rate Temptation member. The Temptations were, collectively, phenomenal and it took each member to accomplish that status. Therefore, there is no 2nd rate 2nd tier anyone when it comes to any member of the group The Temptations.
Mr. Roger Friedman, your theory is so convoluted since when one applies this thinking t any large group, say like the Beatles, your theory implodes. Since saying that there are 2nd tier Temptation members you imply that George Harrison or Ringo Starr was 2nd tier to the more iconic members John Lennon or Paul McCartney. But you forget that Ringo Starr and George Harrison cannot be a 2nd tier member of the Beatles because the Beatles was a group of 4 people and the iconic nature of the group became such because of the chemistry and work of 4 members not the 2 who reached popularity and success on their individual journeys.
As well, all this talk about the family cashing in on Michael’s memory is just the media, again, sensationalizing the truth and ruining the reputations and names of innocent people.
Deja vu, no?
Remember everyone, before Michael was a star he was Mr. and Mrs. Jackson’s son as well as a sibling to six brothers and three sisters. [And for all of you that think that I miss counted on the brothers you need to go learn a little more about who the Jackson family is in its entirety.] So leave this family alone to grieve. If any of them wish to pay tribute to their family member, they can. Their tribute maybe their way of dealing with the loss. You don’t know what it is really like for these people. They have to deal with the world’s scrutiny as well as come to terms with the loss of Michael.
And to all those out there that love Michael, how do you think he would feel about his fans ripping up his family? It is so pathetic. Michael was about LOVE and not judging people and everyone here is judging his family for their every move. So, with that said, if you don’t like the fact that his family wants to pay tribute to him then don’t go to the tribute and keep your comments, especially about their intentions and motives, to yourself.
Like I hinted before, this is the same thing that happened to Michael. People accused him falsely about things without even knowing the whole truth about anything. And, in response, he would nearly beg for everyone to stop. Now what? Michael is no longer here to accuse him of anything anymore so the world has to go look for its next victim. So who does it turn to? Conveniently, Michael’s family. Come on now. Enough is enough!
February 24th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Careful Roger, your dislike for the Jackson’s is showing and it seems that you dislike MJ more and more everytime you write about anything MJ related. Jealous much? No need to answer that, it’s plenty obvious.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:45 pm
A few years ago, the family of Martin Luther King, Jr. sued CBS, because they were selling videos that included Dr. King’s I Have a Dream speech. King had little money to leave his family, so he copyrighted his speeches on the chance that one day they would generate income for his heirs, and the family zealously protects their rights.
Commentators ripped them as “greedy” – didn’t they understand that a humongous corporation had the right to profit from their husband and father’s creation, but it was tacky and unseemly for his black family to do so?
The King family was not persuaded, and CBS settled with them out of court.
There are record executives, tabloid websites, “journalists”, lawyers, TV commentators, T-shirt makers, and ex-acquaintances who have carved out whole careers off of Michael Jackson. But according to Roger, for his actual family members to gain some benefit from the life’s work of their son and brother is “cashing in on his memory”.
Is it because the Jacksons are black? It’s almost too sad to think about.
February 25th, 2010 at 1:31 am
Pathetic article, as usual these days. You seemed to be more of a mensch right after MJ died, but you are now back to your usual horrid way of writing about everything MJ related.
BA for MJ: I appreciate what you’re saying, but if you’re going to lecture people on the number of siblings that MJ had, you really should get them right yourself. There are four Jackson girls.
February 25th, 2010 at 2:30 am
So sad for Michael-the family should be working the executors to having fitting memorials, not money raising ventures for the family. Get busy and restore his name and reputation.
February 25th, 2010 at 3:38 am
It seems to me that when it comes to The Jacksons they’re damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Leave them alone already!
February 25th, 2010 at 3:58 am
just blame it on the boogie
February 25th, 2010 at 4:31 am
Rebbie’s show is NOT a tribute to Michael. It’s an annual Motown/Apollo Show that’s done in Scranton to benefit college scholarships (This year it will benefit Haiti relief efforts and scholarships for Scranton students) and she performed in this show last year BEFORE Michael passed. She isn’t even being compensated, aside from small travel and hotel expenses. Rebbie DOES NOT want to profit from Michael. She had the opportunity to make more than $1 million in interviews when he died, but did not. She is NEVER in the press and prefers to keep it that way. I’m very disappointed in Roger for this. The second tier Temptations he refers to is simply who else is on the bill. Rebbie has NOTHING to do with that. She is just keeping a commitment she made to perform. NO ONE knew her brother would pass when he did. This time, Roger, your critics are right. You didn’t check and your words are so hurtful and you, of all people, know Rebbie has never been one to cash in on any of this.
