中文來源:：mjjcn.com 翻譯 nickyli22
後記
“這不是真的 ——不可能！”
當邁克爾突然離去的消息傳來時，我大聲喊出這句話。我無法相信這個消息。經過兩個不眠之夜後，我還是不能相信邁克爾已經走了。最終當我接受了這個消息後，我能想到的只有邁克爾可能遭受過的痛苦，還有他的孩子和母親將要承受的痛苦。我為他的家人感到極度悲傷。
這一悲劇的重大程度反映在24小時不間斷的新聞報導中、報刊頭條中、社交網站上流傳的消息中、以及名人的哀悼和致敬中。由於有二十一世紀的技術，所有這些都以前所未見的規模在傳播。
在所有的悲傷中，唯一讓我感到安慰的是邁克爾現在終於安寧了。再也不會有身體上或精神上的痛苦。50歲英年早逝，他會成為一個傳奇，娛樂界的巨人，人們會因為他的音樂和舞蹈而記住他，而不是那個被醜聞玷污的人。
正如我在本書序言中寫的一樣，這本視覺記錄僅僅記錄了邁克爾在娛樂業輝煌傑出的職業生涯背後的一些事實。我沒有去採訪與邁克爾見過面或一起工作過的人，也沒有去搜尋流言蜚語或有關他私生活的細節。這本書也沒有刊載我自己的個人觀點。
“這不是真的 ——不可能！”
當邁克爾突然離去的消息傳來時，我大聲喊出這句話。我無法相信這個消息。經過兩個不眠之夜後，我還是不能相信邁克爾已經走了。最終當我接受了這個消息後，我能想到的只有邁克爾可能遭受過的痛苦，還有他的孩子和母親將要承受的痛苦。我為他的家人感到極度悲傷。
這一悲劇的重大程度反映在24小時不間斷的新聞報導中、報刊頭條中、社交網站上流傳的消息中、以及名人的哀悼和致敬中。由於有二十一世紀的技術，所有這些都以前所未見的規模在傳播。
在所有的悲傷中，唯一讓我感到安慰的是邁克爾現在終於安寧了。再也不會有身體上或精神上的痛苦。50歲英年早逝，他會成為一個傳奇，娛樂界的巨人，人們會因為他的音樂和舞蹈而記住他，而不是那個被醜聞玷污的人。
正如我在本書序言中寫的一樣，這本視覺記錄僅僅記錄了邁克爾在娛樂業輝煌傑出的職業生涯背後的一些事實。我沒有去採訪與邁克爾見過面或一起工作過的人，也沒有去搜尋流言蜚語或有關他私生活的細節。這本書也沒有刊載我自己的個人觀點。
不過，對我而言，在這篇後記裏提一提我同邁克爾的幾次會面未嘗不可。2005年，法庭駁回了針對邁克爾提起的孌童指控。正如我早就知道的那樣，邁克爾被證明無罪。當時我就說過我認識的邁克爾•傑克遜是清白的，那個我曾多次採訪過、與他一起玩遊戲、一起吃飯、一起拜訪醫院和少年中心的邁克爾•傑克遜，那個我與他一起大笑、一起看電影、一起出席頒獎典禮的邁克爾•傑克遜，還有最至關重要的是，那個我曾看到對成百上千名弱勢或患病兒童表示深切關注的邁克爾•傑克遜是清白的。
不幸的是，對於媒體來說，把邁克爾看似“古怪”的個人生活描繪成一幅負面的畫面易如反掌。曲解他的動機並質疑他的誠意非常容易。對我來說，這樣做也很容易，利用他對我信任，像“巴舍爾”那樣，因為他不同於你平常遇到的普通人甚至是另一個極端而嘲笑他。但是我不會加入這個為了金錢利益而“出賣”自己的所謂傑克遜熟人行列。我寧願保持我的氣節，在力所能及之處做如實記錄，以正視聽。
他的容貌。的確，他整過容，但沒有到人們願意相信的那種程度。他曾很直率地承認過他整過幾次鼻子。沒什麼大不了。好萊塢一半人都整過，繼續。1987年9月，在給美國聊天節目主持人芭芭拉•沃爾特斯的一次電話中，邁克爾說他容貌上的改變不光是因為他整過兩次鼻子並在下巴上做了個凹槽，還來自於多年來飲食習慣的改變，他現在是一個素食主義者。但人們感到最為奇怪的是他的膚色。這是我為邁克爾感到最難過的地方，因為他的確患有名為白癜風的皮膚病，而多數媒體依然嘲笑他的膚色蒼白和他躲避陽光照射的事實。當你看到燒傷的病人時你會辱駡他們嗎？邁克爾患上的皮膚病是無法治癒的。他能做到的就是以一種他感覺舒適的最美觀的方式來控制這種病。1990年我初次見到邁克爾的時候，他的病還處在非常早期的階段，但是在隨後幾年的會面中，我看到那些一塊一塊的白斑已遍佈了他的皮膚。這是白癜風的普遍症狀。
他的家——位於加州聖伊內斯山谷的夢幻莊園也成為媒體嘲笑的目標，僅僅因為他擁有遊樂園和動物園。我去過夢幻莊園很多次，那裏的遊樂項目太棒了。誰不想擁有自己的帶碰碰車和夢幻摩天輪的遊樂園呢？還有誰不喜歡動物呢？邁克爾有足夠大的地方（3000多英畝）來容納和照料兩個動物園。是的，那裏有羊駝、長頸鹿、大象、猴子、老虎還有其他動物，這些動物都很漂亮。邁克爾鍾愛遊戲、遊樂項目和動物，但這些並不僅僅是為了讓他自己開心，也是為了其他人能夠一起享受到快樂。邁克爾每週都會向成百上千名弱勢兒童敞開夢幻莊園的大門。很多慈善組織都獲准使用這些設施，並且有邁克爾的工作人員熱情接待。
