Latest on MJJC

Is J. Randy Taraborelli a reliable source?

KingofPop125

Proud Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2021
Messages
84
Points
18
Again, I have heard mixed things about him. He’s the most cited MJ biographer and his book is the most comprehensive of them all. However, the accuracy I have heard has been questioned, both as being too pro-MJ by some critics, and too anti-MJ by some moonwalkers.

The cons I have heard is that it apparently has untrustworthy sources like Diane Diamond, that he apparently exaggerates his friendship with Michael, that it drops off from 1993 onwards, etc.

The pros that I have heard is that it actually is reliable and accurate, he’s an accomplished biographer, there are original photos of MJ provided by Taraborelli, and I have seen on his socials that he is a loud and proud MJ supporter defending him against the false allegations along with other things.

So which is true and which is false?
 
Yes he is reliable and was friends with Mike in their teenage years. I talk to him all the time on Facebook as he likes to show us pics of his cute dog axel and he is always kind to mj fans when they chat with him
 
8701girl said:
Yes he is reliable and was friends with Mike in their teenage years. I talk to him all the time on Facebook as he likes to show us pics of his cute dog axel and he is always kind to mj fans when they chat with him
Click to expand...
And yet he uses Gutierrez's book as a source for the chandler parts of his book.......
 
Has there ever been an adult picture of the two of them together? I’ve see one pic in their youth and this charlatan milks his relationship to death —just like all the other people who claimed to be good pals with MJ.
 
But does he claim they were friends in later life? I thought he said MJ was mad at him at some point..?
 
No, unreliable and deluded. His book evolves as its re released to a guilty narrative, he's friends with Charlie Thompson which I friend strange
 
Victorious said:
But does he claim they were friends in later life? I thought he said MJ was mad at him at some point..?
Click to expand...
John Randy Taraborrelli and Michael Jackson were friends in later life, when they used to talk on the phone.

Also, during the 2005 trial, they even met face to face on several occasions.

Michael Jackson was mad at him at some point (because of a joke that the author made about the singer's marriage in 1994), but Michael Jackson did not bear a grudge against him.
 
mj_frenzy said:
John Randy Taraborrelli and Michael Jackson were friends in later life, when they used to talk on the phone.

Also, during the 2005 trial, they even met face to face on several occasions.

Michael Jackson was mad at him at some point (because of a joke that the author made about the singer's marriage in 1994), but Michael Jackson did not bear a grudge against him.
Click to expand...
proof they talked on the phone?
 
kelley said:
proof they talked on the phone?
Click to expand...
For example, in 1993 (August) when Michael Jackson thanked him on the phone about the positive comments that the author made about him regarding the 1993 Chandler sexual scandal.

Or, after the 2005 trial, when on certain occasions they briefly talked on the phone (this was publicly confirmed by John Randy Taraborrelli himself).

Keep in mind also that John Randy Taraborrelli had a close relationship (for many years) not only with Michael Jackson but also with the entire Jackson family.
 
I do remember Taraborrelli mentioning during the 2005 trial that Michael walked past him and he smelt like moth balls, what a jerk
 
Yes and no. There is some insightful stuff he talks about. I feel like he got more insight into his interviews with MJ than most. But he still doesn't really get MJ and some stuff he said is too out there.
 
yes, he’s one of the most reliable sources regarding michael’s life.

he originally ran a diana ross & the supremes fan club. he was advised to cover the jackson 5, a new group that diana ross would be mentoring and presenting to the public. this was before the release of ‘i want you back’.

taraborrelli got to know the jackson 5 and the family in general. he would interview them all for several decades. whether it was for ‘soul’ magazine which he was a writer and editor for, or for his biography series ‘the magic and the madness’. most of his interviews are audio or in print. some have never been published.

his character even made it into the jacksons ‘american dream’ tv movie. a movie that he previously discussed before its release in the original edition of his book in 1991. his character was the reporter asking joe jackson questions at the hospital after michael’s hair caught fire. again, the dialogue in that scene literally came from the original edition of his book..

I find the original edition to be the most credible. it was so ahead of its time that most of today’s ‘revelations’ were already exposed back then.

such as..

• michael wanting john branca to burn the ‘thriller’ tapes after the jehovah’s witnesses disapproved of it.

• michael agreeing to only be shown on camera for a total of four seconds, during the 1984 pepsi commercials.

• michael talking singer and janet’s ex husband, james debarge, out of jumping off the roof of the hayvenhurst house.

• michael hiding in the bathroom at the White House, because he didn’t see any children.

• singer prince being invited to join ‘we are the world’ and not showing up, and so much more..

all of these things have been verified by the people who were there to witness it firsthand since then.

the book tackled michael’s public image he created, versus how he behaved behind the scenes. from his speaking voice, to the stories he and his team planted in the media. we learn about the ruthless business man, and the damaged man-child.

