Frank Cascio "My Friend Michael"/ Excerpt @pg151/New Interview Post 3743

[maral]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

Again not to take Franks side here but what Aaron said can't be compared to this. He hinted that MJ was manipulating children. That is something we KNOW is not true

 

[BUMPER SNIPPET]

I already know that you corrected the grammar. and that's why I asked about objectivity. because you suddenly badmouthed the letter against Aaron and it made it seem like a blind hate honestly.

I did not badmouth it! I said why not one for Frank too?

Again not to take Franks side here but what Aaron said can't be compared to this. He hinted that MJ was manipulating children. That is something we KNOW is not true

Nobody's comparing the two. It's a question of principle when someone says something half-baked, twisted or negative about MJ.

 

[Justice_MJ]

Some people's anger or criticism on this thread is heightened due to the song controversy. There's no sense in denying that.

Didn't you warn me the other day that this is not the song thread even though I haven't mentioned the songs with one word? And now you use them to make your point. How convenient...

 

[twinklEE]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

Some people's anger or criticism on this thread is heightened due to the song controversy. There's no sense in denying that.

That may be the case, but that's not the case with me, I didn't give a damn about those supposed ''fake'' songs, which some fans loved to bring up in each and every thread, turning people off. My anger comes from genuine disappointment and anger, including anger toward myself, for actually giving this guy the benefit of a doubt for so long. I don't like people writing stuff about Michael for personal gain, regardless of it being positive or negative, I never dreamed of Frank playing into the hands of the media for the sake of the mighty $, so to see him do just that, doesn't sit well with me.

 

[marebear]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

I am upset and it has nothing to do with the songs. His family went on Oprah and said good things and when the drug question came up they acted surprised and said they saw nothing. I remember how glad I was that they said this to Oprah, someone who doesn't like Michael. I remember thinking why can't his family talk about him like this? Now this? Where they lying then or is this a lie? I am glad Oprah doesn't have her show now because she would have a field day with this. She could show him what he said on her show. That's all people want to talk about Michael about are the drugs. Nothing else. How can you go from nothing to now he saw things and got things away from Michael. It's a complete 180 and hard to understand.

 

[ivy]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

I did not badmouth it! I said why not one for Frank too?

Nobody's comparing the two. It's a question of principle when someone says something half-baked, twisted or negative about MJ.

You did compare two. We do not have a standing rule to write letters for everything and everyone. For example is anyone writing letters to Rebbie and Tito who today "admitted" that Michael was addicted to strong drugs after the trial? Anyone writing letters to Vegas Bodyguards who said Michael wouldn't want Murray in trial / prison? You see that it's not a general principle to write a letter to everyone that says anything negative. You clearly compared Aaron situation to Frank. And you clearly know that letter came after the "bed" story. I know because I was calling T-Mez about Aaron's statement in 2005.

Didn't you warn me the other day that this is not the song thread even though I haven't mentioned the songs with one word? And now you use them to make your point. How convenient...

can you honestly tell me that your opinion is not affected by the songs at all? That's my point. I honestly do not care if you can or cannot admit it. Everyone sees the elephant in the room.

and this is still the same "warning" if you want to call it that. I'm still making the same point. That posts and these posts still showing the same thing.

 

[BUMPER SNIPPET]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

You did compare two. We do not have a standing rule to write letters for everything and everyone. For example is anyone writing letters to Rebbie and Tito who today "admitted" that Michael was addicted to strong drugs after the trial? Anyone writing letters to Vegas Bodyguards who said Michael wouldn't want Murray in trial / prison? You see that it's not a general principle to write a letter to everyone that says anything negative. You clearly compared Aaron situation to Frank. And you clearly know that letter came after the "bed" story. I know because I was calling T-Mez about Aaron's statement in 2005.

The only facet I compared was the promotion for money. All the rest you wrote is your own imagination, or else quote me where I clearly compared the two as you claim?

 

[ivy]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

Ivy, will you have any chance to talk to him again?

Yes

The only facet I compared was the promotion for money. All the rest you wrote is your own imagination, or else quote me where I clearly compared the two as you claim?

you are forgetting the understanding part. and how we didn't spend time to understand Aaron and sent him an angry letter and how Frank was being portrayed as saint. You compared our alleged reactions towards the two and that's more than promotion.

and honestly in my opinion bringing their mother into this debate is low.

 

[Resa]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

Actually, the term "addicted" sounds bad but does it make any difference if saying he's has a prescription dependency issue?? I don't think so.
If he can explain or talk more ( he needs it because issues in the past (pain, accidents, allegations) then people will understand it better

Well actually it does, because as it was pointed out during the trial addiction and dependency are different.

 

[love is magical]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

It's not totally about the book. It's not about the songs neither. I OPENLY admit I have issues with the song. But, I pre-ordered the book because I am indeed able to separate the two matters. At one point, I genuinely wanted to hear from Frank Cascio.