我始終覺得，如果人們像我這樣瞭解他，如果他稍微再敞開一點心扉並講出事情真相，人們會對邁克爾報以更多的善意。有一次我問他，他是否知曉所有那些關於他的負面報導，他是否會改變一些行為方式來平息那些負面新聞。“我知道所有的事情，無論我做什麼，他們總往壞的方面寫，”邁克爾堅定的告訴我。
不幸的是，對邁克爾來說，這一切都太正確了。我想起1994年布達佩斯的那次旅程，邁克爾與麗莎•瑪麗•普萊斯利一起拜訪了兒童醫院，派發禮物和玩具。我很幸運的成為獲准陪同他們一起前往醫院的唯一“媒體”，而且當時我非常開心可以幫忙給那些患病的兒童派發禮物。然而多疑的媒體卻暗示這次行程（作為邁克爾“拯救世界”慈善機構的一部分）只不過是一種宣傳手段而已。但他們卻沒有報導邁克爾讓一個垂死的女孩臉上終於露出笑容這樣令人感動的時刻，而這個女孩已經在病床上無聲無息的躺了幾個星期。日夜守候在她床邊的媽媽，看到女兒伸出手去摸邁克爾的手，頓時動情大哭。聽起來像奇跡，但卻是我親眼看到的事實。那麼，為什麼有些人就是喜歡不停的嘲笑、抨擊這個即有愛心同時也是史上最偉大的藝人？
我覺得這是因為缺乏理解。人們發現自己很難像與其他明星那樣與邁克爾建立起聯繫，尤其是在這個真實電視時代。邁克爾的地位非常的高（並且以後永遠是這樣），這使他顯得獨一無二。有許多人嫉妒他，或感到受到了他的威脅，他們都想把他從寶座上踢下來。他總是被指責，但是正如邁克爾所說的，“不要判斷一個人，除非你親歷過他的處境。”讓我感到極度悲傷的是，只有現在，在他離去之後，邁克爾看起來現在才得到一些他在生前本應得到的愛與尊重。
2009年7月7日，在他的公開追思會上，一向直言不諱的民權活動家艾爾•夏普頓牧師發表了一段激動人心的演講。他的話不僅是說給在洛杉磯斯泰普斯體育中心裏18000多名觀眾聽的，也是說給全世界數十億人聽的。或許最尖銳的話語就是：“我想讓他的孩子們（王子、帕麗斯和毯毯，他們都出席了追思會）知道，你們的爸爸沒有任何奇怪的地方，真正奇怪的是他必須面對的這個世界。”
本書著重記錄邁克爾•傑克遜自5歲時在幼稚園第一次面對公眾開始唱歌以後所取得的巨大成就。把你自己放在那樣的情境下；想像一下所有那些成就、那些榮譽和那些財富。你可以做任何想做的事情。給自己許三個願望，其中一個就是希望世界能夠充滿和平和愛，但是怎樣才能讓這個願望實現？
我們只能根據自己擁有的資源和知識來盡我們所能做一些事。而邁克爾很天真，他只是想用自己所能給予的全部的愛來試圖“拯救世界”。
我曾問過邁克爾他認為自己最大的成就是什麼。1994年在布達佩斯停留期間，邁克爾承諾要幫助一個名叫貝拉（Bella）的八歲男孩，這個男孩身患癌症即將死去。邁克爾和他的“拯救世界”基金支付了手術費用，挽救了這個男孩的生命。“救回Bella的命無疑是我生命中最重要的一個時刻，” 邁克爾誠懇的說，進一步證明邁克爾是一個多麼充滿愛心的人道主義者。
我時常覺得邁克爾作為藝術家被低估了。除了那些打破銷量記錄的唱片，如《顫慄》、《真棒》、《危險》、和《歷史》，他的天才還表現在更多方面。看看他的工作品質吧，那些音樂錄影和那些現場表演。我非常幸運，有好幾次機會看邁克爾在錄音室裏製作歌曲。這個男人從五歲開始就在學習他的技藝，這一切在你親耳聽到、親眼看到他工作時便顯露無疑。他對他那一行的所有工具都瞭若指掌，就像第二天性。這讓他能夠把他的心和靈魂都聚集在創作中，並將他的創作提升到比其他大多數藝術家更高的層次上去。聽聽這些曲目吧，“Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’”、“Billie Jean”、“Earth Song”、“Speechless”和“Whatever Happens”——無一不是永恆的流行音樂天才之作。
斯泰普斯體育中心公眾悼念儀式後的第二天，我拜訪了傑克遜家族位於海文赫斯特大道的家。當我到達時，邁克爾的女兒帕麗斯正在外面玩耍。我走上前去，告訴她，我非常瞭解她的父親，他是一個多麼偉大而充滿愛心的人。她說，“謝謝”，然後我給了她一本我寫的書《邁克爾•傑克遜：創造歷史》（Michael Jackson: Making HIStory）。當她崇敬地看著這本書的封面時，湧上她臉龐的喜悅非常美麗。她非常的高興，給了我一個大大的擁抱。她手裏拿著書，蹦蹦跳跳地去拿給她的祖母看。當天晚些時候，邁克爾的一位前雇員告訴凱薩琳•傑克遜，我一直在寫一些關於邁克爾的正面的事情。凱薩琳回答說：“嗯，因為沒有負面的事情可以報導。”
