Former child star Macaulay Culkin, 24, is on the witness stand in the Michael Jackson trial today and has denied that the singer ever did anything improper to him, calling the accusation "absolutely ridiculous." He added, "I've never seen him do anything improper with anyone."
Culkin was called by the defense to deny testimony by former Neverland chef Philip LeMarque, who worked at Jackson's ranch from 1990 to 1991, who said he saw Jackson fondle Culkin while helping the youngster play a late-night video game when he was around 10.
Culkin is the third young man, following Brett Barnes and Wade Robson last week, to deny having been molested by Jackson during frequent stays at Neverland in the early-'90s. Reprising a theme from last week, prosecutor Ron Zonen suggested Culkin could have been molested while he was asleep.
"I find that unlikely. I think I'd realize that something like that was happening to me," Culkin said.
Yesterday, Jackson's ranch manager Joe Marcus acknowledged Culkin was one of eight boys with whom Jackson has developed "special bonds" over the last 15 years, and under cross-examination Culkin admitted he often slept in Jackson's bed during regular visits between the age of nine and 14.
Culkin said he remains Jackson's friend and is godfather to two of Jackson's children, but ceased sleeping in his bedroom in his middle teens. "I enjoy my privacy a little bit more."
He also said he connected particularly well with Jackson because they were both stars as children. "We're a part of a unique group of people. He'd been through that before, so he understood what it was like to be put in that position I was in, to be thrust into it .... Anyone who was a child performer, we keep an eye out for each other.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Jack Farthing
Nice headline. However the important fact is he said he wasn't abused. Keep dreaming. I hope you aren't too dissapointed when the verdict is read sir.
2 - Eric Olsen
I will be disapppointed only if the truth isn't served
3 - Jack Farthing
Yeah obviously. I read your other article today too and the comments you made at the bottom of the piece. It's blatantly obvious how biased and blinkered your view is. Please don't insult my intelligence by stating otherwise. It's embarassing to listen to.
4 - Eric Olsen
alrighty then
5 - Pman
Mike is innocent. I question your sanity if you believe these shady characters that have scammed JCpenny and lied under oath over this man who has spent MILLIONS of dollars to help children around the world through charities. Keep speaking the truth Jack Farthing.
6 - td
You know what's insulting to MY intelligence. Telling me that some guy has been sleeping with 10 year old boys for the last decade but 'there's nothing wrong with him.'
You know what else is insulting to my intelligence, telling me that all the witnesses for the prosecution are bogus because there are inconsistencies in the various testimonies, yet the defendant won't take the stand and put himself up to the same scrutiny.
Lastly, what is most insulting to my intelligence are fans who insinuate there own superiority based on not having a bias against wacko. You want to be biased, then be friggin biased. But don't claim to be smarter than someone when they don't share your opinion.
7 - td
"Mike is innocent. I question your sanity if you believe these shady characters that have scammed JCpenny and lied under oath over this man who has spent MILLIONS of dollars to help children around the world through charities. Keep speaking the truth Jack Farthing."
Right. And Catholic priests that abuse kids never helped out in the community either.
Who said being a pedophile and giving money to childrens charity's were mutually exclusive.
8 - Mark Harrington
Just a quick note to td. MJ has not yet decided on whether or not to take the stand. Just thought I would correct you.
Also, nobody here has said that they believe nothing is wrong with Michael Jackson. He clearly has issues in terms of his social abilities etc etc, but you can't paint him as a molester until he is found guilty.
I aren't biased, but I would certainly say that the defense seems to have a much stronger, beleivable case over the prosecution. After all why would Mac Culkin lie? I could understand him saying he was not molested out of court, even if he was lying, but I wouldn't imagine he would be willing to come to court and sing MJ's praises if he had been abused by him. Just a thought.
9 - Eric Olsen
who said Culkin is lying? But just because MJ didn't do anything untowrd to him doesn't mean he didn't do anything to anyone else
10 - mathias
If MJ is SOOOOO benevolant, what happened to the millions that he and Rabbi Schmullie collected? If I remember correctly - the Heal the Children Foundation is still missing those funds. More importantly if MJ is so concerned about the children of the world, why is his niece Stevana homeless? How is it that MJ's response to Eliza's plea for help to house and feed her was met with a fax that said - It may not be in Mr. Jackson's best interest to help her at this time?????
Look at the life of the people who are testifying that nothing happened - everyone of them is a mess. Michael did what he did - but that doesn't mean that he thought of it as harmful. It is VERY likely that he is just treating others like he was treated and that he believes his action were appropriate.