February 25th, 2010 at 4:53 am
Fan Canvention!!!! Seem to me this is another chance to take another swipe at the Jackson Family. I would love for the Jackson Family to do what was done for Elvis. Have a Graceland type place for Michael. I believe if this could be pulled off it could do as well if not better than Graceland. Micheal’s fans would love for their to be a place to go visit and pay respect to him and and look at all he has done for the music world. About this other thing I will wait to see what is going to happen. I don’t believe everything which comes out of Roger’s mouth. I do believe that Michael’s life wasn’t easy. He had people coming at him from every direction, family, enemies, so call friends, and the sorry ass media.
February 25th, 2010 at 5:11 am
Only the estate is representing Michael Jackson. he created and left and estate for a good reason…to avoid people misrepresenting him & his legacy.
Unless this has been approved by his estate, should we assume Katherine & the people behind Fluid Productions are going around and taking money from MJ’s children & his charities? Katherine is obviously getting a % since she agreed to lend her name to this. But what about MJ’s children? What about his charities?
Just because they are his family does not mean they are above him & his last wishes. And his wishes were VERY CLEAR: 40% to his mom, 40% to his kids & 20% for children charities. Why is it fair for Katherine & co to bypass the estate and get 100% of whatever she has agreed to received in exchange of her lending her name to this fanvention?
February 25th, 2010 at 5:30 am
Doesn’t anyone think it’s interesting that it’s going to be held in (Broke-ass) Gary, Ind.? That city has been trying to capitalize off of the Jacksons since they left, and it looks like finally they found a way. I mean, why not LA? where he lived most of his life.
I don’t have a problem with a fan fest….I mean, Elvis has Graceland, right? I will be interesting to see who shows up and pays the price.
As for AEG and others making money — they had a CONTRACT WITH Michael, and the estate gets the proceeds.
February 25th, 2010 at 5:35 am
This is almost to sad to write about, Friedman writes. Well Friedman here’s an ideal, then don’t write about it. Oh I forgot it’s something about Michael Jackson and his family. When you die Friedman, I bet on your bituary it would say, I made my life work writing and spreading rumors and lies about Michael Jackson. It seem to me this Friedman wouldn’t have a quote so call career if it wasn’t for his assault on Michael and now his family. Lying bastard!
February 25th, 2010 at 5:44 am
Pathetic Roger; how much money have you made off MJ? It’s all you ever wrote about over at Fox to get web hits. “Michael Jackson goes to a bookstore” OOOOOOHHHH. AAAAHHHH.
Michael was a huge star, and like any huge star the family will has a right to do exactly things like this. If they don’t do it some company will right? I know YOU do with these articles. Call it cashing in, I see it as keeping the legacy alive. Look at Elvis, is that family wrong too?
If you feel so strongly about people making money off Michael then stop writing about him; stop putting his name in bold print in unrelated articles. Keep writing about Warner Bros. or whatever
February 25th, 2010 at 8:07 am
This is low, even for you Roger. So… it’s okay for everyone to put on tributes but the family? Can the Jackson’s do anything right in your eyes? It’s okay for you to continue to make money off Michael Jackson, but not his own family. What a hypocrite.
February 25th, 2010 at 10:25 am
And what about you Roger, in making money with false statements, questioning critiques, AEG and Sony accomplishments and lies every day? You are simply disgusting. Get a life, go out with friends, have a boyfriend and leave Michael alone.
February 25th, 2010 at 10:42 am
“Omer Bhatti, the Michael Jackson imitator who is NOT Michael’s son but has tried his best to cash in on that rumor. Bhatti’s parents worked for Michael after offering up their 12-year-old son to him at a Tunisian hotel in 1996.”
I’m no fan of the American habit of suing everyone in sight, but Bhatti and his parents should sue you. This is defamation. “Offering up their son”? And how has Omer Bhatti “cashed in”, please? Where are all the million dollar interviews he could have made, but hasn’t? Where is the TV documentary, or the performance on stage?