能夠有機會記錄史上最偉大藝人之一的歷史，對我而言意味良多。的確，最讓我感到驕傲的時刻之一是，有一天我在夢幻莊園裏看到邁克爾把這本書裏記載的族譜用相框框了起來，並把他放在他那台用來招待客人的鋼琴旁邊。他也曾經告訴過我，他非常感激我的書，並且在《歷史》專輯的致謝名單裏認可了這本《視覺記錄》。
邁克爾，你的離去對我來說是多麼的遺憾。你曾經是最好的，而且將來永遠都是最好的！謝謝你，謝謝你，謝謝你巨大的激勵以及你給予我的所有機會。你的精神會長存，無論在何地我都會推廣事實真相和你的傳奇。
不幸的是，對於媒體來說，把邁克爾看似“古怪”的個人生活描繪成一幅負面的畫面易如反掌。曲解他的動機並質疑他的誠意非常容易。對我來說，這樣做也很容易，利用他對我信任，像“巴舍爾”那樣，因為他不同於你平常遇到的普通人甚至是另一個極端而嘲笑他。但是我不會加入這個為了金錢利益而“出賣”自己的所謂傑克遜熟人行列。我寧願保持我的氣節，在力所能及之處做如實記錄，以正視聽。
他的容貌。的確，他整過容，但沒有到人們願意相信的那種程度。他曾很直率地承認過他整過幾次鼻子。沒什麼大不了。好萊塢一半人都整過，繼續。1987年9月，在給美國聊天節目主持人芭芭拉•沃爾特斯的一次電話中，邁克爾說他容貌上的改變不光是因為他整過兩次鼻子並在下巴上做了個凹槽，還來自於多年來飲食習慣的改變，他現在是一個素食主義者。但人們感到最為奇怪的是他的膚色。這是我為邁克爾感到最難過的地方，因為他的確患有名為白癜風的皮膚病，而多數媒體依然嘲笑他的膚色蒼白和他躲避陽光照射的事實。當你看到燒傷的病人時你會辱駡他們嗎？邁克爾患上的皮膚病是無法治癒的。他能做到的就是以一種他感覺舒適的最美觀的方式來控制這種病。1990年我初次見到邁克爾的時候，他的病還處在非常早期的階段，但是在隨後幾年的會面中，我看到那些一塊一塊的白斑已遍佈了他的皮膚。這是白癜風的普遍症狀。
他的家——位於加州聖伊內斯山谷的夢幻莊園也成為媒體嘲笑的目標，僅僅因為他擁有遊樂園和動物園。我去過夢幻莊園很多次，那裏的遊樂項目太棒了。誰不想擁有自己的帶碰碰車和夢幻摩天輪的遊樂園呢？還有誰不喜歡動物呢？邁克爾有足夠大的地方（3000多英畝）來容納和照料兩個動物園。是的，那裏有羊駝、長頸鹿、大象、猴子、老虎還有其他動物，這些動物都很漂亮。邁克爾鍾愛遊戲、遊樂項目和動物，但這些並不僅僅是為了讓他自己開心，也是為了其他人能夠一起享受到快樂。邁克爾每週都會向成百上千名弱勢兒童敞開夢幻莊園的大門。很多慈善組織都獲准使用這些設施，並且有邁克爾的工作人員熱情接待。
我始終覺得，如果人們像我這樣瞭解他，如果他稍微再敞開一點心扉並講出事情真相，人們會對邁克爾報以更多的善意。有一次我問他，他是否知曉所有那些關於他的負面報導，他是否會改變一些行為方式來平息那些負面新聞。“我知道所有的事情，無論我做什麼，他們總往壞的方面寫，”邁克爾堅定的告訴我。
不幸的是，對邁克爾來說，這一切都太正確了。我想起1994年布達佩斯的那次旅程，邁克爾與麗莎•瑪麗•普萊斯利一起拜訪了兒童醫院，派發禮物和玩具。我很幸運的成為獲准陪同他們一起前往醫院的唯一“媒體”，而且當時我非常開心可以幫忙給那些患病的兒童派發禮物。然而多疑的媒體卻暗示這次行程（作為邁克爾“拯救世界”慈善機構的一部分）只不過是一種宣傳手段而已。但他們卻沒有報導邁克爾讓一個垂死的女孩臉上終於露出笑容這樣令人感動的時刻，而這個女孩已經在病床上無聲無息的躺了幾個星期。日夜守候在她床邊的媽媽，看到女兒伸出手去摸邁克爾的手，頓時動情大哭。聽起來像奇跡，但卻是我親眼看到的事實。那麼，為什麼有些人就是喜歡不停的嘲笑、抨擊這個即有愛心同時也是史上最偉大的藝人？
我覺得這是因為缺乏理解。人們發現自己很難像與其他明星那樣與邁克爾建立起聯繫，尤其是在這個真實電視時代。邁克爾的地位非常的高（並且以後永遠是這樣），這使他顯得獨一無二。有許多人嫉妒他，或感到受到了他的威脅，他們都想把他從寶座上踢下來。他總是被指責，但是正如邁克爾所說的，“不要判斷一個人，除非你親歷過他的處境。”讓我感到極度悲傷的是，只有現在，在他離去之後，邁克爾看起來現在才得到一些他在生前本應得到的愛與尊重。
2009年7月7日，在他的公開追思會上，一向直言不諱的民權活動家艾爾•夏普頓牧師發表了一段激動人心的演講。他的話不僅是說給在洛杉磯斯泰普斯體育中心裏18000多名觀眾聽的，也是說給全世界數十億人聽的。或許最尖銳的話語就是：“我想讓他的孩子們（王子、帕麗斯和毯毯，他們都出席了追思會）知道，你們的爸爸沒有任何奇怪的地方，真正奇怪的是他必須面對的這個世界。”
本書著重記錄邁克爾•傑克遜自5歲時在幼稚園第一次面對公眾開始唱歌以後所取得的巨大成就。把你自己放在那樣的情境下；想像一下所有那些成就、那些榮譽和那些財富。你可以做任何想做的事情。給自己許三個願望，其中一個就是希望世界能夠充滿和平和愛，但是怎樣才能讓這個願望實現？
我們只能根據自己擁有的資源和知識來盡我們所能做一些事。而邁克爾很天真，他只是想用自己所能給予的全部的愛來試圖“拯救世界”。
我曾問過邁克爾他認為自己最大的成就是什麼。1994年在布達佩斯停留期間，邁克爾承諾要幫助一個名叫貝拉（Bella）的八歲男孩，這個男孩身患癌症即將死去。邁克爾和他的“拯救世界”基金支付了手術費用，挽救了這個男孩的生命。“救回Bella的命無疑是我生命中最重要的一個時刻，” 邁克爾誠懇的說，進一步證明邁克爾是一個多麼充滿愛心的人道主義者。
我時常覺得邁克爾作為藝術家被低估了。除了那些打破銷量記錄的唱片，如《顫慄》、《真棒》、《危險》、和《歷史》，他的天才還表現在更多方面。看看他的工作品質吧，那些音樂錄影和那些現場表演。我非常幸運，有好幾次機會看邁克爾在錄音室裏製作歌曲。這個男人從五歲開始就在學習他的技藝，這一切在你親耳聽到、親眼看到他工作時便顯露無疑。他對他那一行的所有工具都瞭若指掌，就像第二天性。這讓他能夠把他的心和靈魂都聚集在創作中，並將他的創作提升到比其他大多數藝術家更高的層次上去。聽聽這些曲目吧，“Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’”、“Billie Jean”、“Earth Song”、“Speechless”和“Whatever Happens”——無一不是永恆的流行音樂天才之作。
斯泰普斯體育中心公眾悼念儀式後的第二天，我拜訪了傑克遜家族位於海文赫斯特大道的家。當我到達時，邁克爾的女兒帕麗斯正在外面玩耍。我走上前去，告訴她，我非常瞭解她的父親，他是一個多麼偉大而充滿愛心的人。她說，“謝謝”，然後我給了她一本我寫的書《邁克爾•傑克遜：創造歷史》（Michael Jackson: Making HIStory）。當她崇敬地看著這本書的封面時，湧上她臉龐的喜悅非常美麗。她非常的高興，給了我一個大大的擁抱。她手裏拿著書，蹦蹦跳跳地去拿給她的祖母看。當天晚些時候，邁克爾的一位前雇員告訴凱薩琳•傑克遜，我一直在寫一些關於邁克爾的正面的事情。凱薩琳回答說：“嗯，因為沒有負面的事情可以報導。”
能夠有機會記錄史上最偉大藝人之一的歷史，對我而言意味良多。的確，最讓我感到驕傲的時刻之一是，有一天我在夢幻莊園裏看到邁克爾把這本書裏記載的族譜用相框框了起來，並把他放在他那台用來招待客人的鋼琴旁邊。他也曾經告訴過我，他非常感激我的書，並且在《歷史》專輯的致謝名單裏認可了這本《視覺記錄》。
邁克爾，你的離去對我來說是多麼的遺憾。你曾經是最好的，而且將來永遠都是最好的！謝謝你，謝謝你，謝謝你巨大的激勵以及你給予我的所有機會。你的精神會長存，無論在何地我都會推廣事實真相和你的傳奇。
本書作者與MJ
原文：
“It’s not true-it can’t be!”
“It’s not true-it can’t be!”
These were the words I shouted out loud as the news of Michael’s passing
reached across the world. I simply couldn’t believe it . Two nights without sleep followed , and I still couldn’t believe that Michael was gone. And when it did finally sink in I thought only of the pain Michael might have endured, and the pain that his children and mother would suffer. I felt desperately sad for all of his family.