Just when I was wondering what Frank would do to promote his book, he went on to 20/20 and described Michael as "situational addict". He KNOWS the media can't wait to portray Michael as a tragic, self destructive, drug addicted superstar. It's difficult not to feel disappointed.

 

[BUMPER SNIPPET]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

Yes



you are forgetting the understanding part. and how we didn't spend time to understand Aaron and sent him an angry letter and how Frank was being portrayed as saint. You compared our alleged reactions towards the two and that's more than promotion.

and honestly in my opinion bringing their mother into this debate is low.

I however did never say that the situation was the same.

By the way concerning their mother, I was serious. Mark my words. She will eventually do it.

 

[classic]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

Why does everything with Michael's name in it have to result in some big controversy? As people realized after Michael died, the frenzy was not his making but usually everyone else.

Fact of the matter-- Michael was one of the biggest celebrities and artists ever! On top of that--Michael was one of the most fascinating people on this planet; the way he created, the way he viewed the world, his inner strength (media could not figure out why they could not break him or condition him to say or do what they wanted or expected), his complexity mixed with everydayness on a personal level, his ability to disappear from the limelight and return to it upon his terms, and the list can go on forever. The public will always want more and more about him--just as fans did when he was living. Fans peeked into his life when they could; fans interacted with his staff at times; fans discussed what they thought he should and should not be doing or interacting with; fans gave updates on what he was doing and where he was going when they could; fans took on some of "his fights" with the media even when he had made the decision to remain silent about such. And even if it was out of love, it was also out of a curiosity and desire to know more.

The thing about all of this is being able to evaluate the sources of information. One thing that separates Frank from LaToya or Jermaine is the fact that he was there. And whether we like it or not, it was his friendship with Michael; that belonged to him. And so he gets to decide what to do with that first-hand knowledge. To actually know him personally and love him, maybe there is this need to speak about him--the concerns and the good. At times, you just want the public to get that he was human and with that goes faults and goodness. I think that is why some beloved celebrities of today get on my nerves because they are treated as if there are no faults. I don't need to hear about Michael's faults; that isn't what drives me. But, for someone who is going to try to give a picture of him that they knew for decades, then that will probably include some of the trying times. But, we can all evaluate what appears to be the purpose.

Michael separated from some for whatever reason; some of these people wrote books acting as if they knew the real facts when what they knew were second or third hand accounts or guesses. Michael maintained his friendship with the Cascios in a closer way than some of his own family. He has a right to view his friend through his experiences with him and to tell his story about his friendship with Michael--again the difference being he was there.

 

[bluesky]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

^^ explain the difference besides the word difference and addiction sound bad because usually related to narcotics, lsd.

 

[Justice_MJ]

3
can you honestly tell me that your opinion is not affected by the songs at all? That's my point. I honestly do not care if you can or cannot admit it. Everyone sees the elephant in the room.

and this is still the same "warning" if you want to call it that. I'm still making the same point. That posts and these posts still showing the same thing.

I don't get it. You telling me that I'm not allowed to bring the songs into this but at the same time talking and asking me about them. Doesn't make sense to me at all.

Nice distraction from yourself.

 

[MJJuniorSinceMW]

Yes



you are forgetting the understanding part. and how we didn't spend time to understand Aaron and sent him an angry letter and how Frank was being portrayed as saint. You compared our alleged reactions towards the two and that's more than promotion.

and honestly in my opinion bringing their mother into this debate is low.

Indeed low, but expected.
Feels like Dec 2010 allover again!

I'm waiting for the whole story & the context.
Then i'll decide!

 

[classic]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

It's not totally about the book. It's not about the songs neither. I OPENLY admit I have issues with the song. But, I pre-ordered the book because I am indeed able to separate the two matters. At one point, I genuinely wanted to hear from Frank Cascio.

Just when I was wondering what Frank would do to promote his book, he went on to 20/20 and described Michael as "situational addict". He KNOWS the media can't wait to portray Michael as a tragic, self destructive, drug addicted superstar. It's difficult not to feel disappointed.

Michael admitted years ago to a problem. Michael stated in a deposition that he could not remember certain things because of effects of medications. I take his word at face value. So, if Frank had any experiences involving Michael and medications, that would not surprise me. The thing is he would be in some sort of position to put things into context. Janet, Rebbie, Tito, Jermaine, and a host of others can't do that because they weren't there. You can tell based on people's accounts of Michael that he let some people know and see one part of him and kept that away from other people (even those considered friends). Heck, even Bashir stated in an interview, he never saw anything but Michael was not under any type of pressure or illness either where he might possibly need any kind of medication.

 

[love is magical]

^^ explain the difference besides the word difference and addiction sound bad because usually related to narcotics, lsd.

Again, there are millions of people who are DEPENDENT on prescription drugs for valid issue. There are people who rely on anti-depressant and painkiller to carry on daily functions. Would you call those people addict?

 

[love is magical]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

@Classic, have I ever denied that Michael had drug issue? If you took a look at my earlier posts, I clearly acknowledge Michael's issue. I do not call Frank a liar neither. I have never suggested he has no right to write about his friendship. He can of course write a book. I'm just saying the term "situation addict" is unnecessay and will not clear up the public misconception at all.

 

[classic]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

I'm quite curious about to understand this better myself. In Gest interview he denied the addict word but used dependency - in a medical sense. Here you have the addict word (again which I don't like) but it's combined with situational.

so what does it mean?
that he slept at their house when he had no stress (as their mother said on Oprah) but there had been times due to stress he needed Propofol.
that he had back pain issues and took demerol (as he said on Gest Interview) but it never was addiction or continuous.

so it's not clear at least to me as of now. We'll see it in 10 days I guess - good or bad.

Didn't the Cascios reply on Oprah about the sleep problems? I just remember the mother stating that Michael was always able to sleep well at their home. And maybe he was.

When people give interviews, wording is going to change. Heck sometimes maybe even perspective will change, especially when you are actually writing and reflecting about your experiences; sometimes you have to step back and summarizes things as a total and not in pieces and then you may say something sightly different. Or it could be that Frank knew things that other family members did not and was not ready to share with Oprah. To some people, addict implies out of control or drugs that are recreational versus medication and so they look for qualifying descriptors to a word. Also, it wouldn't be strange if there were long period of times when Frank didn't see a problem but perhaps in certain situations he did, such as strong stressful times, etc. And maybe Michael didn't deal with pain or stress the same each time. To me it seems as if Frank doesn't really like the addict word either, Ivy, but feels a need to try to explain what it is he saw while putting it in terms that people might be able to get--since some are acting as if dependency is just another nicer word for addict.

Frank refers to Michael in such high regards. So, I don't think that one of his huge role models throughout all these years was someone he saw as a hardcore addict. Maybe he just knew Michael's weak moments or situations and knew when to be on guard. That would come with being a friend.

 

[bluetopez]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

Frank can't be serious with the "situational addict" quote when he compared MJ to Elvis in MJ's own face. He was trying to sugar coat what he really meant. But, it was to late. I mean there he was saying he had to hide pills from MJ cause he didn't want to take a chance. SMH

Frank also gave totally credibilty to the Jacksons claims when he said they knew what was going on but, MJ kept them away. Yet there are still some trying to give frank the benifit of the doubt when they always attacking the Jacksons on Twitter for the same ish. I mean if ya'll believe Frank why not the Jacksons then when he says their right.

I know MJ had his issues but, why couldn't his REAL health issues be addressed which were also more then anything a reason for his drug use? It was totally ignored in that interview.

And why on Oprah was all this DENIED? Was it because no trial was yet started so they thought it wouldn't come up but, now that it has does he feel free to say whatever?

 

[ivy]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

^^ explain the difference besides the word difference and addiction sound bad because usually related to narcotics, lsd.

Again, there are millions of people who are DEPENDENT on prescription drugs for valid issue. There are people who rely on anti-depressant and painkiller to carry on daily functions. Would you call those people addict?

love is magical is right. in addition to the word difference there's the psychological difference.

addict would be a person for example popping 10 pills for no legitimate reason and in the hopes to get high
dependency would be a person for example taking 10 pills for chronic pain and had no motivation of getting high.

law makes this difference.

I have seen doctors say that physically addiction or dependency is the same thing because in both instances you have people who are taking 10 pills. the effects are the same regardless of the reason why.

from public perspective generally dependency and addiction is not separated from each other and are not also differentiated between prescription drugs and recreational drugs. everything is combined into an addict.

In that sense the use of "addict" is really unfortunate. but to me it seems like he didn't mean it like that. The word "situational" and his explanation at Gest documentary makes it seem like he was meaning dependency on prescription due to medical issues (such as back pain) at sometimes - which is quite normal and a lot of people can experience that in their life. That's why I'm waiting for the book to make a clear sense of what he actually means.

 

[bluesky]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

Again, there are millions of people who are DEPENDENT on prescription drugs for valid issue. There are people who rely on anti-depressant and painkiller to carry on daily functions. Would you call those people addict?

in the sense that you are dependent or can not live without it - Yes

 

[classic]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

@Classic, have I ever denied that Michael had drug issue? If you took a look at my earlier posts, I clearly acknowledge Michael's issue. I do not call Frank a liar neither. I have never suggested he has no right to write about his friendship. He can of course write a book. I'm just saying the term "situation addict" is unnecessay and will not clear up the public misconception at all.

