Now What For the Jackson Kids?
The moment the news leaked out that an ambulance had taken Michael Jackson away from his L.A. area rental home my life exploded, returning to the whirling mess that it was during all those years I investigated the Jackson story. The computer blew up with e-mails, my Blackberry chirped non stop. CNN, FOX, MSNBC, CBS, The Today Show, The Early Show, magazines, newspapers – everyone wanted a comment. It was the news I knew I’d live to broadcast and write about. Michael Jackson’s life became oddly enter-twined with mine back in August of 1993 when my News Director, Linda Bell Blue at the television show Hard Copy, tapped me on the shoulder and told me to figure out why the cops were knocking at Michael Jackson’s door. I’m a crime reporter, not a celebrity reporter so at first the words MICHAEL JACKSON and COPS didn’t scan in my brain. The next day Hard Copy was able to break the news about WHY the police had moved in – they suspected him of molesting a young boy.
I knew in a rarefied state of being such as Jackson’s law enforcement had to have crossed all the T’s and dotted all the I’s and been damn sure before they’d been able to convince a judge to sign search warrants for his homes, one his L.A. condo and a second at Neverland Valley Ranch. The rest is history and I wrote about it all in my book, “Be Careful Who You Love: Inside the Michael Jackson Case.” (the title taken from Jackson’s lyrics in one of his most popular songs, “Billie Jean.”)
The 1993 allegations of child molestation went away after a payout of some 30 million dollars. The 2003 criminal charges were moot after a jury acquitted Jackson of 10 felony charges related to the alleged molestation of another young boy, a recovered cancer patient. And during his trial we were all able to see up close what a rickety mess Jackson’s life had become. He came to court under the influence many days, he dropped weight, he arrived one day in his jammies. he sat at the defense table in a stupor and I wondered – was it a sympathy ploy for the jury’s benefit or the obvious trappings of a man addicted to shutting out the rest of the world via narcotics. Either way you could see this was a man who had done – and was in the midst of doing – significant damage to his body. I knew I would live to hear this news….
R.I.P.
Legendary “King of Pop” Michael Jackson, who combined his singing talents, eclectic persona and ever-changing facial features to win over music fans around the world, died today from cardiac arrest. He was 50. Jackson was taken to UCLA Medical Center by LA Fire Department paramedics after getting a call at Jackson’s home around 12:26 p.m. local time. He was not breathing when they arrived and had no pulse, LAFD sources said. via MICHAEL JACKSON DIES AT 50 – New York Post
More on the fight for the Jackson children in posts ahead. 
{ 57 comments… read them below or add one }
you are a demon, Diane Demon…. May God condemned you to HELL!!!
Let me begin by saying that I loved Micahel. I have seen him perform about 10 times but ….hegot weird. I could tell by looking at him and his elusive answers to questions seemed odd. The olny report I have come to trust-yes trust-has been you Diane D. Please do not suppress information bc Micahel has passed. This is surely a greek tradegy, but it is important to show how someone of Michel's great talent became so self-obsessed and the degree of his self-destruction.
wow…lydia…to say you loved him….that is not love. love is understanding, accepting someone for who they are, and mostly to not want their memory be vilified by reporters especially Diane! diane……you should be ashamed…this is not good reporting. you are tabloid material only. you don't even wait for the true facts! i can't even imagine how you sleep at night the way you tear apart MJ!!! did you ever have a heart, a soul, a conscious??? please stop….let him be….he is gone…let his children, his family and his fans mourn and remember the great memories!!!! please…….. for the children most of all…..they do not deserve your slanderous words. remember they love him… the only father they know…don't take him away from them again…… Really….Please…….
Diane – You sound almost happy that you would live to hear the news of Michael Jackson's passing. I feel that you should truly be ashamed of the unprofessional and biased reporting that you have done on Michael over the years. You seem to forget that he was acquitted on all charges in 2005. You always refer back to 1993, and the fact the Michael settled that case in order to shut everyone up. However, why doesn't anyone ever comment on the fact that if someone had molested their child, money should never be enough to get over that! You would definitely want that person to be put behind bars, otherwise it's just a case of simple extortion. I, myself, would never settle for any amount of money if someone molested my child, yet no one ever looks at the story that way.
How tragic it is when a full-grown adult doesn't have anyone in their lives who loves them enough to say "No!" It's often fatal. Look at what happened to Elvis and now to MJ. This is exactly what would have happened to Britney Spears had her father not cared enough about her to totally piss her off. Everyone needs at least one person in our life who loves us enough to tell us when we're being an idiot.
Diane I think you are terrific and marvelled at your all things Michael Jackson reporting but as of last night, I can't help but wonder where you get your information when no information has been officially released?
Much of my information is from confidential sources. I will never reveal their identities. See the forward to my book as to why. ~ DD
Now that Michael Jackson is dead, the boys he supposedly molested are older and it has been reported that they confessed to lying. Why don’t they give the money back to the Jackson estate since they have admitted they lied due to their parents?
This is incorrect. No one has confessed to lying. None of the accusers recanted their stories. The day after Michael Jackson died the story of the re-recantations hit the internet. I investigated immediately. All the stories linked back to MJ fan sites and were, in my opinion, concocted by fans eager to rewrite history. A check with the families of the accusers also confirmed nothing had changed. ~DD
Thank you for all you have done. I can imagine that it at times seemed to be a David and Galieth situation when you exposed the details of MJ's life.
As a grandparent, we need more Diane Dimonds !
God Bless You!