The enormity of the tragedy was reflected by the 24-hour news coverage, the headlines in newspapers and magazines, the messages across social Network sites, and the celebrity condolences and tributes. Due to 21st Century technology, all this was on a scale that had never been seen before.
The only comfort I could find amidst all the sorrow was that Michael was now in peace. There would be no more physical or mental pain. In dying at the age of just 50 he would become a legend, a giant of the world of entertainment who would be remembered positively, for his music and dancing, instead of being tarnished by scandal.
As I said in the introduction to his book, the visual documentary delivers only the facts behind Michael’s illustrious career in the entertainment industry. I have not interviewed people Michael has met or worked with, nor sought scandalous gossip or details of his private life. Neither does the book carry my own personal opinions.
However, it is appropriate in this Afterword for me to mention some of my meetings with Michael. In 2005 the child abuse allegations brought against Michael were dismissed by the courts. He was proved not guilty ,as I knew he would be. At the time I said that the Michael Jackson I knew ,that I interviewed many times ,and with whom I played games, dined and visited hospitals and youth centres, with whom I laughed ,watched movies, and attended awards ceremonies, and-most crucially-who I saw showing deep concern for hundreds of troubled kids, was an innocent man.
Unfortunately for Michael it was too easy for the media to paint a negative picture of his ‘eccentric’ lifestyle. It was easy to twist his motives and question his sincerity. It would have been easy for me to do that too, to take the trust he had put in me and do a ‘Bashir’, mocking him because he seemed too extreme or different to your everyday guy. But I won’t be joining the legions of ex-Jackson acquaintances who have ‘sold-out’ for a quick buck. I’d rather keep my integrity and set the record straight, where I can.