Truth is, Omer Bhatti has done absolutely nothing to cash in on his friendship with Michael Jackson – he even closed down his website because he didn’t want to talk to the media – all he has done is come back to America to be with the children. I think they may need him.
You should apologize, Friedman. Either there is something fundamentally wrong with you, in which case I’m sorry, or you are deliberately being nasty just to get many comments.
As many have pointed out several times, you yourself are profiting on Michael Jackson. He has provided many so called journalists with a good living, and they thank him by being rude.
February 25th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Wow…Roger Friedman, you are one pathetic, transparent, jealous person. EVERYTHING you write about Michael Jackson is a lie born out of your jealousy. I have nothing but contempt for you.
YOU are a good example of the type of “media” that conspired to bring Michael Jackson down. Unfortunately you succeeded in killing him physically but as you can see he will never really die in the hearts and minds of the public that loved and respected him. You on the other hand will be forgotten the minute you leave this world. None too soon.
February 25th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
No subject generates buzz and blog comments better than MJ on your blog, Roger Friedman. Its easy to check. I’d think you’d be more magnanimous towards Michael’s family, to include his parents and siblings.
February 25th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
To the JN moron below: DStop lecturing people yourself and get educated: There are three, not four, Jackson girls.(I hope you weren’t stupid enough tp include Katherine in your b*tchy erroneous calculation.)
#JN Says: “I appreciate what you’re saying, but if you’re going to lecture people on the number of siblings that MJ had, you really should get them right yourself. There are four Jackson girls.”
February 25th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
Friedman you are a pathetic joke.
February 25th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
How come I never heard anyone criticizing Yoko Ono for “cashing in” John Lennon’s legacy? How caome I never heard anyone criticizing Prescilla Presley for “cashing in” Elvis’ legacy. The double-standard here is disgusting!
February 25th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Might as well make money. Jacko made everyone’s life a living hell. Time for payback.
February 25th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
Atherton……that comment you made was just plain dumb! lack of brain cells I see. And as for Roger, you really just love Michael don’t you? ’cause why else would you keep harping on his name every chance you get? I am all for tributes in honor of Michael, I just want them tastefully done and that no one who should’nt be profitting from him sees a damn cent!
February 25th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
Offered up their son to Michael in a Tunisian hotel? What a nasty insinuation Roger. There’s no truth to that whatsoever. Ask Omar, who, by all accounts, is an incredibly talented and well-adjusted child who amused Michael, and who took him and his family under his wing. How spiteful to insinuate that it was anything other than that. Michael OFTEN said how he got a kick out of his fans who imitated him … it brought him pleasure. He said all the time how he loved his fans, and he really meant it. He had a relationship with his fans like no other celebrity. What’s so ’sad’ about a FanFest? It sounds like just the sort of thing MJ would have wanted for his fans. And isn’t cheese a part of Showbiz? My God, look sat MJ’s early costumes. Total cheese! Who cares? It’s mean to be fun. Thank God he didn’t dress up in business suits and cut his hair short. Thank God for that. I don’t impute any of the money grubbing to this family’s actions that you do, I just don’t. If Rebbie wanted to hold a tribute concert, it could be, just maybe, that she wanted to do so to pay TRIBUTE to her beloved brother. I just do not understand your slant on this story. Give the family a break. They lost a son.
February 25th, 2010 at 4:16 pm
Sorry, correction needed:
“It’s meant to be fun.” (NOT “it’s mean to be fun”)…
February 25th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
@Atherton….did Michael Jackson make your life a living hell? Come on now, we want folks who is going to use some common sense if they have any. Most people I hear from talk of their love and respect for Michael Jackson. And his name was Michael Jackson, not Jacko.
February 25th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
I am sure Friedman is reading all his comments, but they will not sway him. Because this column is, above all, business. Roger Friedman is cashing in on our grief for Michael Jackson and our wish to defend him. And he things negative entries brings more reactions than positive ones. “Look, boss, 95 comments!”
But the boss will be aware that only the Michael Jackson columns generate many comments. We are interested in him, not Friedman.
I came here and because of Michael, and naturally after a while read also other entries and commented on them. But now I don’t fee like doing that anymore because of Friedmans unreflected nastiness to MJ (and willingness to kneel and pray in front of Polanski). So how is the business idea working?
Do a bit of soul searching, Mr Friedman. Do you defend Polanski because you don’t want to fall out with the Hollywood that counts? That’s cowardly. Do you hate Michael Jackson because some sagas you’ve heard second or third or fifteenth hand? Are you reckless about the truth just to get comments?