Diane….I understand what you are saying……I think! With everything he has been through I am surprised he made it this long.The autopsy will probably show that he died in a similar way to Heath Ledger. I am a firm believer that he did nothing wrong with those boys and that it was all about the money. I , too, would not let money stand in my way if either of my boys were molested. I would rot in prison. Michael said in an interview that he paid the money so this child did not have to go through the media circus. I don't feel like it is guilt money. I truly feel that he was a little boy trapped in a mans body. After watching the Martin Brashear interview, I can understand a little better. He had the heart and soul of a child. It is really sad that so many people passed judgement on him without knowing the facts…All they had was the facts that they hear on t.v. or " sources"
Michael Jackson was a meal ticket. His life revolved around how his Dad treated him. In the end it killed him. It probably embarrassed his Dad that he died in this fashion. Michael nailed perfect on this one so it should make Joe kind of proud.
Jackson was a degenerate – BUYING kids, trolling for little boys, dope. Does it get any worse? THANK YOU FOR NOT buying into the show biz hype that killed him, belushi, ledger, morrison, and a thousand other dysfunctional morons who could not control THEMSELVES.. Jackson was a fifty year old guy WHO KNEW what he was doing. it's no one's fault but his… and everyone who feed at his trough is trying to martyr-ize him.. Taking a page from the other schoor – who feed at the same trough – PRICILLA PRESLEY.. give me a break. NO ONE CARES … keep up the good fight, Jackson, Klein, Rowe – they're whore;s to the 'enth' degree – - and could have cared less about the kids, and only about the millions they made being degenerates,
Diane, you have been so wrong about Michael Jackson. He was not a child molester and I'm sure you know that. That makes it all the worse that you tried to ruin his life and career with your outlandish scribblings.
I hope you are proud of yourself.
I am proud of my body of work, yes, Karen. And I hope this becomes a teaching moment for millions. Teaching ourselves and our children about our out of control celebrity worship which borders on blindness, drug abuse, too much cosmetic surgery, anorexia, family disputes that don't get resolved, bad parenting, child abuse and child molestation, the cyclical nature of molestation that causes the victim to grow up and victimize others … the list of what Michael Jackson's life can teach us is long. I hope intelligent people everywhere are listening. ~ DD
"Teaching moment for millions?" You mean more money in your pockets. You are a sad individual. You get bad sources and still report on them. Not to mention paying others to pretend to be your sources. Google yourself in that situation and you'll see what I mean. You are disgusting but God is good and he will justify everything in the end. When that boy eventually comes forward from the guilt…you will owe the entire Jackson family and all of us an apology.
Oh and he was a wonderful dad. Paris proved that at his memorial. And where are your children? Yeah single and dried up.
It's sad but I am sure MJ still thought of you as a misguided soul and forgave you for your misforunate choice in the witch hunt. Becareful of that Karma!!
Yes. Teaching moment – on celebrity worship, on misuse of cosmetic surgeries, body dysmorphic disorder, parental abuse (Joe Sr.), drug abuse, surrogate mothering and many more lessons.
And BTW I have a lovely, wonderful, fully adjusted daughter who has given me beautiful grand children. ~ DD
I agree with Karen. And I completely disagree with you Diane.
Bad parenting? Then tell me how Michael Jackson’s children are such smart, intelligent and wonderful well behaved children.
You have a lot of nerve. AND FOR THE LAST TIME- MICHAEL JACKSON IS INNOCENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Think what you want. But I know the truth.
Diane, I've been following you follow him since 1993. A friend asked me if it was true that Kline was Mj's children daddy, I said if D Diane says it's so, it's so. I searched you out after seeing you on the Today show and luckily found this site. Keep up the good work.
I question the pathetic, fickle nature of the media and society at large who have suddenly been strucken with such grief for the late singer.
Im and not saying it's wrong to morn the talents of the man, but i question how much of this is genuine grief …. it seems that a lot of people who would have mocked jackson a week ago are suddenly to looking to beatify the man…
Gone are the freak show comments, gone are the disproving nods regarding Jackson bedtime habbits and gone are the concerns over his obvious bad parenting.
All have been suddenly replaced with Glowing pictures of the young, fit, talented jackson..video clips of the stars greatest songs have been plasted all over MTV and youtube… and record sales are off the wall.
But anyone with a mind to question Jackson murky past ,are looked at with horror, disgust …and then anger. In fact the knives are out to excommunicate these questioning minds from this (newly) formed "heal the world" society.
Of course, the relvations that Jackson did not only not sleep with Debbie Rowe, but also the neither her or himself are natural parents of the 3 children have dominated news this week.
But what is more interesting (and worrying.) is the obvious point that Jackson has Anrgily denied these new discovered facts as 'ignorance and lies ' for years and years.
Just like his pathetic attempts to deny his multiple plastic surgeries, any Journalist who dared to ask Jackson a "controversial" question was instantly accused by himself and his fanatical fanclub of trying to tear him with "hurtful lies"….now we know for a Fact it's been Jackson lying all along.
So Jackson's compulsion on not telling the truth has finally out in the open.. Not only to the general public and the media,BUT, more importantly to his 'diehard' fans!…
The very people who had gone through years and years of fanatically loyal service defending the man's honor and attacking anyone who dare to question it….
The questions no is, will they be hurt by the truth, or dig deeper in their "king of Pop" delusions?
We can only begin to wonder how many other things Jackson has lied about in the past. Maybe in time this we'll be revealed or maybe not… it will greatly depend on how his musical legacy will hold up and the powers at be.