His appearance. Yes, he had plastic surgery, but not to the extent people like to believe. He freely admitted to having his nose changed a few times. Big deal. Half of Hollywood have, move on. In September 1987, during a telephone call to American chat show host Barbara Walters, Michael said his change in appearance was not only down to two nose jobs and having a cleft put in his chin, but also due to his change in diet over the years, having become a vegetarian. But what people seemed to freak out most over was his skin colour. This was where I felt most sorry for Michael, because he really did have a skin condition called vitiligo, yet most of the media still ridiculed his paleness or the fact that he hid from the sun. When you see someone with skin burns do you call them names? Michael had a skin disease that couldn’t be cured. All he could do was control it in the most aesthetic way he felt comfortable with. When I first meet Michael in 1990 he was in the very early stages of the disease, but over the years and during subsequent meetings I could see that patches were appearing across his skin. This is a common effect of vitiligo.
His home-Neverland Valley in Santa Ynez , California -was also the subject of ridicule, just because he had a fun fair and a zoo. I visited there on many occasions and these rides were fantastic! Who wouldn’t want their own fair complete with dodgems an Ferris wheel? And who doesn’t love animals? Michael had enough space (over 3000 acres) to house and look after two zoos. Yes there were llamas, giraffes, elephants, monkeys, tigers and more, and they were all beautiful. Michael loved the games, the rides and the animals, but they weren’t just for his own pleasure. They were there for the enjoyment of others too. Every week Michael open the doors of his home to hundreds of disadvantaged children. Many charity organizations were granted the use of the facilities and were treated by Michael’s staff as guests of honour.
I had always felt that people would have been more sympathetic towards Michael if they knew him the way I did , if he had just opened up more and said things straight –as they are. I once asked him if he was aware of all the negative media he received and couldn’t he change some of his actions to help combat it .‘I know everything that is going on，NO matter what I do they’ll always write something bad,’Michael told me sternly.
Unfortunately for Michael this was all too true. I recall a trip to Budapest in 1994.Michael, along with Lisa Marie-Presley, was visiting children’s hospitals, handing out gifts and toys. I was fortunate to be the only “media” allowed to accompany them into the hospitals, and I was delighted to help in giving the gifts to some of the sick children. However the sceptical press suggested the trip (part of Michael’s “Heal The World” campaign )was nothing more than a publicity stunt .What they didn’t report was the moving moment when Michael brought a smile to the face of a dying girl who had lain motionless and silent for weeks .Her mother ,at her side in constant vigil ,broke down in tears as her daughter reached out and touched Michael’s hand .Sounds like a miracle ,but I saw it with my own eyes .So why was it that people constantly derided someone who genuinely cared and who also happened to be one of the world’s greatest ever entertainers to boot ?
I feel the reason was a lack of understanding .People found it difficult to relate to Michael in the way that they did with other stats, especially in this era of reality TV. Michael was (and will forever remain) on a very high pedestal that made him unique，and there were many who were envious or felt threatened by him and wanted to knock him off his perch. He was accused of all sorts ,but as Michael put it ,‘Don’t judge a man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins’. It is desperately sad to me that only now, in his passing, does Michael seem to be getting some of the love and respect he deserved whilst he was alive.
At his public memorial service on July 7, 2009, the outspoken civil rights campaigner the Rev. Al Sharpton gave a rousing speeche. His words were heard not just by the 18000-strong audience in the Los Angeles Staples Center but by billions tuning in around the world, and perhaps the most poignant were: “I want his children (Prince, Paris and ‘Blanket’ who were all present) to know there was nothing strange about your daddy, it was strange what your daddy had to deal with.”
This book emphasises how much Michael Jackson achieved from the age of five when he first got up and sang in his kindergarten class. Put yourself in those shoes; imagine those achievements ,the accolades, and the wealth. You could do anything you want. Give yourself three wishes. Hopefully one of them would be for peace and love in the world, but how is that going to happen? We can only do what little we can, according to the resources and knowledge we have. Michael was an innocent and he tried ‘healing the world’ with all the love he had to give.
I once asked Michael what he considered to be his greatest achievement. During his trip to Budapest in 1994 Michael had promised to help an eight-year-old Hungarian boy, Bella, who was dying from cancer. His life was saved with an operation that Michael and his ‘Heal The World’ foundation had paid for. ‘Saving Bella’s life was definitely one of the most important moments in my life,’ said Michael honestly, furthermore highlighting what a caring humanitarian he was.
I often felt Michael was underrated as an artist. There was so much more to his genius than the record-breaking sales of albums such as ‘thriller’,’bad’,’ ‘dangerous’ and ‘history’. Look at the quality of his work, the videos and the live performances. I was fortunate enough to see Michael produce songs in a recording studio on a few occasions. Here was a man who had been learning his art since the age of five, and it showed when you heard and saw him. He knew the tools of his trade inside out, like second nature. This allowed him to channel his heart and soul into his creations, and take them a step further than most artists. Listen to tracks such as ‘wanna be startin somethin’, ‘billie jean’, ‘earth song’, ‘speechless’, and ‘whatever happens’-pure timeless pop genius.