Here is a business idea for you: Write nice stuff about Michael, defend HIM against the stupid media coverage he’s had since 1993. Opposed to what you might think, most Michael Jackson fans do not believe he was an angel or without fault. But the negative coverage, including lies and a ridiculous obsession with his appearance, has been completely dominant for seventeen years. It’s time for some common sense and recognition of what he did actually bring to this world. And – you owe him. Big time.
February 25th, 2010 at 11:52 pm
‘BA for MJ’ obviously knows very little of The Temptations’ history. That band has had a lot of ‘2nd-Tier’ members. In fact, most of the ‘1st-Tier’ members are either dead, retired, or working solo careers. The current Temptations features one 1st-Tier (founding member Otis Williams), and the rest of the group is filled out with a 3rd-Tier troop of latter-day replacements from the 80s, 90s, and even more recently than that. So, when Rebbie Jackson (a 2nd-Tier Jackson) performs with Damon ‘Who?’ Harris, you can be sure that the only 1st-Tier at THAT show is the half-empty one in the stands.
February 26th, 2010 at 12:29 am
Mr. Friedman will not want Mr. Polanski who actually commited a crime to be his topic because he is no MJ and friedman will not make any money off of him, are you kidding?. Why is he talking about that young man ” OMER” who have not spoken anything about his relation to MJ, he got to be ashamed of himself, or may be he feels snubbed by him. Please for Jehova’s sake keep him out of your topic, he was there for MJ when people alike were killing him and he is still there now for his kids, so I don’t give a rats *** if he is or isn’t, please for desency sake leave him alone. Oslo is watching.
February 26th, 2010 at 1:17 am
Maybe someday we can let Michael rest in peace.
February 26th, 2010 at 3:04 am
Leave Mama Kat alone, she is not doing anything wrong. You media are just trying to do the same thing to them as you did their brother, Micheal. You are the true leaches. All of you make your living selling out people. Quit trying to make them you. Unlike you they loved Michael and would never want to see him hurt. Unlike you, and this piece of garbage you just wrote about his mother. Put your family history up on the chopping block and see if you can withstand what they have. You should not write what you have not been through. You have no idea what it is to live their life. All you can do is try to sell your writings your leeches, and profit off of others.
February 26th, 2010 at 3:07 am
“And to all those out there that love Michael, how do you think he would feel about his fans ripping up his family? It is so pathetic. Michael was about LOVE and not judging people and everyone here is judging his family for their every move.”
I don’t have to judge his family. Michael judged them for me by being smart enough to leave someone else in charge of his estate. Best way to make sure his mother and kids will never want for anything.
February 26th, 2010 at 4:20 am
AGAIN, REBBIE’S SHOW IS NOT, NOT, NOT A TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL. SHE IS JUST RESUMING HER CONCERTS. SHE DID THIS SAME SHOW IN THE SAME CITY LAST YEAR TWO MONTHS BEFORE MICHAEL DIED. THIS SHOW HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH A TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL. AGAIN, THIS IS SO DISAPPOINTING FROM ROGER, WHO I ALWAYS THOUGHT CHECKED ALL FACTS. REBBIE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, BUT DID NOT WANT OR ACCEPT, TO MAKE MORE THAN $1 MILLION IN INTERVIEWS AND APPEARANCES WHEN MICHAEL DIED. SHE DOES HER OWN THING IN HER OWN WAY. AND BECAUSE “SECOND-TIER TEMPTATIONS” ARE ON THE BILL, SHE SHOULD SOMEHOW BE ASHAMED? RIDICULOUS. SHE DIDN’T CHOOSE HER OPENING ACT, THE PROMOTER DID AND FOR A PLACE LIKE SCRANTON, PENN, IT’S A BIG DEAL.
February 26th, 2010 at 5:31 am
Got it, Stacy.
February 26th, 2010 at 7:27 am
Michael’s with God and won’t ever be forced to watch another installment of his family cashing in on him. The sad part here is that I can foresee his children being used as bait to generate interest in their projects. Poor P,P & B.
OFF TOPIC: I hope to God Stacy Brown is not posting on this site.
February 26th, 2010 at 10:27 am
Lo-Lo: Doubt it.