What is for sure, is the week has felt like drug induced 'trip' down memory lane, accompanied by a 'thrillingly' nostalgic soundtrack… but it seems that a of people aren't ready for a 'comedown' and having to face facts that Jacko's been a just a little bit "bad"
I can relate to a level of similar childhood experiences as Michael. Those memories exist forever and do become foundation stones for adulthood and maturity. Every fork in the road consists of choices, a decision that must be made for better or worse. Unfortunately Mr. Jackson chose many that were detrimental…undermined by fame and the ultra mega bucks that overtake and consume even rational people. Death can be likened to a period at the end of a sentence. A statement of life; a tome of individual existence. A higher power will examine that sentence with its structure of so many adjectives and verbs and decide the final grade for Mr. Jackson. In a way, I envy him. He's left the chaos, suffering and hatred of this world.
People like Diane Diamond made Michael Jackson's life miserable in his final years.
There must be a special place in Hell reserved for repulsive people such as her. I don't even blame her for reporting the facts of the case- someone had to.
What made it so wrong was the unvarnished glee with which she went after the story along with the blatant bias and rampant speculation which is evident throughout this so called "reporter"s articles.
Her reporting on MJ should be a part of every journalism school's curriculum on how NOT to report a story in a professional and unbiased manner.
You can clearly see from this website that she relishes attention (probably a failed entertainer) and she delighted in cashing in on MJ and attempting to siphon off some of his fame with her endless television appearances and her books. Vultures like her made their name and fame off a legend beloved by millions and are even now trying to suck the last drop of blood from the corpse.
Disgusting.
Diane,
I have experiential connection with the legacy of Micheal's music.(2001). The media now broadcasting digitally has placed his music in heavy rotation. I played a principal role in adding tracks and vocals during the transfer- analogue to digital. Several projects resulted from thsse recording 2001 recording sessions- The Number Ones, Thriller 25th Annv. and his last release, Invincible. Since this music is in heavy rotation lately I am consistently reminded to this opportunity afforded to me that has now been placed infamously in history by his sudden death. I only know him through this generousity in providing this creative opportunity. However – all things Micheal, no effort has been made to compensate my efforts nor properly credit the contribution. I am convinced that with this upcoming concert, these tracks would be used as part of the live performance as many of the other artists who represent my body of work since 2001. Continue to seek the truth beyond the "spin".
This board has been censoring my posts and those of others who sought to bring balance to this forum. So I will post here what has been censored by this supposed "journalist". So much for the truth!! lol
People like Diane Diamond made Michael Jackson's life miserable in his final years.
There must be a special place in Hell reserved for heartless people such as her. I don't even blame her for reporting the facts of the case- someone had to.
What made it so wrong was the unvarnished glee with which she went after the story along with the blatant bias and rampant speculation which is evident throughout this so called "journalist"s articles.
Folks, real journalist don't have an agenda. They aren't self serving.
Her reporting on MJ should be a part of every journalism school's curriculum on how NOT to report a story in a professional and unbiased manner.
You can clearly see from her website…she even has a yahoo group wtf?.. that she relishes attention (probably a failed entertainer) and she delighted in cashing in on MJ and attempting to siphon off some of his fame with her endless television appearances and her books. Vultures like her made their name and fame off a legend beloved by millions and are even now trying to suck the last drop of blood from the corpse.
Disgusting.
No one has been censoring you, Jellric. I run this web site and I have been busy since the death of Mr. Jackson.
do you have any plans to do any speaking engagements in Vancouver bc? I have been a fan for years. I appreciate a gutsy reporter like yourself who reveals the truth
Diane, thank you for having the courage to report on Michael Jackson's life, even though his diehard (willingly blind) fans vilify you for it. I am currently reading your book and am filled with disgust at how Michael Jackson lived his life. I already had read a lot about the child molestation and had come to the conclusion that he was almost certainly guilty of molesting boys who slept over with him, but the details of how he used and exploited the people in his life have erased any sympathy I once felt for the guy.
I am having a hard time accepting his fans' willingness to look the other way and ignore the obvious, that Michael Jackson fits the profile of a preferential child molester to a T. He's not all that special, in that regard. The only differences are that he is a rich celebrity and more musically talented than most. He's getting a free pass from too many people because of those differences. How do you wake people up from their denial?
Stay strong and honest, Diane. We need reporters and commentators like you who aren't afraid to say it like it is.
Has this women put as much effort and energy into reporting on Michael Jackson's innocence? The first 'fake
' victim now says he is deeply sorry that he's lied. He now says he accused Michael Jackson of molesting him because his father needed the money. I have not heard any of the major networks mention anything about this. What gets on my nerve is that this woman is allowed to give her advice to NBC in New York City. I am currently passing a petition around letting NBC and the Today Show know that I (and many others) will no longer view their show as long as this woman is allowed to talk about issues concerning Michael's death. I still think she is angry that Michael has not been convicted on the molestation charges.
I post this to give readers an idea of the absurdity of some of the comments coming into my site. First, this one is postable since it's not laced with the usual profanity.
Second and most important THE INTERNET POSTINGS SAYING ONE OR BOTH OF THE ACCUSERS HAS RECANTED THEIR MOLESTATION CLAIMS IS ENTIRELY FALSE. ALL SUCH STATEMENTS ARE DIRECTLY TRACEABLE TO MICHAEL JACKSON FAN SITES. IT IS AN ATTEMPT BY SOME TO RE-WRITE HISTORY. Neither of the accusers has changed their story or their sworn statements alleging Michael Jackson molested them. While it is true Mr. Jackson was acquitted of the charges after a criminal trial it is also true that many people still think there is something to the allegations. Reminder: three of the jurors in the criminal trial later said they wished they'd voted the other way, that they felt pressured to vote for acquittal.