The day after the public memorial service at the Staples Center I visited the Jackson family home in Havenhurst. As I arrived Michael’s daughter Paris was playing outside. I went up to her and told her that I knew her father well, and what a great and lovely man he was. She said , ”Thank you”, and I gave her a copy of my book Making HIStory. The joy on her face as she looked at the cover adoringly was beautiful. She was so happy, and gave me the biggest hug ever. She skipped off, book in hand, to show her grandmother. Later in the evening one of Michael’s former employees told Katherine Jackson that I had always written positive things about Michael. Katherine replied, “Well, there was noting negative to report.”
reached across the world. I simply couldn’t believe it . Two nights without sleep followed , and I still couldn’t believe that Michael was gone. And when it did finally sink in I thought only of the pain Michael might have endured, and the pain that his children and mother would suffer. I felt desperately sad for all of his family.
The enormity of the tragedy was reflected by the 24-hour news coverage, the headlines in newspapers and magazines, the messages across social Network sites, and the celebrity condolences and tributes. Due to 21st Century technology, all this was on a scale that had never been seen before.
The only comfort I could find amidst all the sorrow was that Michael was now in peace. There would be no more physical or mental pain. In dying at the age of just 50 he would become a legend, a giant of the world of entertainment who would be remembered positively, for his music and dancing, instead of being tarnished by scandal.
As I said in the introduction to his book, the visual documentary delivers only the facts behind Michael’s illustrious career in the entertainment industry. I have not interviewed people Michael has met or worked with, nor sought scandalous gossip or details of his private life. Neither does the book carry my own personal opinions.
However, it is appropriate in this Afterword for me to mention some of my meetings with Michael. In 2005 the child abuse allegations brought against Michael were dismissed by the courts. He was proved not guilty ,as I knew he would be. At the time I said that the Michael Jackson I knew ,that I interviewed many times ,and with whom I played games, dined and visited hospitals and youth centres, with whom I laughed ,watched movies, and attended awards ceremonies, and-most crucially-who I saw showing deep concern for hundreds of troubled kids, was an innocent man.
Unfortunately for Michael it was too easy for the media to paint a negative picture of his ‘eccentric’ lifestyle. It was easy to twist his motives and question his sincerity. It would have been easy for me to do that too, to take the trust he had put in me and do a ‘Bashir’, mocking him because he seemed too extreme or different to your everyday guy. But I won’t be joining the legions of ex-Jackson acquaintances who have ‘sold-out’ for a quick buck. I’d rather keep my integrity and set the record straight, where I can.
His appearance. Yes, he had plastic surgery, but not to the extent people like to believe. He freely admitted to having his nose changed a few times. Big deal. Half of Hollywood have, move on. In September 1987, during a telephone call to American chat show host Barbara Walters, Michael said his change in appearance was not only down to two nose jobs and having a cleft put in his chin, but also due to his change in diet over the years, having become a vegetarian. But what people seemed to freak out most over was his skin colour. This was where I felt most sorry for Michael, because he really did have a skin condition called vitiligo, yet most of the media still ridiculed his paleness or the fact that he hid from the sun. When you see someone with skin burns do you call them names? Michael had a skin disease that couldn’t be cured. All he could do was control it in the most aesthetic way he felt comfortable with. When I first meet Michael in 1990 he was in the very early stages of the disease, but over the years and during subsequent meetings I could see that patches were appearing across his skin. This is a common effect of vitiligo.
His home-Neverland Valley in Santa Ynez , California -was also the subject of ridicule, just because he had a fun fair and a zoo. I visited there on many occasions and these rides were fantastic! Who wouldn’t want their own fair complete with dodgems an Ferris wheel? And who doesn’t love animals? Michael had enough space (over 3000 acres) to house and look after two zoos. Yes there were llamas, giraffes, elephants, monkeys, tigers and more, and they were all beautiful. Michael loved the games, the rides and the animals, but they weren’t just for his own pleasure. They were there for the enjoyment of others too. Every week Michael open the doors of his home to hundreds of disadvantaged children. Many charity organizations were granted the use of the facilities and were treated by Michael’s staff as guests of honour.
I had always felt that people would have been more sympathetic towards Michael if they knew him the way I did , if he had just opened up more and said things straight –as they are. I once asked him if he was aware of all the negative media he received and couldn’t he change some of his actions to help combat it .‘I know everything that is going on，NO matter what I do they’ll always write something bad,’Michael told me sternly.
