SHAME ON YOU
Hellraiser Harry was just a prince in hell
ROGUE reporter Martin Bashir faced a quadruple blast last night over claims he hoodwinked Michael Jackson – just as he did Princess Diana.
The singer’s nephew Taj Jackson accused Bashir of shamefully using “manipulated” footage and “unethical” journalism in the infamous Neverland documentary.
Taj’s dad Tito – Michael’s brother – told the Sunday Mirror: “Both Michael and Diana were victims of Bashir’s dark ambitions and dirty tricks and he is finally paying a price.”
Uri Geller – the TV psychic who introduced Bashir to Jacko – said the “super smooth” journalist used his Di connections to access Jacko.
And British minder Matt Fiddes, a former Jacko guard, said the singer’s relatives may sue Bashir.
The onslaught came as Bashir maintained his innocence, said he and his family “loved Diana”, they became friends – and still refused to accept he caused her any harm.
Bashir’s reputation was torn to shreds by Lord Dyson’s report into his Panorama interview with Di.
PRESSURE
It found Bashir, 58, used fake bank papers to get the princess and brother Earl Spencer onside.
A whistleblower who tackled Bashir was fobbed off – and when he tried to alert a boss he was told “it’s none of your business”.
The new accusations around Jacko will heap pressure on the BBC to hold a full inquiry and police to probe any possible criminality around the Di interview.
Geller said: “I would urge a police investigation over his ordering forged bank statements.”
Jacko’s family and friends say Bashir, who by then had moved from the BBC to ITV, duped the singer into their 2003 interview.
The documentary focused on Jacko’s friendship with boys. The star had already faced allegations and would face many more as his reputation was widely tarnished – though he was cleared at a subsequent chid sex abuse trial.
While criticism for Jackson’s behaviour remains valid, the fresh claims over Bashir’s behaviour cast doubt on his journalistic practices with hundreds of interviewees during his career at the BBC and elsewhere.
Nephew Taj believes the Bashir film contributed to his uncle’s untimely death in 2009, aged 50. Taj wrote online: “Bashir’s manipulated footage and
HEARING Harry reveal this week how he often used alcohol to “self-medicate” took me straight back to a night in a beer garden in April 2008.
It was two days after the High Court concluded Princess Diana had died in an accident.
Harry was with Wills on a stag do for their cousin Peter Phillips in Cowes.
He was rocking backwards and forwards. He held a plastic pipe to his mouth while booze was poured into it. He was drinking to oblivion.
Harry told me he was furious at the statement issued on his behalf, welcoming the inquest findings.
He felt he had been silenced and denied the chance to pay a tribute to his mum. When I asked why he didn’t tell the grey suits to write one he was happy with, he said: “Because they don’t work for me, they work for my father.”
So I can vouch for his latest reflections on those dark days. Harry’s hellraising was a course of self-destruction stemming from the trauma that engulfed him after Diana died.
Royals are horrified by his public psychiatry sessions. They should remember the role they played in letting him suffer in silence for years. unethical journalism is one of the main reasons my uncle is not here today. That trial broke him. Shame on those who provided cover for Bashir. Shame on those who rewarded him. My family deserve an investigation and apology too.”
Dad Tito said: “Bashir created a fake narrative about my brother, which becomes crystal clear when you view the out-takes Bashir
kept secret. He used
Michael’s trust and friendship with Diana to get the interview, manipulated Michael throughout the interview, then deceptively edited the footage.”
Geller claims Bashir produced a letter purportedly from Diana to gain access to Jacko, who was best man when he renewed his vows in 2001. Geller, who believes in Jacko’s innocence, told us: “What convinced me to introduce him to Michael was a letter he pulled out of his pocket.
“It was folded two or three times and there was a logo on it. He said it was from Princess Diana, writing to him about how happy she was with the interview.
“I had felt unease, but it was the Diana letter that won my feelings over. He was a supersmooth
operator. I regret that terrible introduction. It was the beginning of, I believe, Michael’s spiral downwards.”
Former minder Matt Fiddes told us: “The family are considering their legal position.
“They believe, ultimately, that Bashir’s portrayal of Michael and lies he spun destroyed his career.
“They say Bashir never kept promises, including an agreement to edit out material Michael didn’t want in. He used the Diana letter to gain Michael’s trust, but ended up betraying him.”
Bashir is also accused of wrongdoing from the families of other interviewees, including soccer legend George Best, whose ex-wife Alex has spoken out, claiming he manipulated her and his agent.
The journalist also angered the mother of Babes in the Wood murder victim Karen Hadaway,
He pulled out a letter which he said was from Diana... that won my feelings over URI GELLER ON BASHIR CHAT THAT LED TO JACKO INTERVIEW
»»Star’s bruv Tito slams ‘dirty tricks’ »»Defiant reporter says Di was a friend
who says he took away clothing for DNA testing and then lost it – before later claiming he couldn’t remember ever meeting her. As the Dyson fallout continued, ex-BBC director-general Lord Tony Hall yesterday quit as chairman of the National Gallery. He said: “It is clear my continuing in the role would be a distraction to an institution I care deeply about.”
He was heavily criticised for his inquiry into how the Diana interview was obtained.
On Thursday, Prince William slammed the BBC, saying the interview added to the “fear, paranoia and isolation” which he witnessed in his mother.
On Friday
securing the interview was “absolutely straight and fair” but that some material breached BBC guidelines.
APRIL 1996 Tony Hall opens inquiry. He tells
BBC governors Bashir police said they are considering a case against Bashir over the fake bank statements.
PM Boris Johnson also intervened, saying he hoped the BBC would “take every possible step to make sure nothing like this happens again”.
Former Beeb royal correspondent Michael Cole, who was friends with Diana, said: “What went on in the offices of the BBC’s flagship commissioned fake statements because “he wasn’t thinking” and believes him “contrite”. Says Wiessler “will not work for the BBC again”. 1998 Bashir leaves the BBC and joins ITV. programme sounds like the Mafia meeting to rub out its enemies and bury bodies. Seasoned journalists who tried to warn of Martin Bashir’s underhand tactics were portrayed as jealous troublemakers and sacked.”
Bashir, meanwhile, told the Sunday Times: “I never wanted to harm Diana in any way and I don’t believe we did.
“Everything we did was as she wanted. My family and I loved her.”
He said he is “deeply sorry” to Princes William and Harry, adding: “I can’t imagine what their family must feel each day.”
Bashir even produces a picture of Diana visiting his wife in hospital the day she gave birth to their third child. He adds: “We were friends.”
He admits he showed Earl Spencer forged statements, adding: “Obviously I regret it, it was wrong. But it had no bearing on the interview.”
The Sunday Mirror approached the BBC and ITV for comments. 2007 BBC rejects FoI request from journalists for documents about its investigation into Bashir. SEPT 26, 2016 Bashir returns to BBC.
NOV 18, 2020 BBC commissions independent
Bashir is one of reasons my uncle isn’t here... shame on those who rewarded him TAJ JACKSON THE SINGER’S NEPHEW ACCUSING REPORTER
investigation under former High Court judge Justice Lord Dyson.
MAY 14, 2021 Bashir quits as Religion Editor. MAY 20, 2021 Dyson’s report describes Bashir as “devious” and “dishonest”.