Michael Jackson kidnapped by Muslims?
Published January 02, 2004
I first learned about the alleged connection between Michael Jackson and the Nation of Islam from Eric Olsen at Blogcritics, a rather Right site. Now, progressive blogger Ronn Taylor of A Burst of Light has also posted an entry on the topic. Predictably, the two bloggers' takes are different.
First, let's look at the back story.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 29 - Officials from the Nation of Islam, a separatist African-American Muslim group, have moved in with Michael Jackson and are asserting control over the singer's business affairs, friends, employees and business associates of Mr. Jackson said.
Initially invited to the Neverland Ranch several weeks ago to provide security for Mr. Jackson, members of the Nation of Islam are now restricting access to him and have begun making decisions for him related to the news media, his business affairs and even his legal strategy, some of Mr. Jackson's friends and associates said. Mr. Jackson faces charges of child molesting in Santa Barbara and recently moved into a rented house in Los Angeles, where Nation of Islam officials have accompanied him.
Efforts to reach Mr. Jackson through his spokesman were not sucessful, but his lawyer, Mark Geragos, and The Final Call, the Nation of Islam's newspaper, denied the claim.
Leonard Muhammad, chief of staff and son-in-law of the Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, now works out of the Los Angeles office of Mr. Geragos, Mr. Jackson's lawyer, the Jackson associates said. Mr. Muhammad stood behind Mr. Geragos during a recent televised news conference and, according to two of Mr. Jackson's employees who spoke on condition of anonymity, he participates in phone calls involving media and legal strategy.
Mr. Jackson's official spokesman, Stuart Backerman, resigned on Monday to protest the Nation of Islam's presence, said a colleague of Mr. Backerman, who could not be reached for comment on Monday.
The employees said they spoke out because they are concerned about Mr. Jackson's welfare and because his multicultural message was at odds with the group's philosophy of black separatism. The Nation of Islam is a small group that advocates black self-empowerment and a separate African-American state, and some of its leaders have espoused anti-Semitic, anti-gay and racist rhetoric. Mr. Jackson is not Muslim nor a member of the Nation of Islam.
"The Nation of Islam and Louis Farrakhan's son-in-law have taken over completely and are in full and total charge," said one senior Jackson employee, speaking on condition of anonymity. "They have gone in and taken over control of the finances in terms of who's getting paid, how much," the employee added. "They're approving all funds and have decided they have control of the business manager and accountant, without signing authority or power of attorney. They are working out of Geragos's office; in essence they're telling him what to do."
- Michael Jackson kidnapped by Muslims?
- Published: January 02, 2004
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- Section: Culture
- Filed Under: Culture: Media
- Writer: Mac Diva
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Comments on this articleComments
Because you don't question whether the relationship is nefarious, Eric. (And, I am not saying it isn't. I just want to see more evidence.) Perhaps it is my description of BC that is confusing you. I said the site is mainly Right, I know you try to be a moderate.
To better understand what I've written here, I recommend reading the long, twisty NYT article in its entirety. The link is 'story' in my entry.
The latest happening in this increasingly strange saga is that the network has been accused of paying Jackson for the 60 Minutes interview.
Rather than "moderate," I would say my views are issue-based and vary from somewhat conservative to quite liberal. As far as the site goes: wouldn't it make more sense to call it an "open salon of ideas" or some such crap? I haven't done a statistical analysis, but I find it hard to believe there is a statistically significant disparity between the number of "conservative" posts and "liberal" posts. There are very strong voices here across the spectrum, including yours. I don't think very many people would call this a "rather Right" site - I would say it's a "rather neutral" forum.
Regarding Jackson, as I said, I don't know if the Nation of Islam's involvement with Jackson is nefarious or not - just saying IF he is involved with them, it is yet another piss poor strategic move.
I think giving his detractors anything they can use against him, such as even a falsely described link to NOI, (if that is what is going on) is a rotten strategy for Jackson, too. I believe this proves he has fallen fully apart or isn't listening to his more savvy advisors at all.
Ronn, in an email, pointed out that the NOI is believed to have some of the best security guards in the industry. Their operation is said to be super tight. But, though I don't question their competence, Jackson can't afford anything linking him to the bad image the NOI has at this juncture in his life -- not even one of their tasty bean pies.
Does this flirtation with NOI and now the police brutality claims mean something else?
Is Jackson attempting to gain "street cred?" If so, it seems a pretty transparent attempt.
I could be wrong, and often am.
Actually, I think you are right this time, Chris. And, whoever is advising Jackson to try to get 'street cred' is a bumbling idiot. What Jackson needs to do is to seem as normal as possible and fight the case in court, not the media. Sneddon and company are willing to match his attacks blow for blow in the media, so he needs a different strategy.
The degeneration makes me wish Jackson had sought mental health counseling decades ago. Think of all the good music we have been and will be deprived of because of his damaged pysche. We lost John Lennon to a murderer, but Michael Jackson has become just as lost to us in a different way.
MD, agree 100% with your last comment. I am a big fan and always have been back to hearing the J5 for the first time. He and I are the exact same age and I have always identified to a certain extent with him and been happy for his extraordinary success. I would like nothing better than for none of this to have happened, and you are right that it goes back decades. He is a very damaged person and it makes me very sad.
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/11391)
I am somewhat confused how my comment regarding the public's perception of Nation of Islam reveals any political slant and I do not claim to have any special knowledge of Jackson's "true" relationship with NOI, but it is Jermaine who has confirmed NOI's involvement with MJ's security and there must be SOME reason why Backerman quit. I also want Jackson - and every other defendant - to get a fair trial, but I also don't want to see him have access to any more children, for theirs AND his sake.