Michael Jackson’s reputation
over, I believe.” Such words are bound to anger Wade and James. Not to mention child abuse campaigners.
Wade and James launched a $1.2billion civil suit against the estate in 2013, but the court ruled they had filed too late to get any of the estate. Wade then filed a suit against two other companies Michael had owned – MJJ Productions, Inc and MJJ Ventures, Inc – but in 2017 the court ruled that they were not liable. The judge did not rule on the credibility of Wade’s allegations.
KEITH, whose father Luther was the brother of Michael’s dad Joe Jackson, is adamant that Wade and James wouldn’t have come forward at all, had Michael not died of a prescription drug overdose aged 50 in June 2009.
“Michael was
atrue fighter he believed in the truth. If he was still alive, I don’t think this would be an issue right now – that this guy [Wade] would have come out with the allegations,” he says.
Of course, he’s already seen Michael fight, during the infamous trial. Keith had been staying at Neverland just before it was raided by police in 2003 as part of the criminal investigation into claims relating to Arvizo.
He was charged with seven counts of child molestation and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent for the purpose of committing a felony.
Keith remembers his cousin insisting he was the real victim. “Michael said to me, ‘People are out there to get me, they are after me’,” says Keith. “Another time he told me, ‘People lie about me and I’m sick of it’.” He also recalls a distraught Katherine asking his mum Bobby for comfort. “She was at my mom’s house and very upset. Michael had spoken to his mom many times how unfair he was being treated and how he feared for his life after police came and raided his home,” says Keith. “He was scared there would be someone who was just full of hate because of what they heard [attacking him]. VIDEO GRABS FROM TV FILM: Michael Jackson with a young Robson, left, and Safechuck at the age of 10. Below, a bearded Safechuck, left, and Robson
All the allegations and the frenzy, they tried to destroy Michael’s character and life.”
Others may remember the case differently. Last month Neverland security guard Ralph Chacon repeated claims that he’d told a 1994 Grand Jury investigation that he’d seen Jacko being intimate with a then 13-year-old Jordan Chandler. No criminal charges were ever brought after the Chandler family were paid a reported $23million.
AMAZINGLY, Keith believes the new spotlight on Jacko could instead strengthen support for his cousin, not shatter it, as he’s convinced fans will rally round the singer.
“As far as impact on his legacy, I feel it will really make people love Michael even more because everyone knows the truth,” he insists. “You can’t destroy a legacy like Michael’s. I really think it’s going to go away.”
It may be a little optimistic of Keith in a post #MeToo world. And his feeling for his cousin are fired by happy memories of their childhood together.
“I can remember being at the Jackson house as a kid when they were rehearsing before anybody even knew who the Jacksons were,” says Keith. “One of my favourite memories is when I was 12. Michael’s mom came and picked me and my brothers up to take us to the concert in Chicago, where the Jackson Five were performing.
“We stayed at the Radisson Hotel, and I will never forget waking up to a pillow fight with Michael and his brothers. He would always have balloons with him and we filled them up with water and, me being a kid, dropped them on the fans outside. Michael was like, ‘No. No. Don’t do that!’
“At the same time Michael was drawing me. I never knew Michael was such an incredible artist. He drew a picture of me holding a water balloon. I wish I had kept that picture to this day.”
Keith also got a taste of the fame. “About 40 screaming girls came up to the hotel room where we were staying. All these girls tore me apart because I had an afro too and they thought I was Michael!”
It’s perhaps these innocent memories of a little boy that is making it hard for Keith to believe what’s been alleged. For the rest of the world, there’s a sense this won’t be going away quietly.
Michael Jackson always strongly denied all allegations made against him. He was acquitted of all charges by a jury in the 2005 trial.
In the new suit against HBO, The Jackson estate strongly denies all the allegations, calling them “absolutely false”. It also says they were not contacted by filmmaker Dan Reed for a comment. It adds: “No one else who might offer evidence to contradict the programme’s premise was consulted either.”