11 - Pman
The PROSECUTION is saying Culkin is lying. That's why it's important. They are trying to paint him as a villian with lies to sway the jury. Pulling stunts like this only shows how biased they are against Michael Jackson without any evidence. The man is INNOCENT until proven guilty, and no sane person would convict him with the information we have now. Just because the man is wierd and has issues doesn't automatically make him a pedophile.
12 - Mark Harrington
Look at the facts Eric. Jordy Chandlers Parents were so obsessed with the idea of a film carrer for their child, that they levelled the idea of a lawsuit against Jackson unless he could grant their wishes. On being turned down, allegations were made. The family then accepted Millions of Dollars rather than seek justice. I know I do not speak for everyone, but if someone inproperly touched my child I would want justice, not a pay out. I could get money through civil court.
As charges were dropped against Jackson, we have to presume his innocence.
In the current case, you only have the child and his brothers word for the molestation. The childs brother said he witnessed teh molestation from the hall way, despite saying there was an alarm in the hall. Strange?
The family is well known for its disregard for the law and other ethical conduct.
The witnesses who testified in this case with regard to the previous allegations have been largely disproved by way of the children themselves denying it. Those witnesses have also been extensively discredited.
In terms of the question, could all these people be lying. Yes! of course they could. Hundreds or even thousands of people have passed the gates of Neverland, and here we have ten, all of whom have financial and spiteful interests in MJ. The rest of these people didn't see anything untoward happening. I would beleive the silent majority over this minority.
Quote, "I almost dropped the french fries" said one staffer when describing how he had seen MJ molesting Mac Culkin. Give me a break!
13 - Jack Farthing
Errr Eric Olsen, you have EYE Witnesses who say he abused Culkin, Barnes, Robson, Chandler and Francia. If three of them are decent people and say NOTHING happened, you have to believe those same witnesses LIED about the others.
14 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
and also, wasn't John Landis seen wandering around the courtroom? Landis and Culkin in the one place can only mean one thing - Home Alone 5 - Culkin Versus Werewolves.
15 - Aaman
The vitriol on these MJ threads must really burn the writers' butts
16 - Eric Olsen
they were kids, they were literally in (I assume platonic) love with Jackson, they don't have to be lying to have blotted out certain memories, or to have not even realized what hapened at the time. Or the prosecution witnesses could be wrong, but the essence of these relationships reinforces the nature of Jackson's relationships with boys over a 15 year period, and bolsters the claims of Gavin Arviso
17 - Mark Harrington
Eric, what about the memories that Gavin may be misconstruing or may have had planted by his mother?
18 - Aaman
Aaron, you reminded me of Jim's last postings with that Home Alone 5 line, bless yr soul:)
19 - Eric Olsen
that is possible too, Mark
20 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
turns out the fella i thought was landis in a photograph wasn't landis, but just a fella with a similar beard.
and how long is this trail set for to continue?
21 - RafikiDiop
Ey yo - who do not know that America is build up with Black knowledge - which scared some deshonest people - scared of them get it to the high - people like - MJ - Luther-Muhamed - count me yours.
22 - Eric Olsen
like two more months, Duke, yeay!
23 - DEATH TO SNEDDON
SHUT UP RED! Being biased is 100% acceptable if it is FOR SAINT MICHAEL! Take your filthy worship of the GREAT SATAN SNEDDON where you belong!
24 - Amelia
The 20 idiots in this country who act like some jacked up looking guy who spends the better part of his life pretending that he is a prepubescent boys and frequently hosts prepubescent boys at his home, isn't demonstrating grooming behaviors and a desire to sexually exploit kids, seem to have a penchant for posting their outrage. Let's be honest. I mean, my God, look at this guy--he's sociopathic and planful in his luring of children and so many people buy into his faux-victimization, his self-entitled, self-absorbed view of the tragedy of his life. Suck it up MJ. LOTS of people have crappy childhoods. They don't spend the rest of their lives recapitulating it through objectifying young boys.
Finally, all the MJ fans seem to be constructing elaborate justifications that I am sure that many pedophiles have used in the past to cloak their denial. Society doesn't benefit from that bullsh*t. We also don't benefit from acting as if children are evil liars. Kids who are abused are grifters. And men who like to have slumber parties with boys are innocents without sexual urges.
25 - Eric Olsen
we do get the full range of opinion, and that range has not narrowed much after 10 weeks of testimony, has it?