“They Dont Care About Us” the latest single to be taken from the “Visionary” box set has landed in the official UK Singles Charts at No.26.

Michael Jackson is after me, and I’m none too happy. Apparently I’m on some kind of witness list in a lawsuit against Jackson, filed by his former business partner and gay porn kingpin Mark Schaffel.

Schaffel claims that Jackson aced him out of millions. He should get in line, because Jackson has been accused of that misdeed by others in the past.

I’m not sure why Jackson wants me as his witness, but I am really upset that his lawyer is harassing me.

The guy has called me before and left messages asking me to speak with him. Last I checked, this is America and if I don’t want to talk to him I don’t have to. So on Saturday morning, my home phone rings and it’s none other than Jackson’s lawyer. I asked him how he got my unpublished number and he said he had hired a private investigator to hunt me down.

I ended the call quickly and sternly. Apparently, this guy hasn’t learned the fine art of winning people over. What a perfect fit for M.J.

By the way, if the lawyer is reading this, don’t call me. If I want, I’ll call you.

Source: TMZ

Acording to journalist Ancelmo Góis from the brazilian paper O Globo, the King Of Pop Michael Jackson will choose Brazil as one of the locations for his next DVD.

The singer, 47, who film his clip “They Don’t Care About Us” in 1996 with Olodum in Pelourinho de Salvador and Rio de Janeiro, should arrive in the country in august.

Source: O Globo

The spotlight will shine again on Michael Jackson’s lavish spending and bizarre lifestyle when the fallen pop idol’s $3.8 million court battle with a former business associate kicks off today.

In the civil suit, Jackson’s former video producer, Marc Schaffel, alleges the debt-drenched star owes him $2.1 million for unrepaid loans and expenses, $1 million in unpaid salary, $664,000 in proceeds from two Fox TV specials and $74,000 in legal fees.

Jackson’s counterclaim alleges Schaffel, a former porn film producer, took $250,000 worth of the singer’s artworks and pocketed proceeds from the post-9/11 charity single “What More Can I Give.”

Jackson and Schaffel deny each other’s claims.

Lawyers are slated to hammer out last-minute details tomorrow and pick a jury on Tuesday in Santa Monica Superior Court. Opening statements will follow.

The singer, who has been living in Bahrain, “won’t be there for the first part” of the trial, when Schaffel’s side presents his evidence, but he may show up later, said his lawyer, Thomas Mundell.

If Jackson, 48, does not appear, Schaffel’s lawyer, Howard King, may play his two-part, videotaped deposition for the jury.

During the deposition, the wacky singer testified under oath that he got all his spending money in 2003 through “the leasing of cows on the [Neverland] estate …. Yes, believe it or not,” he is quoted in court papers as saying.

At other times, Jackson seemed to have amnesia about his finances, often replying, “I’m foggy about what happened,” court papers show.

Schaffel alleged Jackson’s “excessive use of drugs and alcohol impelled him into irrational demands for large amounts of money and extravagant possessions,” according to court papers.

When Jackson was facing child-molestation charges in late 2003, Schaffel produced two TV specials, “Michael Jackson: The Footage You Were Never Meant to See” and “Michael Jackson’s Private Home Movies” to boost his image. Jackson reportedly grossed $12 million from the Fox-aired programs, according to court papers.

Jackson was acquitted of all charges last June.

This trial is expected to provide yet another glimpse of what insiders call “Michael’s World.”

“Jackson carried no credit cards, wrote no checks, carried no walking-around money and had people attending to his every need,” Schaffel’s trial brief says.

The pop star was known for leaving rambling incoherent voicemail messages, some of which will be played for the jury, including this one he left for Schaffel in 2001.

“Marc, it’s Michael Jackson calling and I would like to go over orally the agreement ’cause you excited me very much last night - and what you said about how we would make the acquisition of the code word ….”

Court papers also allege that the pop star shelled out $1 million to his pal Marlon Brando and spent $600,000 on a necklace for Elizabeth Taylor to get their cooperation on entertainment projects.

Source: NY Daily News

Michael Jackson unmercifully harassed a Los Angeles woman, tampering with her food and water and threatening her life, according to a lawsuit obtained by TMZ.

The bizarre case, filed by Helen Harris-Scott, alleges that she began sending Jackson cards and letters in 1986, declaring her “love and admiration” for the singer. The plaintiff claims Jackson was “shy” and communicated with her through others and through his music.

Harris-Scott claims things turned ugly around 1987 when Jackson, who was “connected with criminals,” flattened her tires and tampered with her brake system. She also says a GPS tracking device was secretly installed in her car, tracking her every move. She says her phone was also wiretapped.

Harris-Scott claims it got even worse, alleging Jackson had “organized criminals watching me inside my house in L.A. and reporting to him.”

She is asking the court to order a public apology from Jackson and “immediate disconnection of all the surveillance and wiretapping equipment.” By the way, she also wants $100 million.

Michael Jackson’s rep Raymone Bain says “Wonders never cease to amaze me” and said Mr. Jackson has not been advised of the case. She would not comment past this.

