Elizabeth Taylor Says Michael Jackson Is Innocent

Reuters ^ | November 23, 2003

[sarcasm]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actress Elizabeth Taylor said on Sunday that she believes pop star and good friend Michael Jackson is "absolutely innocent" of child molestation charges and will be "vindicated."

In a statement, Taylor also criticized the press for behaving "abominably" toward the self-styled King of Pop, who was arrested this week on suspicion of sexually abusing a young boy.

"Their whole reaction is that he is guilty. I thought the law was 'innocent until proven guilty.' I know he is innocent and I hope they all eat crow," Taylor said of the press.

The veteran actress, who flew to Singapore to lend support to Jackson on tour when he was last accused of child molestation a decade ago, said she would not be giving interviews to the media because of the way they have treated Jackson.

"I believe Michael is absolutely innocent and that he will be vindicated," Taylor said in her statement.

It was her first public comment on the charges since some 60 police officers stormed Jackson's Neverland Valley Ranch in the hills above Santa Barbara on Tuesday, looking for evidence to substantiate the allegations of an unidentified young boy.

On Friday, Taylor had declined comment on the charges lodged against Jackson.

Jackson has not spoken publicly about the child molestation charges but has said in a statement that the allegations are outrageous lies and predicted he would be exonerated.

Jackson -- who was whisked from Las Vegas to California and back just long enough to surrender to police, hand in his passport and post $3 million bail on Thursday -- was due in court for an arraignment on Jan. 9.

Prosecutors have said Jackson will be charged under a California law that defines molestation as "arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions or sexual desires of" the offender or a child under age. The charge carries a penalty of three to eight years in prison.

It was the second time in 10 years that such allegations have been made against the performer, who rose to fame as the young lead singer of the Jackson 5 during the 1960s, and made one of the best-selling albums of all time, 1982's "Thriller."

In August 1993, police launched a criminal probe after a 13-year-old boy told his therapist Jackson sexually molested him for four months.

But in January 1994, Jackson settled a civil suit filed by the boy's family, and prosecutors said they would not file criminal charges because the boy refused to testify.

[elli1]

I at least agree w/ her statement that the press is behaving "abominably".

[FormerlyAnotherLurker]

Does anyone have a picture of John Belushi on Saturday Night Live doing his parody of her? That's better than ANYTHING she's done in the last 30 years, perhaps even before.

[billorites]

[onyx]

Elizabeth Taylor Says Michael Jackson Is Innocent

Reuters ^ | November 23, 2003

Posted on 11/23/2003 1:52 PM PST by sarcasm

------------------------------------------------------------

You are the perfect one to have posted the article. LOL!

[Dante3]

Now there are four reasons to stay away from plastic surgeons.

[Rightone]

AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

[mewzilla]

Guess Jacko never asked her to play Rubba Rubba. Gee, wonder why?

[MEG33]

LOL!

[Cobra64]

Barnum and Bailey could have a field day with that freak-show.

[tet68]

Just your typical Hollyweird family!

Liz says, Why, Michael has slept with me thousands of times and he never wanted to plaay rubba rubba.

[Osage Orange]

Is that the Munsters?

[alisasny]

NO

Just a group of people you dont let your children around. At least the Munsters were a great parady show.

[mjp]

[jaz.357]

Is that a real photo or is that from the House of Wax?

IM serious.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Yea........and Rock Hudson was a manly man.

[Louisiana]

FREAKSHOW!

[Finalapproach29er]

HAS-BEEN ALERT!

[spectre]

Oh Liz...Liz.

Yes, Michael Jackson is innocent and YOU are still the world's most beautiful woman...

sw

[Paul Atreides]

and I hope they all eat crow,"

As did your last husband?

[Stop Legal Plunder]

LIZ TAYLOR SAYS JACKSON IS INNOCENT

There is a dumb actress named Liz
Who's pretty washed up in show biz
She now gets her jollies
From Jacko's weird follies
She still doesn't know what "is" is.

ROTFL!