The singer is due back in court on January 16, but he had his passport returned so he can spend Christmas in the UK to promote his greatest hits album, "Number Ones." (Not everyone in the UK is happy to see him: "Don't let Jacko set foot here," demanded Saturday's edition of The Sun. "Beat it," spat its rival The Mirror.) It must be doubly vexing to Jackson that the album itself isn't bigger news, and that all of the hits on the album — "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," "Billie Jean," "Beat It," "Bad," and "Black Or White" among them — were recorded long ago and far away, almost as if by another person.
How did this happen? Combine psychological trauma brought upon by a reportedly brutal, Svengali-like father and a childhood denied; add vast wealth early in life, an insatiable ego, surround with yes-men and enablers, shake well, and voila: the mutation of Jackson from an immensely talented, spunky, sharp young black man to a perpetually childlike, wan, genderless, semi-Caucasoid delusional baby-dangler, who spends money like tap water and covers his children's faces with doilies and dishrags.
Regarding the latter, "Celebrity Justice" reports Santa Barbara County Child Welfare officials have begun a formal investigation into the well being of Jackson's three children, Prince Michael I, Paris Michael and Prince Michael II - the dangled baby in question, also known as Blanket.
Jackson has certainly held our attention this year, but for all the wrong reasons. His life will never be the same as a result, even if he is eventually found innocent.
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
i saw the 60 minutes thing...i think if they want him to appear in public again he should wear a bag over his head like the unknown comic.
his 'look' just adds to the bizarreness of his words.
2 - Eric Olsen
He is well on his way to being considered the biggest mainstream freak of his generation, and most bizarre of all: it's all of his own doing.
3 - Mac Diva
I knew it! People, including his lawyer I suspect, are giving Michael Jackson good advice and he is ignoring it.
Meanwhile, his stock is getting lower and lower. Jay Leno killed him in his monologue last night. Example: "Michael Jackson got a new game boy for Christmas."
4 - Eric Olsen
you were perspicacious indeed, my dear
5 - Andrew Ian Dodge
Michael is heading for disaster methinks. I would not be too surprised if he didn't see out 2004. The quotes purloined from that interview in the press in the UK were pretty damning.
6 - Michelle
the 60 Minutes interview was nothing spectacular. and the reason why he did it was that CBS needed a clarification from him on which he states his innocence, so that they could finally broadcast the Number Ones Special past night, which had been postponed past November.
7 - nick scata
what has happened to this guy he used to be soo awesome then he has become an idiot over these long years. Personally i reckon Jacksons last good thing he ever did was the dangerous after that.....