I just don't think you need to sensationalize this tragic loss for your own person well being and ratings. We all know you would be a no body if it wasnt for the Michael Jackson trial back in 1993. Every since then, you have been riding the coat tails of this phenomenal person for your string of uncanny books and PROPAGANDA to the media distorting facts to make yourself appear as if you are a reliable source, when all you are is a media shogun just like Ann Coulter and Peter "The Iceman King. I think there should be a law passed in Congress that would Restrict anyone from making Slanderous Comments about Dead People especially until a period of 3 weeks after they have passed or the period of mourning has ceased. Shame on all who have tried to profit and capitalize off of this by preaching a gospel of attacking this individuals character.
If the whole truth is ever known, I think maybe we'll be able to accept the fact that nobody is absolutey good or evil, and that essentially good people can do horrible things in their life. The Diane Dimond haters would have us make the false choice of either despising everything Michael Jackson ever did, or moving to have him canonized as a saint.
I loved Michael Jackson's music and applauded his humanitarian efforts, but I acknowledge the fact that he was a human being with moral failings (as we all are). Being a great entertainer, humanitarian, and father and having great moral failings are not mutually exclusive.
The nasty media twist the truth. The media fail to tell the other side of the MJ story to show that he was set-up and was a victim of his own naevity and of extortionists. Robert Blake, an actor who murdered his girlfriend and who was found guilty wasn't given half the media attention that MJ has received. MJ who was found not guilty, is despite this, still being viewed as guilty by the white media. MJ is a victim of the media and they will continue to trash MJ and to raise their profile off the back of MJ. All they do is to show their bias which, ultimately makes me think that it is borne of racism.
I am not a racist if that's what you are implying. ~DD
IntenseDebate Notification <DIV dir=ltr align=left>you are wrong on so many levels. </DIV> <DIV dir=ltr align=left>you've made up your mind about me. There's nothing I can say to convince you.</DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr lang=en-us>
I doubt seriously if you or I or anyone else knows the truth. Only MJ knows it and those two boys who claimed they were molested. The problem is I too am a victim of a pedophiler. Those people do not abuse only two kids in their lifetime. They usually abuse as many as they can. MANY. Believe me with MJ's money alot more would have been out there suing him at every corner. That is the problem.It's all about the money. That's your problem, there are many molestors but you chose to go after this one for the money.That was your meal ticker and you do take out of context alot of you so called "informative reporting". All for the money it would make you. I saw you on the Jane Velez show and instead of answering questions you kept plugging your book. How distasteful. Maybe someday we will know the truth, I doubt if it will be from a "reporter" or a tabloid.
I'm very sorry that you were a victim, Minnie. And you are incorrect that I "keep plugging my book." dd
If the child molestation allegations were true, surely one would think there would have been a myriad of young victims coming forward with their own allegations of molestation against Michael Jackson. Why has there only ever been two that have come to light in nearly two decades? If he was so wreckless, there would have been alot more allegations against him.
there were more allegations of molestation, Kerrie. But for obvious reasons some families didn't think it was wise to put their child through a very public trial and subject themselves to rabid fans, defense smears to their character, psychological problems for their sons. They saw what happened to the Chandler family (death threats, physical beatings, media hordes) and decided not to press charges. We heard from some of these people at the criminal trial. Obviously the jury did not believe them. ~ DD
Diane Dimond;
I have spent several months pouring over the trial transcript and Michael Jackson’s FBI Files.
I do not find the “more” allegations of molestation you speak of. Can you direct me to the legal
document to find these other allegation?
Kendrick,
You won’t find any “legal documents” about ALLEGATIONS. After years of my own investigation, after dozens of in-depth interviews with music industry sources, service industry sources, after talking to those closest to Michael Jackson it became clear that whenever there was a parent with a complaint a large check would be written by Mr. Jackson. I know, I know – you or I wouldn’t accept money if we thought our child had been mistreated or molested – but I remain convinced that many did exactly that, afraid to go up against the Jackson machine.
Even Michael’s own sister, LaToya, admits she and her mother saw large checks (she mentioned a million dollars)Michael had written to the parents of strangers. When confronted Michael called it “charity” – but LaToya insisted her family knew it was to pay off his problems with little boys.
Some people now say they don’t believe La Toya’s statements (and indeed she later seemed to step back from them) but I and many others close to the situation beleive LaToya was one of the few who spoke the truth.
I'm truly hoping you will reply to this.
If someone was accused of murder and was found not guilty, would you still label him as a murderer? If the COURT OF LAW found Michael Jackson not guilty, who are you and the media to state otherwise? As I read in one of your replies – you said you have a daughter along with some grandchildren (may God bless them), lets say someone molested them.. would you as a parent or grandparent, in her right mind, see this as an opportunity to make money? Or put that s.o.b. behind bars? You should know I am referring to the case back in 1993. I, as a parent, can tell you that no money in the world can relieve my anger if my child were molested.
He had his fair day in court just as any other American citizen. If he was found guilty, would the media try to oppose that verdict? Definitely not. Why is it fair that he went through all those months in court to prove his innocence to the public – yet the media still condemned him?
There is no amount of money I would ever accept from a pedophile to drop charges that he or she molested someone I loved. No amount in the world. And, which member(s) of the media have you heard referring to Jackson as a pedophile? Everyone knows he was acquitted. DD
It's funny the people who read Diane's book, have so certainty that he is guilty. An inteligent person, have to see the 2 sides of the history to have a conclusion. When you see one of the sides, your opinion become limited. Do you like to read? Ok, i'll give you a sugestion: Michael Jackson – The magic and the madness. THE REAL STORY ABOUT MICHAEL JACKSON, AND THE AUTHOR IS A MAN THAT KNEW MICHAEL JACKSON AT ABOUT 30 YEARS, NOT A JOURNALIST WHO WANTED MONEY LIKE DIANE.
First of all, I’d like to congratulate Tony on his summation of the post-mortem Jackson hysteria and the new breed of “die-hard” fans. I grew up with Michael Jackson and gravitated toward him from an early age (I am now 35). I was a huge, huge fan, so when he died, it was like the end of an era for me and I couldn’t help but feel sad inside. Even my parents were sad, for the loss of Michael (even though they weren’t huge fans) but more so for me and my generation. It was as if a part of all our lives had gone. Having said that though, it has not been lost on me that Michael Jackson’s life has been somewhat “dodgy” (to say the least!) in later years and that he was running out of excuses for his weird behaviour. Yes, I loved Michael, but I am also a rational, thinking human being with eyes and ears, so this new breed of mainly teenage (it seems) “die hard” supporters telling me over the internet what I can and can’t say about their “angel” Michael has been a little off-putting! Who ARE these ppl anyway? Where did they suddenly come from? Why weren’t they there just a few weeks earlier, defending Michael BEFORE he actually died? It’s all very bizarre, to the extent that I think Michael himself would have loved it! Did Michael’s propaganda finally rub off? His arrogant denials of plastic surgery – his ludicrous assertion that he only ever had two nose jobs?; his insistence that he “loved” being black and never bleached his skin?; his bizarre, casual attitude toward sharing his bed with the 13-yr-old children of strangers? Has the emperor finally been clothed by a new generation who have suddenly decided to swallow his pig-headed falsities without reflection or question? Just try going onto YouTube and saying something about Michael that doesn’t directly imply he’s a martyr, and see how far you get! These ppl are like cultists, who’ll tell you aggressively and abusively that Michael had “vitiligo, okay!!” (apparently, he never touched his skin!) and that he was an “angel” and a “great humanitarian” who loved children and only wanted to “heal the world”! It’s all very sweet, at first appearance, but maybe these newbie “devotees” might like trying to be real fans for once? Yes, that’s right – try being someone who actually grew up with Michael’s influence and his music; someone that actually went out and bought Thiller and went to his concerts and stayed up late to watch him at the Grammy’s. And then see how you feel watching his nose get smaller, his face get whiter, and his life fall into bizarre disarray. Finally, see how YOU feel when your childhood idol, a man supposedly known for clean living, dies with a bad-ass narcotics habit, 500 MILLION dollars in debt, and unresolved child-abuse allegations flying about the place! Frankly, I would swap my genuine disappointment and pain for their phony, new-found “grief” any day! It would hurt a lot less!
Diane-I have to applaud you, for having to put up with such ignorant nonsense on your site.
I rarely ever comment on a board, but I have to say this. I too, am a MJ fan, and I am astonished, the different “types” of fans he truly had. Some are great, and some are just incessant fanatics that can’t or won’t believe that MJ was NOT a God. He was just a human being with flaws like the rest of us.
My soul agonized over the molestation charges. I too, did not want to believe any of it. I still don’t. But very disturbing facts are just glaring, and after I have stepped away from the hype of the day back during those times, the obvious is somewhat glaring, that MJ had some problems.
To anyone that doesn’t think he could be capable of this, knows nothing of child molestation or sex crimes for that matter. No, I am not trying to crucify the man during death, in fact, I hope Jesus forgives, and brings peace to his soul.
I am not accusing. I was not there. I hope everyone involved in those cases can be at peace.
Again, only certain people in the media have had the GUTS, to say out loud, what many millions are already thinking unfortunately. I am defending Diane, because, it’s hurtful for all MJ fans to even believe this could be true. I’m sorry people, there is just too much out there, to be ignored. That behavior is not normal. And for those that keep singing the praise “he wouldn’t harm a child, or he loves children too much”, most pedofiles say the same thing.
You know what I wish? They all took lie detector tests. Yes, I already know they are non admissable, and yes, some can fool them, but I think most of the time? They are spot on.
I am still a fan of MJ’s, and always will be. I will pray, for everyone. Don’t come down on Diane too hard, people, because I hate to break it to you? Millions of us that are nobodies in this world, have said the same thing.
Wendy – well, thank you! It's not often that I receive a measured, reasonable letter like this from a Jackson fan and I'm honored to post it. Thank you. So many Jackson fans write horrible, profane things to me (and that's okay, they are entitled to their opinion) and then excoriate me for not posting them on my site! At first my site just didn't have the capacity to hold them all but after I remedied that I thought, "Hey! It's my site – I'm not going to post the death threats and the profane crap…that would be giving in to the insanity."
If you look around my web site it is way more than my work on the Jackson story. I write a syndicated weekly column on crime and justice issues, my radio and voice over work is featured here and lots of other things. I refuse to make this site about just ONE thing.
Again, thanks for writing I truly appreciate your open mind! ~ DD
Hi Diane,
I have been reading some of your views on Michael Jackson and I left another comment on the subject of his drug abuse. I am a Michael Jackson fan, a big fan actually, since I was a little girl and I’ll admit I was upset at the news of his death. I agree with Wendy though that you don’t deserve all the death threats and abuse. I understand that you are a reporter and you are doing your job, you appear to be very successful at what you do. I don’t know if MJ molested kids or not because I wasn’t there, only the people who were involved truly know. My personal belief however is that he didn’t. I know that he was human and he wasn’t perfect because nobody is, everyone has faults, but from reading a lot about him and seeing his interviews it appears to me that he missed out a lot on his childhood and maybe he became obsessed with re-creating it who knows? He might of felt kids were the only people who could understand him. I never met him unfortunately, did you ever meet him? have you ever spoken to him? just out of interest. I hope he is at peace now anyway and I am still one of his biggest fans. Take care Diane and keep up your good work as a reporter x
Thank you so much much for your kind words Diane. That meant a lot!
If you could stand to read one more reply from me on the subject, I just wanted to say, that it is very hard to find anywhere a site that I have felt safe to post my opinion, which is why I’ve stayed silent on the subject all these years. It’s hard to find fans like “Sara” or “Tony” that have posted here that can discuss the subject rationally and intelligently. We may not agree on everything if we spoke, but, you can tell the differences in fans.
It’s a sad time for his fans, and these allegations and his death were heartbreaking for his fans. I also would like to try to have compassion for those fans that have taken this to unacceptable levels of attack on others. I admit here and now Diane, that I, at first, did not believe such things either, nor would I even CONSIDER, what was in my face. I’m 41 years old. So I can understand those that blatantly refuse to see the other side. I know where they were coming from, I was there too. I NEVER went to the extreme as to attacking others for it, but I was there.
It was only after, it died all down, did I decide to connect the dots all at once, instead of picking bits and pieces thrown at me by the media, and I decided to do my own investigating through all available publishing and sources. I’m no dummy, I went in with a fresh mind, and was easily able to distinguish fact, from fiction.
Without going any further, I just want to say, that I have a BAD feeling, it is only going to get worse before it gets better. Now that he is gone, things are going to be said. Maybe not now with his death so recent, but give it a few years? I fear it may turn ugly again. I have no idea why I say this, but its a feeling I have. We’ll see.
I have been exploring your site Diane, and I will enjoy the articles. If you see fit to post my second response, I am greatful, as this is the very first time, I have said my peace on the subject in a comfortable atmosphere. Thank you for your courteous reply.
( I will admit, I’d love to talk to you on the subject, after my own research, I thought I, was the one insane. I think I understand how you feel. )
Don’t let others get you down. Keep up your work. You did nothing wrong.
God…you have a site that you actually interract with people through. Ms. Dimond, you must have REALLY thick skin to read up all the stuff people write up here. Wow!!!
On an unrelated note, you actually are pretty. I mean we all know in front of the cameras everyone wears make-up, but…
Well, I always said that if I could I’d love to sit with you and J Randy Taraborrelli, hey somebody was going have to tell me the truth about Michael since even HE wasn’t doing such a good job at that.
Furthermore, as Wendy said, there are two kinds of fans, the obsessed ones and the ones who perhaps just love the artist’s work…I’m in the latter category.
Now, don’t get me wrong Diane, I LOVE MJ and always will. Let’s face it, up there with Prince, James Brown and a few others, HE was just excellent, but offstage, well…I dunno. I guess whoever is without sin should cast the first stone eh?
But since his death, If I could comment I’d say the following:
1. MJ BEING ELEVATED TO BEING A BLACK ICON: Now, I’m black first of all and to see MJ being embraced and praised to being a BLACK icon…(paving the path for Obama and Oprah…WTH??) well, it’s sort of funny and makes you despise human nature even more. I mean come on, these same people used to openly criticize the transformation!!! Personally, my take has always been, it’s his body it’s his skin, safe to say the surgeries had to hurt but if HE wanted to put himself through pain to change what was GOD given, that’s on him. But Lord knows before June 25, hardly anyone was playing Mike’s music. I can’t count the number of times people used to laugh at me when they heard his songs playing through my IPod…but I guess it’s okay now to be a fan ‘again’ eh?
ALLEGATIONS: Well, his own attorney (Cochran) said something to the effect that you had done the best work in covering both cases, and I read your book…seems fair enough to me, at least as far as the transcripts from the ‘05 case…you printed it just as the words were spoken…it seems. I’ve read that you paid sources, then I read MJ and his people paid or threatened other sources, so who knows…or cares…as long as the truth is revealed hey…!! Now, I love MJ but I have to side with J. Randy…I wasn”t in the room, I guess only two people know the WHOLE TRUTH besides God…However, Ms. Dimond if you are speaking the TRUTH, as bitter a pill as it may be for some of us to swallow…well, don’t let others get you down.
I have to admit, between your book and the ones written by J. Randy, Ian Halperin, Stacy Brown & Bob Jones, Geraldine Hughes, The GQ Article by Mary Fischer, Christopher Anderson…I don’t know what’s accurate anymore…except to say may God forgive whoever is lying (as far as the accuser and the late accused) safe to say the authors are simply expressing their own opinions, but ONE of you is privy to the truth…I just don’t know who it is…yet.
Mike’s story will always amaze me, I think personally SOMETHING went wrong, after the Pepsi burn and he started taking pills, cause looking back, he seemed okay to that point…maybe pills just aren’t meant for humans after all.
