Well, this interview really is as disappointing as I thought it would be...because (of course) tabloid journalists ALWAYS insert extra material from other sources, and that extra material is always tabloid junk. It seems that 'close family friend Terry Harvey' has stepped in with the extra unwanted titbits on this occasion. Prince really needs to learn that the tabloids will never print 'only' what he says...they will always embellish and angle comments to their own ends.
However many kind and true words Prince uses about his dad, the tabloids will always seek to leave another impression, by fair means or foul.
Here is an extract from the article:
(It takes a full centre spread in the paper, with a large Bad crotch-grab MJ photo on the left and 2 photos of MJ with young Paris and Prince, and with Debbie, Prince and Paris as babies. Plus a final head and shoulders photo of Prince as taken at the True Blood red carpet event. No photos of Blanket).
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Teenage son's message on fifth anniversary of the death of King of Pop: Michael was best Dad in the world.
Michael Jackson's teenage son Prince Michael has spoken of 'the best father anybody could have' ahead of the fifth anniversary of the King of Pop's death.
In a heart-breaking interview, the 17-year old admitted it was still 'tough' coping with the loss and told how the last thing he and his dad planned was a trip to London.
The 50 year-old superstar died of a cardiac arrest on June 25th 2009- just three weeks before their trip to the UK for his sell-out This is It tour.
Prince told the Sun on Sunday 'My dad always said he loved London'.
'He really wanted to go there and show what he could do'. He was looking forward to showing us around.'
Clearly haunted by any mention of his father's death, Prince, with colour flushed from his face, admitted 'It's tough. This will be the fifth anniversary of his death. Yeah...yeah.
Now the teenager - who has a sister Paris 16 and brother Prince Michael 'Blanket' Jackson II 12, is helping charities that were close to his dad's heart. He said 'We want to keep my dad's legend alive'.
'He was the best father anybody could have. He raised us the right way, and there is nothing anyone can do to make us forget about him'.
He was always concerned about humanity. He helped many charities. In his songs, his message was simple - love. we will continue to spread his message'.
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Close family friend Terry Harvey- who worked alongside the Jacksons for many years - revealed that the family's trauma is still very raw.
The concert promoter said 'Paris was her daddy's princess. They had a special relationship which was torn apart. She saw her father's dead body. It still gives her nightmares. That is the type of trauma a young girl never recovers from. It was five years ago, but to most of the family it still feels like it happened yesterday. Katherine at times still cannot believe her son is gone. She has taken a heavy burden because of Paris, too.
Prince now regularly attends showbiz parties in Hollywood and , despite having two bodyguards at his side, is happy to greet fans.
The teen is polite, shakes hands with fans, and tells guests who speak to him 'Just call me Prince'. Nice to meet you'.
He appears level-headed despite his showbiz background and the fact his father's estate has earned more than £360 million since his death.
Prince took time to talk about his TV and film ambition at an afterparty for HBO series 'True Blood' in LA. He told us 'I don't expect to walk into roles because of who I am. I want to learn my craft. '
He's also been presenting for US celebrity news show Entertainment Tonight. 'My plan is to work for TV companies, doing what I did for Entertainment Tonight'. I had such great fun working for that show and doing interviews'. I learned a lot. The feedback I got was really great too. I want to get more experience.
He added 'I really like hosting shows when I have the chance.'
I want to continue with that. I am off now from school for the summer so I'm going to concentrate on getting more experience in that field.'
Each month, sponsors and companies offer him deals worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. But he said ' I don't get to see the offers. I leave that in the hands of my manager. I don't just take everything that is given to me. I want to make a career out of this'.
Prince revealed his dad encouraged all of his kids to perform and write scripts and he would often film their projects. Prince said ' We all love movies, and I would like to be a director one day. But to be a good director you have to know how an actor works and feels on set'. I want to learn my craft and experience being on TV shows and possibly movies before I even consider going behind the camera. It is not a job to be taken lightly. You need to put your time in to learning something properly before overseeing others'.
As a child, Prince and his siblings faces were covered by Jackson to protect their identities. Now Prince has thrust himself into the limelight, he realises there are risks. He has taken up the martial arts muay Thai, ju jitsu and boxing. He explained 'I really love sports. I have been training now for a long time in martial arts. I did it for slf-defence but really I enjoy it for fitmess. It helps me relax.'
Prince steered clear of discussing his sister, who has been in recovery since a suicide scare last summer. She has been attending a private boarding school in Utah after being admitted to hospital for cuts to her arms and popping painkillers.
Family friends say she has recovered well in recent months, but Terry Harvey placed the blame for her trauma on Jackson's physician Conrad Murray, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in November 2011 but spent just two years in prison.
He said 'Conrad Murray has a lot to answer for. He has wrecked so many lives and yet the family and I agree he has shown no remorse, only self-pity. That family has been though hell because of that man'.
'He even tried to get Prince and Paris to testify for himin the criminal trial, thinking they supported him. What monster would do that?'. Terry had tried to encourage Michael to go to rehab before his London comeback. He said 'He needed rehab , not London shows, and a year getting healthier and off those crazy drugs. His father Joe and I were telling people that Michael needed to go to rehab and not on tour. We were trying to save Michael Jackson.
(There is also a side column with quotes from Jason Pfeiffer about Michael's childhood and as a dad..including the Berlin hotel balcony event. eg 'Jackson was scarred for life after thrashings from Joe's belt as he drove the brothers in the Jackson Five to be perfect in their dance moves')
sundayfeatures@the-sun.co.uk