February 27th, 2010 at 2:52 am
wow. now they’re worshipping the dead. must be some reall effed up lives here. even though the reporter shouldn’t malign the family for what they may or may not be doing because no one attacks Priscilla Presley and she’s made a fortune off Elvis.
February 27th, 2010 at 8:13 am
Who cares really?
From everything I have read, Michael hated Gary so I have to agree with Sally there might be a better venue, he hated Neverland, too, at the end, so there is no reason to try to turn it into a Graceland and there is no Priscilla to manage the transformation.
Mrs. Jackson wants to contribute and if she makes money, who really cares????
February 27th, 2010 at 8:31 am
Yes, he said he hated Neverland. But he rather agreed to fifty gigs in London – after having said no earlier – rather than losing it. The financing of Neverland was the reason he had to on stage again.
February 27th, 2010 at 10:34 am
i dont think neverland was the reason MJ had to go back on stage….he did it coz the time was right & was inspired to do it again…with love L.O.V.E.
February 27th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
Well, what a load of B.S. this article is.
Friedman, I don’t know if you noticed bacause you seem to be to busy writing trash like this, but Katherine Jackson would NEVER try to just “cash” in on her SON that she LOST. The pain the world has seen in that woman’s face in undeniable. For you to even suggest this is disgusting.
Omer hasn’t said a single word. He is doing nothing but helping Prince, Paris, and Blanket try to live on in this cruel world as far as I’ve seen. Tabloids and everyone else can say whatever, but Omer grew up with the children, and they clearly like having him near. No harm done. Why are you slandering his name too?
This is just ridiculous. Would people like you rather that the Jackson family just stay in hibernation from now on? They are trying to preserve the legacy of their SON, their BROTHER, their FATHER. It’s not like they can leave it up to anyone else to do, with the way the public (the media) has treated Michael.
Shame on the Jacksons, trying to honor their beloved SON/BROTHER. The nerve of them (hint– heavy sarcasm here).
February 28th, 2010 at 3:02 am
So Roger, all your friends and the other hanger-ons who are not related to MJ and not part of his race should cash in with millions but his family should have no part of his legacy?
You sound like a fool.
February 28th, 2010 at 3:05 am
I guess it’s okay for the Presleys and the Lennons, but not the Black Jacksons. Your racism is showing on top of your hate.
February 28th, 2010 at 4:25 am
Neverland was over , over, over, over.
The tour had many more complex and financial reasons than a redo of Neverland, he was looking at a mini-palace in LA to buy.
Forget Neverland.
February 28th, 2010 at 9:11 am
Agree with Neverland being over.
I saw a report the days after MJ’s death that he and his children had fallen in love with an estate in Las Vegas. I can’t remember the network – it may have been CNN but anyway, the reporter toured the estate and it was incredible and cost $25 mil. The report said MJ had planned to buy it after the London shows and wanted to call it “Wonderland”.
February 28th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
At this point anything Friedman writes, I believe the opposite of! I guess Omer is Mike’s son after all.
What is it about this dead black man that you HATE so much????
Your pathetic Friedman!
March 1st, 2010 at 9:45 am
Yes, I know he planned top buy something else – actually, he looked at more than one property.
But still – instead of just selling Neverland and moving on, he accepted the business deal which in effect prompted his return to the stage. It seems he couldn’t quite make up his mind, and maybe that mirrored confused emotions. The need for the doctor and all those anti-anxiety drugs and the fatal propofol indicates Michael Jackson felt he was in a stressed situation.
March 1st, 2010 at 9:46 am
I don’t think it’s proper to say that Michael’s mother is trying to cash in on her son. First, we don’t even know if this story is true. Second, I WANT MICHAEL’S FAMILY TO TRIBUTE HIM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. Elvis has Graceland. Priscilla (Elvis EX-wife) dug Elvis up from his burial site moved him to Graceland and turned Elvis’ grave into a tourist attraction all within a month of his passing and no one says a word. Michael’s legacy needs to be kept alive by ongoing tributes so that each generation will get to experience the BEAUTY that was Michael. My only concern is that the tributes are in keeping with the stature of the MEGA talent of Michael as he is MORE than the KING of POP. Just Do it Right, Do it Big, Do it Respectfully.
March 1st, 2010 at 9:47 am
I don’t think it’s proper to say that Michael’s mother is trying to cash in on her son. First, we don’t even know if this story is true. Second, I WANT MICHAEL’S FAMILY TO TRIBUTE HIM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. Elvis has Graceland.