Poor guy. But like you said once, Diane, on a show, regardless of how he felt he ‘lost’ his childhood (as if Stevie Wonder, Sammy Davis, Frankie Lymon, Janet Jackson, weren’t all child stars…even his own brother Marlon who MJ said got it the most turned out okay enough…), it still wasn’t any excuse for some of the things he did to himself and ALLEGEDLY (at this stage since no one knows for sure) to other people. I don’t even buy the whole Joe Jackson being abusive story either…
(Prov. 23: 13. Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.
14. You shall beat him with a rod, and deliver his soul from hell.)
I grew up in Nigeria, practically all parents (and teachers) beat kids…I know my dad did. Besides, at that time, even in the US, like Eddie Murphy once said, most black parents beat, spanked (whatever) their kids, so…that was just MJ playing the victim to me…let’s face it, the guy did turn out to becoming one of the greatest entertainers…so Joe had to have done SOMETHING okay. Still, how many fathers wish they could go back and do it all over again…?
BEING A VICTIM OF THE MEDIA: Well, I guess it’s the price of being famous. But…I have hardly read anything negative on Prince, Stevie Wonder, Oprah, Quincy Jones (except maybe the y’know tabloid crap here and there) but hello fans, SEVERAL books have pointed to the fact that Mike himself planted the stories to start with…again, up until thriller, we hardly heard anything out of the ordinary about dude…so to see him sit with a bold face on Oprah in ‘93 and lie about it…c’mon Mike, we love you but c’mon.
Well, in closing Ms. Dimond, if you’re speaking the truth on the information about MJ that you have, if you want to,…speak on it. As long as you don’t pass judgement per se (to commend you, I’m yet to have seen or read you doing that thus far, most times it seems to me you’re just relaying info as a journalist…perhaps you don’t or didn’t like MJ per se, but hey…you don’t or didn’t HAVE TO…as long as you don’t let that interfere with speaking the TRUTH)
WE ALL need to be worried about where each of us will spend eternity as far as I’m concerned.
P.S. I’ll always love MJ’s art…he was BAD!! And I hope what I read in Ian’s book was true that towards the end, he began to forge a relationship with our Maker…at least that ensures for all the joy he did indeed bring to us and inspite of the bad times…HE AT LEAST MADE IT TO HEAVEN.
Have a good day all.
Now this is the kind of comment I'm pleased to post. Written by a person with an open mind. You are right, Oye Aje, I have never come out and said definitively that I thought Michael Jackson was this or that. I only reported the facts as I could ascertain them, confirmed by two or more independent sources. Unlike you, many other fans of MJ's simply refuse to admit facts. He was a man addicted to drugs and plastic surgery. He clung to the idea the he was the victim of everyone else – from his father to the financial experts he hired. Yet in business he was a whiz who once built a mega-empire. He had it all and he is responsible for loosing it. No one made him take drugs or spend the night with other people's sons. These are all facts.
I commend you for keeping your mind open to all possibilities and for not being blinded by the white hot light of celebrity. Thank you for writing. ~ DD
Thanks for posting my comment Diane.
I think after watching a clip on you-tube, Oprah says it best. My sentiments are that I PITY MJ…
You’re right: the guy had it all and, well…lost it.
Ah…well.
On a related note, I don’t know if you’ve read any of the books by the following authors:
1. Ian Halperin (this one creeps me out…the part about MJ being ‘gay’, I mean he was effeminate but…he never did come out of the ‘closet’ per se…if he was in it…).
2. J Randy Taraborrelli.
3. Christopher Anderson
4. Stacy Brown & Bob Jones
5. Geraldine Hughes…
If you have….who at least is saying like it truly is?
At least your book has actual court documents that validate your findings at times with sources that can be googled…so, it’s safe to say, as bitter a pill as it might be to swallow; your book (and perhaps J Randy’s) seems to be on point…
Well, do keep the open minded ones who are interested with this guy informed as you always have been.
What a life he lived though!!!
My husband was one of Mike’s chefs at Neverland for a time. He and I both lived there. I designed some of Mike’s costumes. I never thought Mike was a pedophile, but I did think he was “emotionally arrested” and that he used very poor judgment in many matters. I knew Jordy Chandler and his mom and while I don’t think Mike molested Jordy, I do think Mike used very poor judgment when he let Jordy spend the night in his room, when he went off on trips with Jordy, when he showered Jordy and his mom with gifts, etc. Many people at Neverland told Mike a molestation charge was brewing, but Mike wouldn’t believe it.
I also think Mike used very poor judgment when he refused to get help for his drug addiction. All of us at Neverland knew Mike was addicted to various drugs and all of us also knew that he didn’t want to quit taking those drugs. I can understand Mike’s fear of stopping a drug he thought he needed, but I can’t understand using Diprivan for sleep. I can’t understand putting your life in danger when you have gorgeous children to care for and love. Any doctor who prescribed drugs for Mike that Mike should not have taken deserves to pay the legal penalty, however, as much as I loved Mike personally, no matter how good a friend he was to me, I do have to say that he had a hand in his own demise. It pains me to say that, but it’s true. Only Mike controlled what Mike put into his body.
Yes, Mike suffered from Body Dysmorphic Disorder. He had way too many cosmetic surgeries, though he did have vitiligo and that was the reason for the skin bleaching, and yes, he did bleach it.
The only thing I take issue with is your assertion that Mike was anorexic. He wasn’t. True, he wasn’t a big eater, not ever, but he did love fried chicken, even KFC. He even had the kids eating fried chicken, but with the skin removed.