I find it interesting that fans don’t believe the book, yet they believe the phone conversations with glenda stein, which michael literally quotes stories from it verbatim..

taraborrelli continues to support michael today on his facebook page. he also shares rare pictures and stories of the family. however, he’s never been afraid to hold michael accountable for his self destructive behaviour. this is why fans don’t like him. they expect everything to be one sided praise.
 
mj_frenzy said:
For example, in 1993 (August) when Michael Jackson thanked him on the phone about the positive comments that the author made about him regarding the 1993 Chandler sexual scandal.

Or, after the 2005 trial, when on certain occasions they briefly talked on the phone (this was publicly confirmed by John Randy Taraborrelli himself).

Keep in mind also that John Randy Taraborrelli had a close relationship (for many years) not only with Michael Jackson but also with the entire Jackson family.
Click to expand...
So Taraborrelli's source is "trust me bro"

got it.
 
mj_frenzy said:
John Randy Taraborrelli and Michael Jackson were friends in later life, when they used to talk on the phone.

Also, during the 2005 trial, they even met face to face on several occasions.

Michael Jackson was mad at him at some point (because of a joke that the author made about the singer's marriage in 1994), but Michael Jackson did not bear a grudge against him.
Click to expand...
It wasn't later in life THEY WERE FRIENDS IN THEIR TEENAGE YEARS!!! IVE SEEN PICS
 
83magic said:
yes, he’s one of the most reliable sources regarding michael’s life.

he originally ran a diana ross & the supremes fan club. he was advised to cover the jackson 5, a new group that diana ross would be mentoring and presenting to the public. this was before the release of ‘i want you back’.

taraborrelli got to know the jackson 5 and the family in general. he would interview them all for several decades. whether it was for ‘soul’ magazine which he was a writer and editor for, or for his biography series ‘the magic and the madness’. most of his interviews are audio or in print. some have never been published.

his character even made it into the jacksons ‘american dream’ tv movie. a movie that he previously discussed before its release in the original edition of his book in 1991. his character was the reporter asking joe jackson questions at the hospital after michael’s hair caught fire. again, the dialogue in that scene literally came from the original edition of his book..

I find the original edition to be the most credible. it was so ahead of its time that most of today’s ‘revelations’ were already exposed back then.

such as..

• michael wanting john branca to burn the ‘thriller’ tapes after the jehovah’s witnesses disapproved of it.

• michael agreeing to only be shown on camera for a total of four seconds, during the 1984 pepsi commercials.

• michael talking singer and janet’s ex husband, james debarge, out of jumping off the roof of the hayvenhurst house.

• michael hiding in the bathroom at the White House, because he didn’t see any children.

• singer prince being invited to join ‘we are the world’ and not showing up, and so much more..

all of these things have been verified by the people who were there to witness it firsthand since then.

the book tackled michael’s public image he created, versus how he behaved behind the scenes. from his speaking voice, to the stories he and his team planted in the media. we learn about the ruthless business man, and the damaged man-child.

I find it interesting that fans don’t believe the book, yet they believe the phone conversations with glenda stein, which michael literally quotes stories from it verbatim..

taraborrelli continues to support michael today on his facebook page. he also shares rare pictures and stories of the family. however, he’s never been afraid to hold michael accountable for his self destructive behaviour. this is why fans don’t like him. they expect everything to be one sided praise.
Click to expand...
I believe the FIRST version of the book, the updates were tabloid trash 🗑
 
It's like when Madonna had a get-together with "500 of her closest friends".

It's showbiz, people.
 
83magic said:
yes, he’s one of the most reliable sources regarding michael’s life.

he originally ran a diana ross & the supremes fan club. he was advised to cover the jackson 5, a new group that diana ross would be mentoring and presenting to the public. this was before the release of ‘i want you back’.

taraborrelli got to know the jackson 5 and the family in general. he would interview them all for several decades. whether it was for ‘soul’ magazine which he was a writer and editor for, or for his biography series ‘the magic and the madness’. most of his interviews are audio or in print. some have never been published.

his character even made it into the jacksons ‘american dream’ tv movie. a movie that he previously discussed before its release in the original edition of his book in 1991. his character was the reporter asking joe jackson questions at the hospital after michael’s hair caught fire. again, the dialogue in that scene literally came from the original edition of his book..

I find the original edition to be the most credible. it was so ahead of its time that most of today’s ‘revelations’ were already exposed back then.

such as..

• michael wanting john branca to burn the ‘thriller’ tapes after the jehovah’s witnesses disapproved of it.

• michael agreeing to only be shown on camera for a total of four seconds, during the 1984 pepsi commercials.