Unfortunately for Michael this was all too true. I recall a trip to Budapest in 1994.Michael, along with Lisa Marie-Presley, was visiting children’s hospitals, handing out gifts and toys. I was fortunate to be the only “media” allowed to accompany them into the hospitals, and I was delighted to help in giving the gifts to some of the sick children. However the sceptical press suggested the trip (part of Michael’s “Heal The World” campaign )was nothing more than a publicity stunt .What they didn’t report was the moving moment when Michael brought a smile to the face of a dying girl who had lain motionless and silent for weeks .Her mother ,at her side in constant vigil ,broke down in tears as her daughter reached out and touched Michael’s hand .Sounds like a miracle ,but I saw it with my own eyes .So why was it that people constantly derided someone who genuinely cared and who also happened to be one of the world’s greatest ever entertainers to boot ?
I feel the reason was a lack of understanding .People found it difficult to relate to Michael in the way that they did with other stats, especially in this era of reality TV. Michael was (and will forever remain) on a very high pedestal that made him unique，and there were many who were envious or felt threatened by him and wanted to knock him off his perch. He was accused of all sorts ,but as Michael put it ,‘Don’t judge a man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins’. It is desperately sad to me that only now, in his passing, does Michael seem to be getting some of the love and respect he deserved whilst he was alive.
At his public memorial service on July 7, 2009, the outspoken civil rights campaigner the Rev. Al Sharpton gave a rousing speeche. His words were heard not just by the 18000-strong audience in the Los Angeles Staples Center but by billions tuning in around the world, and perhaps the most poignant were: “I want his children (Prince, Paris and ‘Blanket’ who were all present) to know there was nothing strange about your daddy, it was strange what your daddy had to deal with.”
This book emphasises how much Michael Jackson achieved from the age of five when he first got up and sang in his kindergarten class. Put yourself in those shoes; imagine those achievements ,the accolades, and the wealth. You could do anything you want. Give yourself three wishes. Hopefully one of them would be for peace and love in the world, but how is that going to happen? We can only do what little we can, according to the resources and knowledge we have. Michael was an innocent and he tried ‘healing the world’ with all the love he had to give.
I once asked Michael what he considered to be his greatest achievement. During his trip to Budapest in 1994 Michael had promised to help an eight-year-old Hungarian boy, Bella, who was dying from cancer. His life was saved with an operation that Michael and his ‘Heal The World’ foundation had paid for. ‘Saving Bella’s life was definitely one of the most important moments in my life,’ said Michael honestly, furthermore highlighting what a caring humanitarian he was.
I often felt Michael was underrated as an artist. There was so much more to his genius than the record-breaking sales of albums such as ‘thriller’,’bad’,’ ‘dangerous’ and ‘history’. Look at the quality of his work, the videos and the live performances. I was fortunate enough to see Michael produce songs in a recording studio on a few occasions. Here was a man who had been learning his art since the age of five, and it showed when you heard and saw him. He knew the tools of his trade inside out, like second nature. This allowed him to channel his heart and soul into his creations, and take them a step further than most artists. Listen to tracks such as ‘wanna be startin somethin’, ‘billie jean’, ‘earth song’, ‘speechless’, and ‘whatever happens’-pure timeless pop genius.
The day after the public memorial service at the Staples Center I visited the Jackson family home in Havenhurst. As I arrived Michael’s daughter Paris was playing outside. I went up to her and told her that I knew her father well, and what a great and lovely man he was. She said , ”Thank you”, and I gave her a copy of my book Making HIStory. The joy on her face as she looked at the cover adoringly was beautiful. She was so happy, and gave me the biggest hug ever. She skipped off, book in hand, to show her grandmother. Later in the evening one of Michael’s former employees told Katherine Jackson that I had always written positive things about Michael. Katherine replied, “Well, there was noting negative to report.”
It means a lot to me that I have had the opportunity to document the history of one of the world’s greatest ever entertainers. Indeed one of my proudest moments came one day when I was at Neverland and I saw that Michael had framed the family tree from this book, and placed it beside his grand piano where he entertained guests. He also told me how grateful he was for my book, and acknowledged the visual documentary in the “History” album credits.
Michael, I am so sorry that you are gone. You were and always will be the best! Thank you, thank you, thank you for your great inspiration and for all the opportunities you have given me. Your spirit will live on forever, and I will promote the truth and your legacy wherever I can.
Michael, I am so sorry that you are gone. You were and always will be the best! Thank you, thank you, thank you for your great inspiration and for all the opportunities you have given me. Your spirit will live on forever, and I will promote the truth and your legacy wherever I can.
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