I still love Mike as a friend. I still hope he never molested Jordy, Gavin, or any other child, but I can’t be sure. Mike was a terrifically talented entertainer, but offstage, he was just a mess. I loved him, but he was a mess. I wish I could have been of some help to him. God knows I (and my husband) tried.
Don't you think if people at Neverland knew a "molestation charge was brewing" they might have suspected he was acting inappropriately with Jordy? You don't suspect unless you have reason to suspect!
I, myself am a Michael Jackson fan. I havent come to critisize your reports Diane, after all even if i do disagree, it is your opinion and just because i don’t nessesarily agree with it, it doesnt give me the right to take away your right of free speech and tell you to “shutup” and “rot in hell”… i would especially not do this on your own website. I am a 14 year old child, and I would never dream of disrespecting somone so much… my parents didn’t bring me up that way.
I cannot really comment on the molestation charges that Michael suffered, because I was either not born or too young to remember, all I can say is I don’t believe he was guilty, but that he was innocent, that he just had a different way of looking at things, a way that was out of the norm’. A way that was new to the world, like… how people used to look at gay people decades ago, people didnt know so they just critisised; which happens all too common these days; not just with Michael Jackson but with gay people, people suffering with deathly diseases (AIDS just to name one)… when I went into town this weekend with my friends (one of wich had her arm amputated) we got all sorts of funny looks, people would just stare at her! When I held my bestfriends hand we got funny looks of OAP’s just because it was the way they were raised.
As humans we are all different, not perfect and we all make mistakes, Michael was a human, he made mistakes; and alot of people played on them… overexxagerating them; making them sound worse than the reality of it. I look at your reports, you’ve obviously done some heavy researching, people come on here and shower you with insults that i would never be able to handle, I admire you for being so strong, but in the real world, off the internet I come across too many people creating jokes and insults, tainting the name that is Michael Jackson and being so disrespectful to his soul and family who must be going throught the worst pain imaginable!!! I think it is them who should be experiencing the wrath that you are, you have evidence that you believe, you believe your own work, thats fine… but they have created these jokes and horrible insults out of thin air and hear-say.
Good luck with your career Diane, keep writing, because as much as I disagree with your opinion it was still an interesting peice of report to read, and I’m sure you’ve done alot of even better work based on subjects that don’t gather as much critism or attention as this, maybe they should check out some of that work, i sure will
Good luck Diane. From, Rosie.
Michael Jackson was NOT a drug addict. Whatever drugs he was taking, I am sure he NEEDED them. He would never harm himself or take something if he didn’t need it. And he has beautiful children who love and care about him.
If you ever read any of Michael Jackson’ s literary works such as his poems and short essays in his book, “Dancing the Dream”, you will truly believe that Michael loved children with his heart too much to ever hurt them in any way. He could never hurt a child in that way…he only wanted to help people and change lives for the better. He visited orphanages and hospitals incessantly and visited the children in Africa….he donated over 350 million to charities all around the world. How could this man hurt a child when he lived for them and only wanted to protect them? People and society just want to destroy him because he is the epitome of kindness, love, and generosity. Yes of course he was not perfect but that doesn’t mean we have to accuse him of wrong-doings that he obviously wouldn’t do. Yes I do believe he has made mistakes in his life. We should be sympathizing and forgiving people because he didn’t have a normal childhood. Yes, in his life he couldn’t make the right decisions, just like the rest of us, after all he’s just human.
The more you think on the whole MJ thing the more bizarre it all seems. He has been dead 7 months now, Dr Murray is about to be charged and there is still no end to the madness in sight. His kids are making appearances at the Grammy’s accepting awards, would they be handing awards out to him if he was alive? I think not! He wasted his talent and his life, and left 3 kids ,who were already without a mother, orphaned. There’s nothing great and iconic or legendary (or any of the other terms MJ fans use to describe him) in that. What a sad, vacuous existence the man lead, no wonder he needed to be sedated in order to sleep. I have a theory that he was so unhappy at the end of his life because he had to give up his “Neverland lifestyle” of porn, booze and sharing his bed with little boys. He knew that the eyes of the world were on his every move as far as kids were concerned, one slip up and he would end up in the dock again. The whole story is sordid , talking of which Diane, can I ask your opinion on the book by Victor Guiterrez, should I pay $300 for a copy or is it just to salacious to be true? Also can you confirm the existence of the tape that MJ sued Guiterrez over?
Thanks
Sarah
Sarah, It never ceases to amaze me how the Jackson’s always complain about never being left alone by the media then they do something like allow in reality show TV cameras to film all the brothers or they send out Michael’s kids to address a massive world wide audience. Whatever.
As for shelling out 300 dollars for a book – that’s a lot of dough. I’ve read the book, I think I have it here at the house somewhere. While Gutierrez had very good sources English is not his first language and in spots it’s hard to read. He had to self-publish the book. Some of the Gutierrez information I was able to confirm, some I was not. Maybe that’s because he had better sources than me or maybe it’s because I added up two-plus-two differently and just could not make the leap to his conclusions.
Victor and I were both sued over his assertion that there was a secret video tape of MJ molesting a boy. I interviewed him about his assertion, careful to say that Hard Copy (my employer at the time) could not confirm the actual existence of such a tape but that I could confirm police in two jurisdictions (LA & Santa Barbara) were actively investigating whether it existed or not. When it came time to go to court the Judge in the case summarily dismissed me and Hard Copy as defendants in the suit. The Judge allowed the case against Gutierrez to go forward.