Posting the DRAFT statement here before it goes in the rebuttal threads. Thoughts, please. And since I am in a sensitive mood today, please be constructive and GENTLE
On 23 June, 2011 the tabloid OK magazine released an article quoting singer Aaron Carter as saying that Michael Jackson plied with him liquor and gave him cocaine. This claim has now been widely reported and accepted as fact.
It is now being reported by TMZ, a tabloid news site, that Carter’s representative has vehemently denied that he ever said the quotes stated in the article. While this news may be welcomed by some, the Michael Jackson fan community is disappointed that it has taken two days - in which Jackson’s character was maligned - before the Carter camp responded to the OK article.
This story had been circulating for two weeks and some concerned Jackson fans had reached out to Mr Carter only to be rebuffed and ignored. An official and strong statement of denial would have halted this story in its tracks. However, the speculation and innuendo were allowed to linger. And all those involved have been able to raise their profiles on the back of Mr Jackson. In fact the only person who has been and will continue to be damaged in this debacle is Michael Jackson who is not here to defend himself.
OK released an edited excerpt of the interview and the transcript of which does not corroborate the article. Nowhere in this edited excerpt does Carter state that Mr Jackson gave him drugs. Carter only speculates on what may have happened when he was not present but said he never personally saw any abuse of drugs.
Furthermore, it is disturbing that we live in a time when our media is willing to copy and paste a story without first verifying its accuracy and veracity. No-one attempted to balance the story with the fact that over the years Aaron Carter had defended Jackson and spoke highly of him, as recently as 2010. (links here). No-one mentioned that it is incredible to think that Carter's mother called the police about this matter and it was not raised at the 2005 trial in which Aaron Carter was on the defense witness list. The lazy journalism that is being practised today does a grave dis-service to everyone.
We call on all fans to boycott the magazine and to express their opinion to the editors of OK magazine and to Daphne Barak (the author) and demand a retraction of the article unless they can provide full and clear evidence that Aaron Carter did actual speak the words they claim he spoke. Fans also need to let their sources of news and information know that they are no longer interested in uncorroborated, salacious stories. The charge of giving alcohol and COCAINE to a minor is a serious one and it is not be treated as tabloid fodder for the sake of website ‘hits’ and magazine sales.
Michael Jackson was defamed and maligned in life, his fans are committed and determined to see that this defamation does not continue in death.
Will put in links later.
Still cannot find info on Carter's rep. Anyone have any ideas?