Priscilla (Elvis EX-wife) dug Elvis up from his burial site moved him to Graceland and turned Elvis’ grave into a tourist attraction all within a month of his passing and no one says a word.
Michael’s legacy needs to be kept alive by ongoing tributes so that each generation will get to experience the BEAUTY that was Michael. My only concern is that the tributes are in keeping with the stature of the MEGA talent of Michael as he is MORE than the KING of POP. Just Do it Right, Do it Big, Do it Respectfully.
March 1st, 2010 at 10:05 am
Aphrodite Jones is self published because she wrote Michael Jackson Conspiracy. The book about the trial in which she sat in on EVERY SINGLE DAY as a correspondent for FoxNews’ Bill O’Reilly. APHRODITE USED HER FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRIAL AND COURT TRANSCRIPTS TO BRING THE TRUTH to the general public about WHY Michael was found NOT Guilty. She is a huge asset to Michael as she went into the trial thinking he was guilty and came out believing in his innocence 100%.
The reason the book was self published is because “NO publisher wanted to publish a book about Michael that didn’t make him look weird or distort the truth. They were not interested in a book about THE TRUTH about Michael” per Aphrodite. Believing SO much in Michael’s innocence and her belief that the public needed to know the truth, she published the book herself. I have it – and you should too.
By the way, Aphrodite is an award winning crime writer who writes about TRUE crime stories. If you saw “Boys Don’t Cry” for which Hillary Swank won her first OSCAR than you know Aphrodite’s work. APHRODITE WROTE THE BOOK THAT BECAME THE SCREENPLAY FOR THE OSCAR WINNING MOVIE “BOYS DON’T CRY”. She is published by Major publishers for her other work – just not the TRUTH about Michael. So DON’T BE FOOLED. Aphrodite Jones is as accredited as they come.
Roger, if I know this – you should too! Be HONEST.
March 1st, 2010 at 1:13 pm
What Pina forgot to say about Priscilla, is that she moved Elvis to Graceland TO make money off of him. Elvis’ estate was in deep debt when he died and there was no inheritance for Lisa Marie (not to mention – no money for Priscilla herself, the EX wife of Elvis). So, TO MAKE MONEY OFF HIS DECEASED BODY, PRISCILLA MOVED ELVIS TO GRACELAND and SELLS tickets for visitors to come and see his grave. She has made MILLIONS and MILLION over the years and No ONE says one word.
This woman was no longer married to Elvis. I guess if she couldn’t get what she wanted when he was alive, she was sure going to get it when he died – lots of money with no accountability.
Let’s not forget that when Elvis died he was painfully addicted to drugs (legal and illegal), and LONELY because Priscilla left him and would not reconcile after Elvis’ repeated requests. YET, as soon as he died, she couldn’t wait to dig him up, move him, and make money off of him, AND assume her “own” fame in doing so.
Then she shipped her daughter off (Lisa Marie) to European boarding schools so she wouldn’t have to BE A MOTHER to her daughter who JUST lost her father. Why? So Priscilla could pursue her acting career in Hollywood, ie. Dallas and start dating without any inconveniences. YEAH, Priscilla loved Elvis and her daughter so much (lots of sarcasticism).
Where is the outcry and outrage??????? Anyone?????
Michael’s Mother LOVES him very much. I hope she does pay tribute to him! He deserves to be HONORED and TRIBUTED by anyone who wants to do so – but most rightfully, by his family.
March 1st, 2010 at 4:42 pm
Thank God for people like Aphrodite Jones.
March 1st, 2010 at 7:01 pm
I wish people would quit with the “hating on the jacksons because they are black” nonsense. GMAB, NOT ALL African Americans are jackson fans, so who the hell cares if non-blacks don’t like them.
this “fanfest” sounds like a cheesy attempt at a tribute just to $capitalize$ on what would have been MJ’s birthday. this rings similar to jermaine’s fiasco in Vienna, but instead Gary.
Event tickets: $795.00 (good for Thurs – Sun) One Day Tickets: $225 (available for Fri, Sat or Sun only)
what a RIP-OFF!!!
March 1st, 2010 at 10:20 pm
“Then she shipped her daughter off (Lisa Marie) to European boarding schools so she wouldn’t have to BE A MOTHER to her daughter who JUST lost her father. Why? So Priscilla could pursue her acting career in Hollywood, ie. Dallas and start dating without any inconveniences. YEAH, Priscilla loved Elvis and her daughter so much (lots of sarcasticism).”