• michael talking singer and janet’s ex husband, james debarge, out of jumping off the roof of the hayvenhurst house.

• michael hiding in the bathroom at the White House, because he didn’t see any children.

• singer prince being invited to join ‘we are the world’ and not showing up, and so much more..

all of these things have been verified by the people who were there to witness it firsthand since then.

the book tackled michael’s public image he created, versus how he behaved behind the scenes. from his speaking voice, to the stories he and his team planted in the media. we learn about the ruthless business man, and the damaged man-child.

I find it interesting that fans don’t believe the book, yet they believe the phone conversations with glenda stein, which michael literally quotes stories from it verbatim..

taraborrelli continues to support michael today on his facebook page. he also shares rare pictures and stories of the family. however, he’s never been afraid to hold michael accountable for his self destructive behaviour. this is why fans don’t like him. they expect everything to be one sided praise.
Click to expand...
one important detail I forgot to mention, is that j randy taraborrelli was the first to reveal the truth about the real ‘billie jean’, who inspired the song.

who exactly the ‘three kids’ were who taught him the moonwalk (aka the backslide).

michael gave vague answers on topics such as these. ‘the magic and the madness’ went into much greater depth. the stories come from those who were involved. time has, and will continue, to prove it to be true.

the book was the foundation that following books, documentaries, and even youtube channels, were built upon. there’s a reason it was a number one bestseller in multiple countries. there’s a reason why the author is well sought after to this day.

taraborrelli was even at michael’s memorial. he covered the private funeral and spoke to one of the brothers that day. he was invited to contribute to the ‘life of an icon’ documentary , that was co produced by tito jackson.

he’s not a nobody. he has way more credentials than random fans on x, who spread misinformation. in fact, michael had his secretary record the first edition of the book on to tapes so he could listen to them. this is something that was also corroborated by adrian grant in his book ‘the visual documentary’. apparently michael liked the book. he only took issue with the discussion about his plastic surgeries.. otherwise he thought it would make a great movie. I wouldn’t be surprised if many of the things revealed in this book end up in the biopic..
 
Annita said:
There is only one picture
Click to expand...
he has many rare, never before seen pictures of michael and his family. have you seen his social media posts?

even if there was only one picture; that doesn’t disprove anything. there are no pictures of michael and prince, yet people have so many stories of the two of them together.

michael claimed to be good friends with princess diana; yet there’s only pictures from one event of the two of them together.

where are the pictures of michael with blanket’s mother?

I could go on..
 
Zeus 7 said:
I believe the FIRST version of the book, the updates were tabloid trash 🗑
Click to expand...
he had more direct contact with michael for the first book. I still find the 2003 version to be quite accurate though. I haven’t read the final edition, where he admittedly lost contact and interest in michael. I can’t imagine there being much insight.. by that point ‘untouchable’ by randall sullivan was a better choice for covering the final chapter of michael’s life..
j randy taraborrelli was planning to write another book in 2019, but it was cancelled for obvious reasons..
 
KingofPop125 said:
Again, I have heard mixed things about him. He’s the most cited MJ biographer and his book is the most comprehensive of them all. However, the accuracy I have heard has been questioned, both as being too pro-MJ by some critics, and too anti-MJ by some moonwalkers.

The cons I have heard is that it apparently has untrustworthy sources like Diane Diamond, that he apparently exaggerates his friendship with Michael, that it drops off from 1993 onwards, etc.

The pros that I have heard is that it actually is reliable and accurate, he’s an accomplished biographer, there are original photos of MJ provided by Taraborelli, and I have seen on his socials that he is a loud and proud MJ supporter defending him against the false allegations along with other things.

So which is true and which is false?
Click to expand...
my advice would be to read the book for yourself if you haven’t already. it can be found in many libraries if you don’t want to spend money on it. draw your own conclusions and don’t be influenced by the opinions of others. that’s my advice in regards to michael, and anything in general; do your own research, and maintain your own independent, critical thinking mind.
 
The problem with the final edition (which is the one I read) is the Chandler/Lisa Marie's parts where it is obviously more their point of view than MJ's. Its hard to read the Chandler part. Nothing wrong with any of that, but it seems that after 1993 it's way more about people speaking on behalf of MJ rather than people describing things he'd say or do or feel. Its like a wall separating Michael from the world was enacted from 1993 and on. Still, there are a couple of interesting personal insights on MJ after 1993, but we get way less stuff. He quickly breezes through the 2000s as well.

But before 1993 it's a good book and it does a good job of painting who MJ is, without fluff but without malicious intent as well.
 
He's not a reliable source at all. One of many people who used knowing MJ for a very brief period of time to act like he was friends or somehow an authority in order to sell his book or get attention.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top