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Michael Jackson unmasked (WACKO JACKO CAPTION TIME)
The Evening Standard ^ | November 14, 2002 | James Langton

Posted on 11/14/2002 10:30:56 AM PST by MadIvan

Michael Jackson was forced to reveal his ravaged face in public for the first time. A judge in a California court ordered him to remove his surgical mask before giving evidence in a multimillion dollar lawsuit over a cancelled concert appearance.

The singer arrived at the court wearing the trademark mask, which he believes protects him from germs and traffic fumes. When he removed the mask inside, the full toll of years of plastic surgery on his face were revealed.

Onlookers gasped at the sight of Jackson, whose nose was scarred and discoloured and covered with a clear plaster. His upper lip also appeared to be covered with scabs, with a beard covering his chin.

Jackson is being sued for £15 million by his former concert promoter Marcel Avram, who claims the singer pulled out of two millennium concerts. The promoter says Jackson also demanded £1.5 million in "production fees" for two more concerts in Seoul and Munich.

Hundreds of fans gathered outside the court in Santa Maria, 25 miles from Jackson's Neverland ranch. When trial judge Zel Canter asked him to state his full name he replied: "Michael Joseph Jackson."

At this point Jackson blew and tapped the microphone in front of him, causing members of the public - who are allowed into the court on a lottery system - to laugh. Later, he was grilled by Avram's lawyer, Louis "Skip" Miller, who said there were differences between his sworn testimony and his evidence on the witness stand.

After accusations that Jackson had not even bothered to rehearse for the performances, the singer revealed the details of his concert preparations. "I conceptualise everything," he said.

"I visualise what I want the concert to look like. I stand in front of the mirror in my bathroom and try out the dance moves. I don't do it in my bedroom because there are lots of games in there and they are noisy. It is a lot quieter in the bathroom.''

At times the 44-year-old star nodded his head backwards and forwards as if he was listening to music. He went on: "I have to have oxygen on stage because the weather is very humid in some of the countries I perform in. Wardrobe is also very important. If I rip a pair of pants, I have to have another pair."

Avram said Jackson suddenly backed out of the concerts. He said: "He was going to be paid $15 million for the concerts which was the biggest ever purse." Avram said he was phoned by two of Jackson's representatives and asked to fly to meeting at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. When he got there, he was told Jackson no longer wanted to have anything to do with the concerts. "I was shocked," said Avram. "I had worked the whole year to prepare for this and now he was saying 'no'.

However, Jackson said Avram cancelled the shows with a single phone call. When Miller suggested the call never happened, Jackson said he had a vivid memory of it. "I remember feeling a little bit upset because I was looking forward to doing the millennium shows. I was so excited about them that I told people in my organisation that we should reach the Guinness Book Of World Records because I felt that these would be the most-watched events of all time."

When Miller accused him of a "discrepancy" in his account, Jackson said his memory of events surrounding the concerts had improved. "It's not unusual for my mental clarity to be heightened," he said.

Jackson sued the Daily Mirror in 1998 after it claimed his face had been disfigured by plastic surgery and called him a "scarred phantom".

This is the one time I'll side with the Mirror - Ivan

The paper later apologised. Jackson says the whitening of his skin is caused by a medical condition called vitiligo.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: California; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: deformed; face; lawsuit; ugh; wackojacko
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To: hoppity
It is just so disturbing. He was a great looking boy.

He should marry that woman who turned herself into a cat.

41 posted on 11/14/2002 12:09:01 PM PST by Feiny
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To: feinswinesuksass
Here's the real before and after:

yikes

42 posted on 11/14/2002 12:21:29 PM PST by Slyfox
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To: hoppity
Aren't physicians sworn, "First, do no harm..."?
43 posted on 11/14/2002 12:29:28 PM PST by pabianice
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To: cowsmooloudly
Thank you. Those two pix say it all.
44 posted on 11/14/2002 12:35:19 PM PST by Argus
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To: tessalu
Michael Jackson should have every right to sue any plastic surgeon who did this to his face and nose.

He has no case.

45 posted on 11/14/2002 12:36:58 PM PST by elbucko
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To: pabianice
Aren't physicians sworn, "First, do no harm..."?

Nope! It's now, "First, get paid".

46 posted on 11/14/2002 12:42:40 PM PST by elbucko
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To: hoppity
Unbelievable. I think Michael has more issues than his face.
47 posted on 11/14/2002 12:56:23 PM PST by sweetliberty
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Comment #48 Removed by Moderator

To: TexKat
According to my uncle who is a plastic/reconstructive surgeon in Los Angeles, he wears a prosthetic nose which is sort of covered by material (not unlike Bondo) that affixes it to his face. He essentially has no nose.
49 posted on 11/14/2002 1:01:03 PM PST by luckodeirish
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Comment #50 Removed by Moderator

To: MadIvan

Stop! If you get any closer you'll turn to stone!

51 posted on 11/14/2002 1:09:35 PM PST by Gumlegs
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To: hoppity

He does, however, need someone to show him how to be more subtle with the eyebrow pencil.

52 posted on 11/14/2002 1:14:15 PM PST by Gumlegs
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To: MadIvan
These pictures should cure anyone (including me) who ever thought a face lift might be nice...
53 posted on 11/14/2002 1:30:04 PM PST by janetgreen
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To: Retired Chemist
More than meets the eye!


54 posted on 11/14/2002 1:36:06 PM PST by pulaskibush
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To: MadIvan
I do not mean to be contentious.

I just see no humor in this at all!
55 posted on 11/14/2002 2:27:19 PM PST by Radix
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To: Darnright
The surgeons who continued to perform surgeries on this obviously mentally ill individual should have their medical licenses yanked.
56 posted on 11/14/2002 2:53:41 PM PST by GovernmentShrinker
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To: MadIvan
Ok, ye know what...(and I will probably be flamed for saying this).

But I feel sorry for him.
I feel sorry for most people so insecure in how they look that they have to resort to plastic surgery.
(To me Plastic surgery is for people horribly disfigured in accidents etc.)

But I feel sorry for him.
He is obviously a very screwed up individual.
He's not happy with his colour.
He's not happy with his looks.
Hell, if push comes to shove, he's not happy with his sexuality.

Despite his money.
Despite his fame.
He's more screwed up than the worst loser I know personally.

He's really more to be pitied than laughed at.
57 posted on 11/14/2002 7:15:51 PM PST by Happygal
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To: Happygal
I think

that it is all about


INTRODUCING 10 YEAR OLD MICHAEL JACKSON!


Children should not be exploited in this way.

Somehow, I knew this when I was a child!

I am just a bit older than M J. I remember those days.

It is very sad, in my view!

Money is nothing.

I really believe that!
58 posted on 11/14/2002 8:13:55 PM PST by Radix
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To: Radix
Radix? Are YOU Donny Osmode?
59 posted on 11/14/2002 8:39:21 PM PST by Happygal
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To: Happygal
I am not. I invite you to a toast. I shall be in Kinsale in the near future! Will you let me buy you a Pint of Guiness ?
60 posted on 11/14/2002 8:49:44 PM PST by Radix
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