Wow – hold your horses. You have no idea what kind of husband Elvis was, what feelings Priscilla may have had for him, or what is going on between her and her daughter. (Maybe she didn’t want Lisa Marie to be hounded by paparazzi after her father’s death?)
But I agree on the double standards, and I believe there’s some racism there. Of course the very public rift between Michael and his father, and the image of his father laughing after his death and launching a record company, didn’t help. Maybe he’s still mourning in some odd way. But nobody can have missed the grief in Katherine Jackson’s face.
March 2nd, 2010 at 4:53 am
What is the matter with you people and Elvis? Someone tried to kidnap his body and that’s why he was moved to Graceland along with his mother, later they added a memorial plaque for his twin, I believe Vernon was still alive when that happened and Vernon and Lisa were the sole beneficiaries, Pricilla (who was the executor along with Vernon)was the one with business savvy, it was either change Graceland or lose it!Elvis left 500,000 dollars which was eaten up in lawyer fees suing Tom Parker.
I visited Graceland for the first time this year and it is a trip worth taking for anyone intersted in Rock history, it is sad that Michael doesn’t have such a memorial.
But maybe there will be a museum somewhere, someplace,somehow(I sound like West Side Story)
March 2nd, 2010 at 6:57 am
Yes, there should be such a place, and the natural place is Neverland – but the problem is as we know that the poor man was more or less chased away from it. To open it again after his death, without him being able to return while still alive, seems so sad and ironic. (And he did say he hated it, although he couldn’t make the final decision to part with it.)
Still – where else? Las Vegas?
If I were to go to a memorial place for Michael, I would like to go to Neverland and Tom Sneddon and what he did to it and to Michael be damned. But I don’t think he should be reburied there. He should stay in LA close to the children, not rest all alone in the troubled place in the mountains.
March 2nd, 2010 at 7:25 am
You have to give credit to Prescilla Presley for her business acumen. She literally oversaw the creation of a cottage industry. And yes I’m sure she benefitted financially buy being paid a handsome salary. But she was not an heir to the estate. Everything, including what Priscilla and her team created was for the sole benefit of Prescilla’s & Elvis’ daughter, minor-aged daughter at that, mind you. I believe Prescilla was a mother lion motivate by nothing more nor less than the protection of her baby! Greed, no. But if she was able to live a lavish life through her outstanding managerial competentence, I certainly don’t begrudge her that. More power to her in fact.
As for MJ’s estate, just as LisaMarie became directly involved when she became an adult (by the way, don’t forget Lisa voluntarily delayed by I thing 5 years, a direct takeover of her father’s estate when she turned 18, in favor of Prescilla’s continued leadership), Prince, Paris and Prince II will also join the leadership and management team of Michael’s estate when they become adults.
March 2nd, 2010 at 11:33 am
@Pat,
the predominately WHITE American Media has held a very strange and suspicious grudge against the Jackson family ever since they Jackson 5 rose to fame. There are plenty of dysfunctional, greedy, and self-serving white celebrities who don’t get nearly as much disrespect as the Jacksons.Roger Friedman’s negative obsession with this family like many other journalists is worsened by subtle bigotry. Perhaps you can pull your head out of your ass and try to grasp that concept. Lots of black Americans care about non-blacks disrespecting the Jacksons because the family (specifically Michael)opened up a lot of doors for other black artists. They are the most SUCCESSFUL showbiz family and that makes people envious and resentful of them. So you and the filthy slanderous media GIVE US A BREAK. The media doesn’t trash the families of Elvis or Sinatra or Lennon. Gee what a coincidence…THINK NOT.
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:51 am
I just have to add my two cents to everything here that has already been said. It seems to me the media and people like Roger Friedman have a problem with tributes to Michael. They bitched and moaned about the memmorial, the Grammy tribute and everything else I can think of that was actually a beautiful and fitting tribute to Michael’s memory. I think it ticks these people off when Michael’s legacy is remembered in a good way. I guess they are afraid that events like this will actually…I don’t know…remind people of how great Michael was, rather than just as the freak they all need him to be.
Sure, money is some of it. The Jacksons wouldn’t be where they are today if they weren’t business-savvy people. But mostly, I think this is a genuine desire to do something for the fans, and there is nothing wrong with that.
As for Aphrodite Jones…everything Agripina said is true. This woman is not some second-rate writer without credentials. She’s an award-winning crime author whose credits include BOYS DON’T CRY and who was FORCED to self-publish Conspiracy only because no major publishers at the time were interested in a pro-Jackson book that told the truth about the 2005 trial.
Omer Bhatti to my knowledge has NEVER tried to cash in on his ties to Michael. He has kept himself very low key these past eight months, living quietly at the Jacksons’ Encino home to help out with Michael’s kids. The specualtion that has swirled around him has been the media’s doing, not his.
And how come Friedman makes NO mention of the fact that Jennifer Batten will be there, Michael’s lead guitarist for three world tours? This is a chance for fans to actually get to meet and greet some of the people who worked closest with Michael through the years.
As for the convention prices, yes, they are steep, that I will agree with. However, it is no more than most 3-4 day conventions of this type cost. I have attended a good many writers’ conferences that were more expensive than the Fanvention. I’m sure many devoted Trekkies out there shell out more than that to go to their Trek conventions. I suppose it would be nice if they could just throw it open free to the public and turn it into a Woodstock-type fest, but that would probably turn into a disaster for the cities of Merrill and Gary, not to mention people who aren’t really fans but just turning out for a free party. The admission price at least guranatees that it is an event for fans who really want to be there.
Both Michael’s family and his fans have been through enough this year. We deserve to have this Fanvention, and the family deserves to be able to put it on if they want to, without the Roger Friedmans of the world pointing their righteous fingers at them.
March 18th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
i have thirtheen siblings besides myself, with this said all of us including our family and friends thinks this is a very good ideal.
We all love michael and will forever miss him. we always played his music at cookouts and other family events including the jackson 5 music. Mr. Joe & Mrs. Katherine Be Bless and keep your head up because we didn’t believe none of that hear say stuff in the past and we certaintly dont believe none of it now, nor will we ever believe it. Continue Blessings
March 21st, 2010 at 1:44 pm
I love you Michael, the rest of your family are greedy vultures and need to go away. They just need to leave you alone…Rest in Peace..if you can.
April 27th, 2010 at 11:12 am
@Sally in Chicago,
You should check your facts about AEG. MJ’s estate got 90% of the profits of the theater release of TII. I’ve read an article that stated AEG gets profits from the sale of DVDs in perpetuity. It said nothing about the estate. MJ did not make the deal for TII with Sony. Whose idea was it to get AEG involved in the remake of We Are The World? Roger had yet to prove that MJ’s family are cashing in, but it seems you already believe it. It has been reported that the executors of the estate were asking for more money. How do you feel about that?
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:03 pm
The low class Roger Friedman strikes again. I would hate to ever make the acquaintance of such a mean-spirited, spiteful and callous man. Ugh. Ugly inside and out.
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:11 pm
Was “Boys Don’t Cry” based on the book “All She Wanted” by Aphrodite Jones?
No. Aphrodite Jones did however file a lawsuit against Fox Searchlight, claiming that the studio backed out of a deal that involved her book being turned into a movie with Drew Barrymore. She claimed that the studio backed out when they discovered “Boys Don’t Cry” and purchased the rights to that film instead.
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:13 pm
Que wrote: It has been reported that the executors of the estate were asking for more money. How do you feel about that?
John McClain and John Branca, executors of the Estate of Michael Jackson, are performing duties on behalf of the estate far beyond their capacities as executors. They’re developing the full body of what Michael Jackson left behind and have been granted 10% (5% each) for their extraordinary expertise as promoters, producers and developers, not merely signers of this and that paperwork that most executors do.
May 24th, 2010 at 9:36 pm
I think Mama Katherine just wants to show she is proud of her baby boy. The loss has to be so hard on her. I wish I could give her a hug, and tell her we love her and support her.
June 22nd, 2010 at 9:23 pm
Any other MJ fans planning to watch the TV Guide Network's Michael Jackson special, Gone Too Soon, on June 25th? I'm really excited about it!
Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3b9oXa9v8c
http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/gone-soon/305026
June 23rd, 2010 at 4:23 am
Any other MJ fans planning to watch the TV Guide Network’s Michael Jackson special, Gone Too Soon, on June 25th? I’m really excited about it!
Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3b9oXa9v8c
http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/gone-soon/305026