Vanity Fair’s Maureen Orth On Michael Jackson Investigation
Vanity Fair’s Maureen Orth, who has written extensively about Michael Jackson, was on CNN’s ‘American Morning’ speaking with Soledad O’Brien about Jackson’s child molestation charges on Wednesday morning. Asked about the timing of the charges, which came the same day Jacko’s new album was released, Orth responded, “Actually, my take on that is that I’m not absolutely certain that the sheriff’s department of Santa Barbara County and the D.A., who have had extensive experience investigating him 10 years ago — I think at that time both the Los Angeles County D.A and the Santa Barbara County D.A. had talked to about 400 people. So, I’m not sure that they keep up with the billboard charts about who’s releasing what, when I have no idea.” Read more.
Jacko Doesn’t Seem To Understand How Media Works
November 19, 2003 – B.J. Sigesmund, entertainment correspondent for Newsweek magazine was on CNN on Wednesday to talk about the child molestation charges levied against Michael Jackson. Asked for his thoughts on Jackson’s comments in the Martin Bashir documentary where he defending his sleeping with children, Sigesmund responded, “Unlike so many other public figures like Madonna, so many actors and actresses, Michael Jackson does not seem to understand the way the media works and he paints himself into a corner every time. Every time he does one of these big, on the record interviews like the NBC one, it just answered – begs more questions. I mean, why he would say that and have that quote repeated around the world so many times – you know, he’s terrible, terrible at managing his image. I think the smartest thing for him to do right now would be to come out and turn himself in and say, you know, these charges are not true but I’m happy to cooperate as much as I can.” Read more.
Statement From Michael Jackson
November 19, 2003 – Statement on behalf of Michael Jackson by spokesman Stuart Backerman: “The outrageous allegations against Michael Jackson are false. Michael would never harm a child in any way. These scurrilous and totally unfounded allegations will be proven false in a courtroom. Naturally, the implications are distressing to everyone who hears them, which is precisely the point. We are disturbed by the levity of the environment surrounding the announcement of these very serious charges. When the evidence is presented and the allegations proven to be malicious and wholly unfounded, Michael will be able to put this nightmare behind him. Michael through his attorneys, led by Mark Geragos, has already made arrangements with the district attorney to return to Santa Barbara to immediately confront and prove these charges unfounded.”