Uhm. I really wasn't attacking you or your post. I was writing about thoughts that came as a result of reading your post. I really wasn't thinking any of the things you posted in regards to you at all. As for the term, Frank may have used bad wording or it may be how he sees it. He was there; he will have to explain it. How he is taking the term addict and others may be different. He would not be the first to not use perfect wording and he won't be the last. At some point, the public has to clear up misconceptions for themselves. Michael had all the facts dumped out about the accusations and yet people still chose to believe what they wanted. There is nothing else people can do about the public's thoughts when medical testimony doesn't do squat.

 

[Resa]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

in the sense that you are dependent or can not live without it - Yes

Would you call someone who has diabetes and can not survive without medication an addict? Because I don't see how that is different from someone that has to take anti anxiety medication to have a reasonably productive life.

Earlier you asked for the differences between addiction and dependency. The following is the difference.

Addiction:
feelings of satisfaction & desire to repeat drug experience;
altered state (euphoria, etc) NOT compatible with normal function;
risk of harm and need to stop drug use (this may be realized by the addict as well);
the entire focus of the person's life is obtaining and using drug to obtain the psychoactive effects; generally,
this person also eventually becomes physically dependent due to the prolonged and repetitive use of drug.

Dependence:
need the drug to function normally;
if condition improves, patient can be weaned from the drug;
PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE BY ITSELF DOES NOT EQUATE WITH ADDICTION
dependence is characterized by withdrawal symptoms;
dependence also occurs with nicotine, alcohol & SSRI antidepressants

 

[classic]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

Frank can't be serious with the "situational addict" quote when he compared MJ to Elvis in MJ's own face. He was trying to sugar coat what he really meant. But, it was to late. I mean there he was saying he had to hide pills from MJ cause he didn't want to take a chance. SMH

. . .

But, if this happened and if he really felt there were times he needed to hide pills, then so what? I have told a person before to watch how much of a painkiller they take because of what it could lead to. Was the person an addict? No. Did I even think of the person as an addict? No. Did I not want to see them dependent upon the medication knowing that if taken too regularly the person would have to keep upping the amount to get the effect, especially when I knew all the supposed side effects, etc.? Yes. Who knows if Frank had reason to worry or if he was being a worry wart. But, Frank had to deal with it as a friend in that time and moment. Apparently, Michael wasn't so upset that the friendship ended; he remained close to him.

What makes what Frank say differently than the Jacksons is that he is telling what he experienced. What we always get from them is they thought this and that and as if it was the only reason he could have possibly kept them at bay.

 

[Kikuchiyo]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

Didn't the Cascios reply on Oprah about the sleep problems? I just remember the mother stating that Michael was always able to sleep well at their home.

Before sleeping problem issue Oprah asked did they saw a sign of drug addiction, and Dominick and Eddie answered No, and Frank didn't say anything but like you said "it could be that Frank knew things that other family members did not and was not ready to share with Oprah."

 

[ivy]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

Frank can't be serious with the "situational addict" quote when he compared MJ to Elvis in MJ's own face.

How about Lisa Marie telling us that Michael felt that his end could be like Elvis?

Furthermore I'm not sure if anyone knows Elvis's drug problems. First of all he never used recreational drugs. He got prescription drugs. He had sleep problems going back to his childhood which got worse after he went to the war. He was said to not to be able to sleep more than 3 hours, he suffered serious insomnia. His initial treatment and drug use was due to insomnia. He used weight loss pills. He later used uppers (to function during daytime) and downers (to be able to sleep at night). He experienced several overdoses due to benzos and demerol. At the end his organs was weakened by the drug use which is believed to be the contributing factor to his heart stopping.

as you can see Elvis's insomnia and background for starting the drugs is not that different from Michael's reasons. From autopsy it's a clear that Michael was no where close to Elvis.

 

[classic]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

Also, pain and anxiety and other related issues are so subjective that that is why people get into these gray areas with the terms and can easily accept medication for blood pressure and diabetes from these medications. Michael obviously had medical reasons for the medications. Yet, some people may say, I understand this hurts but does it really hurt to the point that you need the medication or is it just that you don't want to feel even the slightest pain; for some the second option would imply that you are taking the medication too much or needlessly. For example, with Michael's insomnia, there are people who will never get what insomnia is to the degree that it drives a person to ask for propofol; no matter how much any of us would have been concerned and understanding of Michael's sleep problem, how many would have not given a second thought to knowing he was taking propofol for it?

 

[classic]

Re: Frank Cascio to write memoir of his friend Michael Jackson / press release at pg12 / Nov 15 ,201

Before sleeping problem issue Oprah asked did they saw a sign of drug addiction, and Dominick and Eddie answered No, and Frank didn't say anything but like you said "it could be that Frank knew things that other family members did not and was not ready to share with Oprah."

Thanks for this answer.

 

[love is magical]

in the sense that you are dependent or can not live without it - Yes

Read Ivy's post above you please.