Michael Jackson Vanishes After Being Unmasked In Court Battle Over Concerts

Independent (UK) ^ | 11-15-2002 | Andrew Gumbel

[Grut]

I think a little Christian charity might be in order here, rather than the usual "serves 'im right!" gloating Jackson's problems usually evoke on FR.

[demkicker]

"On Wednesday, Mr Jackson was driven from his Neverland ranch by a white-gloved chauffeur and escorted by a posse of police motorcycle outriders to the courthouse in Santa Maria. About a hundred fans cheered as he arrived."

Good grief...

[ikka]

What is the appropriate level of Christian charity for a pedophile?

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Maybe you're right. Anyone who hangs out with Commies deserves a break.

[hole_n_one]

I can't wait to hear the answer.

[IronJack]

End-stage syphilis? Leprosy? Necrotizing fasciitis? Butt fugly?

[RedBloodedAmerican]

The singer removed the surgical mask he habitually wears – supposedly to ward off germs and air pollution – revealing a scarred, misshapen, peeling nose, swollen lips and eyes heavily ringed with make-up

A black Howard Hughes. Wait....a white Howard Hughes. No....a black Howar...

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Hire them to babysit a liberals kid?

[Lloyd227]

I looked once at those photographs and couldn't bring myself to look again. It's just sad.

Really sad.

Like most of the people who frequent this webspace, I'm old enough to remember the Jackson Five and the extremely gifted young man who shot to stardom showing the world how James Brown would have danced if he'd only had the talent.

I was never a fan of Michael's, but due to the sad result of this twisted life and the current type of attention he's brought on himself, I've taken the time to make my 4 kids watch some of the old material of the days before "Thriller". I just didn't want them to think he'd always been like this even while he was becoming a star.

Entertainment is certainly the lighter and trivial side of history, but the the fact is that it IS history and this sad reminder of a man was part of that history.

[billhilly]

"I think a little Christian charity might be in order here, rather than the usual "serves 'im right!" gloating Jackson's problems usually evoke on FR."

I could not agree more. We have no idea what demons possess this poor soul, but there should be no doubt that they do. Does anyone here remember Howard Hughes? He was rich beyond belief in his day, and he had been a very public person, then he became a recluse. There were stories about him having fingernails three inches long. He became afraid to let anyone see him, and even the man who ran his many enterprises never saw him, rather he spoke to him on the phone.

[JusticeLives]

"What is the appropriate level of Christian charity for a pedophile?"

Off the top of my head, I come up with 2:

MERCY because G_d asks us to forgive others and to love the sinner and hate the sin.

And, GRATITUDE that you don't have the same affliction.

[hole_n_one]

I trust you'd be just as charitable if it was your child that had been the object of Jackson's "affection".

[Thinkin' Gal]

In happier moments....

[Gatorbator]

This has become so tragic that joking no longer seems to be in order. Would somebody please alert the authorities that we have a full fledged suicide on our hands.

[wimpycat]

Howard Hughes also suffered terrible constipation from all the painkillers he took--a trip to the bathroom for him lasted hours and was an agonizing experience, I hear. He never touched doorknobs and his butler always brought him 3 newspapers at a time, and he would always take the one in the middle, on the assumption that it was untouched.

Just thought I'd share...:-)

It is, indeed, very sad to see what's become of Michael Jackson, considering his cuteness as a little boy and his considerable talent. It's not sporting to figuratively kick him around; it's like kicking a whipped hound. I think he's a miserable human being. I wouldn't wish his life on anyone.

[hole_n_one]

What's McLaughlin really like?

[nicmarlo]

This has become so tragic that joking no longer seems to be in order.

Agreed; tragic indeed. [There but for the grace of God go I (perhaps not the same affliction(s), but nonetheless, possibly as debilitating emotionally/mentally; I'm glad I didn't have to find that out). I'm also glad that "I know in Whom I believe, and am persuaded that He is able," and I am not, therefore, tossed, to and fro, with whatever thoughts get "whispered" in my ear to do.]

[mountaineer]

Update: He eventually showed up for court, but seemed quite spaced out. Reuters reports (excerpt):

SANTA MARIA, Calif., Nov 14 (Reuters) - Superstar Michael Jackson turned up hours late for court on Thursday after his lawyer objected to a photographer whose pictures set the Internet buzzing over the reclusive singer's bizarre appearance. Jackson had mysteriously failed to appear for his second day on the witness stand in a $21 million lawsuit over canceled millennium concerts.

No explanation was given for his morning no-show. But the pool photographer said he had been summoned to the judge's chambers because of objections by Jackson's lawyers to the courtroom pictures on the grounds they were distracting. The photographer was not however barred from the court.

Photos of Jackson on the stand on Wednesday showed him with a Band-Aid-type plaster on his scarred nose, pink lipstick, heavily black-penciled eyebrows and the beginning of a goatee-styled beard all framed by a long black mane of hair. Web services said the close-up pictures -- a rare glimpse of Jackson off-stage -- were some of the most viewed of the last 24 hours.

When the self-styled King of Pop finally returned to the courthouse at Santa Maria -- the central California town nearest to his Neverland Valley ranch -- he appeared drowsy. His eyes drooped and he had to be prompted to answer by lawyers as testimony proceeded at a snail's pace.

[mikeb704]

He do get around, don't he?

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp