Re: MJJC Official Statement about Michael Forever Tribute / Tribute discussion / Estate statement @p
Transcripts of Katherine Jackson interview with HLN Showbiz last night
Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. And we are breaking big news tonight with a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive, face to face and one-on-one with Michael Jackson`s mother.
Katherine Jackson tearfully opened up to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about the controversial Michael Jackson tribute concert that`s being planned. Now, the concert is going to be going on at the same time that Dr. Conrad Murray will be on trial on charges that he`s the one to blame for Michael`s death.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that has sparked a family feud. Two of Michael Jackson`s brothers, Randy and Jermaine, have criticized the timing and they`re saying they want nothing to do with it.
But today, Katherine Jackson defended the concert in a headline-making exclusive interview with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter in Los Angeles.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: October 8th, the big tribute concert is right around the corner. Can you believe that it`s happening?
KATHERINE JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON`S MOTHER: Yes. But I`m excited about it. And I have to thank this gentleman and a few others for doing it. And even the children are excited, so we`ll be there.
WYNTER: What are they saying?
K. JACKSON: They were asking, "Where is it going to be?" And they said, "I can`t wait."
WYNTER: Who are the big performers that Michael`s children are looking forward to seeing? Any favorites?
K. JACKSON: Well, no. They haven`t said anything about favorites, but they just want to be there to see whoever is going to perform.
WYNTER: And honor their dad. You know, it`s been two years since Michael`s death. I believe the anniversary was in June. And some people are saying while something like this takes a great deal of planning. What took so long?
K. JACKSON: Since Michael passed, you know how it is being a mother. And it just - I don`t think it`s a long time. But it just - it takes a while. And I had to - at first, it`s something you`ll never get over. But these gentlemen came to me with the idea and I thought it was really nice.
WYNTER: Ms. Jackson, many would agree that you`ve been incredibly strong in all of this. Has it been really emotional for you planning this concert with your colleagues and just remembering your son?
K. JACKSON: Anything that anybody speaks to me about Michael today is emotional. There`s not a day that passes that I don`t get emotional about him going. But - you have to excuse me.
WYNTER: It`s still hard when you talk about it?
K. JACKSON: It`s very hard. It`s hard to talk about it.
WYNTER: When you think of all the amazing things that he would have done had he been alive today, his music, inspiring the world, really -
K. JACKSON: Yes.
WYNTER: We really, really lost an icon.
K. JACKSON: Yes. And I think Michael would have been really proud if he was here today. This is a concert he would really have loved, and that`s why I`m supporting it.
WYNTER: I have to ask, though, with the timing of the trial, and I know you don`t want to go into specifics, but I do want to mention not all the family members, the Jackson family members, are on board.
For example, Jermaine and Randy - in fact, they went as far as issuing a joint statement recently saying, "We want to make it clear this does not reflect the position of the entire family." I have to ask, Ms. Jackson, why now with the timing of the Conrad Murray trial?
K. JACKSON: Well, the trial is very important and I can understand how Michael - how Randy and Jermaine feel. But it`s been two years, and when these gentlemen came to me and talked about it, I thought it was a good idea. And I`d like to keep Michael`s legacy alive and that`s one of the reasons.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We think also that it`s a Saturday, when the courtroom is dark, it`s a chance for the world to have a joyous moment and remember the beautiful music that Michael made.
It will be a welcome relief from what will be a somber time during the trial, so we actually feel it`s just a wonderful moment. We`re going to raise money for the charities that Michael was very passionate about what he was alive. It`s just going to be wonderful.
WYNTER: Yes, and as you mentioned, Michael`s kids, they can`t wait. They`re excited about the big tribute. What`s the last couple years been like for them? How are they hanging in there?
K. JACKSON: They`re doing very well. They`re getting ready for school now, and they`re taking lessons - acting.
WYNTER: They`re acting.
K. JACKSON: Well, they`re taking acting lessons. This is what they want to do. And some - well, Paris really wants to be an actress. I think she`s announced it twice since she`s been on TV. But other than that, they`re doing very well.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Which, of course, is great to hear. And there, you heard it here first - the Jackson tribute concert is going full steam ahead despite protests by some of Michael`s own family.
With me right now in New York, Jane Velez-Mitchell, the host, of course, of "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL" right here on HLN. In Atlanta tonight, Vinnie Politan, the host of "HLN SPECIAL REPORT." Catch him every weekday at 5:00 p.m. Eastern here on HLN, followed, of course, by "PRIME NEWS" at 6:00 p.m.
So right there, we heard Katherine Jackson acknowledging that Jermaine and Randy object to the show being held at the same time Dr. Murray is on trial in connection with Michael`s death.
Now, Katherine says she`s wants to honor Michael`s legacy. I kind of get both sides of this. Jane, do you think it is in bad taste or inappropriate to have this concert going on at the same time while Dr. Murray is on trial?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL": I don`t know if it`s going to work in the same way Katherine intends, but I can see the desire to keep her son`s legacy alive.
Let`s face it. A trial like this is almost like putting a legacy on trial. There`s going to be discussion of Michael Jackson`s drug use. In her mind, she might be counteracting all that by saying, "Let`s put on a show." That`s the Jackson family`s reaction to this about everything.
Remember when Michael Jackson jumped on the SUV and danced? The whole family showed up in his child molestation trial dressed up in matching outfits. Whenever they`re in a jam, their reaction is, "Let`s put on a show."
HAMMER: It will be interesting to see if it actually happens, because there may be - it runs (UNINTELLIGIBLE) into the whole concert event, because, last month, a spokesman for Michael Jackson`s estate did tell us the promoters of this tribute concert never asked for, never obtained permission from the estate`s executors to use the late pop singer`s name or image.
I see that as a problem, but I`m not a lawyer. That`s why I go to you, Vinnie Politan. Could his mom be facing a lawsuit over that?
VINNIE POLITAN, HOST, "HLN SPECIAL REPORT": It could be a problem, and it doesn`t start with a lawsuit. It usually starts with a letter and it starts with a phone call and a discussion, perhaps some negotiations to try to figure out.
Because those who have the rights to it and have to protect that legacy and protect that image of Michael Jackson will want to probably have some sort of a say in the way he is portrayed throughout this whole thing.
So I don`t necessarily see it ending the lawsuit. It could end up in a lawsuit. I think people are going to sit down and talk to each other and try to figure it out first.
HAMMER: Yes, I would hope they would do that. An not that this whole deal means anything else to raise eyebrows, but we learned today that Kiss is joining the all-star lineup for this tribute concert.
Here`s the thing about that - Kiss` lead singer, Gene Simmons, in the past, questioned Michael`s sexuality. He seemed to suggest at one point that Michael may have abused young boys.
Jane, you were right there all those years covering Michael Jackson and his molestation charges. Do you find it at all strange that Kiss, of all bands, is going to be a part of this thing?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: It`s very strange. You have to wonder why, and I think the answer may simply be that Katherine Jackson is an elderly woman. She`s not keeping up with Kiss or any - I think it`s a strange combo, just Kiss even without the controversy.
HAMMER: I think it`s strange that Kiss would want to be part of it, based on what Gene has said in the past.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Exactly. Exactly, but I think the heart of this is that the Jackson estate doesn`t benefit all of the Jacksons, and it`s a large brood, and so Katherine wants to help out her other kids and her other grand kids.
She wants to provide a huge stage for all of them. She`s being a good grandma in her own mind because it`s going to be a family affair.
HAMMER: Yes. Best of intentions, I think, is what`s going on there.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes. Right.