Source: TMZ.com

Well what a day to celebrate, I was so happy about this I actually forgot its my dad’s birthday when I saw him earlier. But 1 year on and the emotions are still there, the fans that united around the world and stood together.

Tonight a few friends are getting together to celebrate by dinner, I know many fans are doing things to mark this day.

I’ ve seen so much love for MJ during and since the trial. I have never been so busy previous to this, Im now working around 150 shows per year. When i mention ‘MJ is innocent’ at the shows, the crowd always reacts with cheers and applause.

I have always said, with Michael Jackson we ve seen the biggest selling artist, the biggest selling album, the biggest world tours, the biggest trial & we will witness the biggest comeback!

God bless
Navi

Source: MJFC

By Roger Friedman

There’s nothing more that Grace Rwarmba wants than to marry Michael Jackson.

The former pr assistant who was promoted to nanny for Jackson’s kids several years ago has never made a secret of her desire to wed the former King of Pop.

Now word is spreading that the marriage may occur, if only so Jackson can present a unified “normal” family when ex-wife Debbie Rowe tries to gain joint custody and increased visitation with her two children, Prince and Paris. She gave birth to them while married to Jackson in the mid 1990s and let Jackson have full custody.

But now that a California appellate court has restored Rowe’s parental rights, Jackson is said to be worried about an upcoming legal battle.
Marrying Grace, in his mind, might solve the problem.

But Jackson is said to be mostly unaware that Rwarmba had an affair with his brother Jermaine in 1999-2000, sources tell me. If he were to find out, insiders say, that could be the end for the nanny’s expectations of nuptials.

Not only that: Rwarmba is widely disliked in the Jackson camp by nearly all of his family members and his remaining two or three employees. They see her as a social climbing gold digger who wants what’s left of Jackson’s money.

Last year, I told you that many in Jackson’s inner circle worried that Rwarmba was drugging Jackson and keeping him isolated from family and friends. Rwarmba has been with Jackson and his three kids (including the youngest, nicknamed Blanket, who was dangled from a hotel window in 2002) since they left the U.S. a year ago for Bahrain. Family members and business associates who want to speak with Jackson must call the nanny, who decides what calls are put through to the abundantly weird singer.

Source: FOX News

According to reports, Michael Jackson will be entering the studio to produce his first studio album since “Invincible” was released in 2001.

As you will recall, Guy Holmes has been named CEO of the new project teaming MJ with Bahrain royal family member Abdulla Hamad Al-Khalifa.

Michael was quoted by the Toronto Fashion Monitor as saying “I am incredibly excited about my new venture, and I am enjoying being back in the studio making music.

Michael Jackson is considered to be a music industry mogul for decades and known to be one of the most successful artists in history.

Source: Moldova.org, MJFC

13 June 2006
One year later: The Michael Jackson Verdict

BY DAWN HOBBS, NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

One year ago today, Michael Jackson left the Santa Maria courthouse a free man after a jury acquitted him of child molestation, ending one of the most widely covered criminal trials in recent history.

The verdict on June 13, 2005, brought to a close a five-month trial that featured celebrity witnesses — including Macaulay Culkin, Chris Tucker and Jay Leno — bizarre testimony and twists that drew media attention from Australia to Iceland.

The prosecution, headed by District Attorney Tom Sneddon, painted Mr.
Jackson as a pedophile who lured a 13-year-old boy to Neverland Valley Ranch in 2003 to molest him. The defense team, led by Thomas Mesereau, attacked the credibility of the prosecution’s witnesses and portrayed the accuser and his mother as conniving grifters with a history of targeting wealthy celebrities.

In the end, the jury sided with the pop star, acquitting him of all charges.

So, a year later, where are the key players now? And how did the trial affect their lives?

THE DEFENDANT

The stress of the trial took its toll on the pop star, who was facing up to
18 years in state prison if convicted. A visibly thinner and obviously exhausted Mr. Jackson left the courthouse the day of the verdict. He briefly returned to his Los Olivos estate and then headed for the Persian Gulf with his three young children, taking up residence with the prince of Bahrain to recuperate.

Mr. Jackson, 47, continued to lie low until Hurricane Katrina hit, when he scrambled to create a star-studded charity single, “I Have this Dream,”
which is expected to be released soon. Mr. Jackson plans to return to the recording studio in Bahrain with the intent of releasing a new album in late 2007, said spokeswoman Raymone Bain.

Mr. Jackson’s first public appearance since the verdict wasn’t until just a couple weeks ago, when he received MTV Japan’s “Legend Award.” Appearing much healthier, Mr. Jackson also visited children at an orphanage in Tokyo.
He’s scheduled to make future stops in Singapore, Shanghai, China and Hong Kong.

It’s unknown when or if he will ever return to Neverland.

THE ACCUSER

The boy, 16, and his brother, 15, are both honor students who are on the high school football team and involved in military and volunteer activities.

“Given the ordeal they endured, these two boys are doing just fine,” said Senior Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen.

The older boy, who was battling cancer when he met Mr. Jackson, is in good health, Mr. Zonen said.

The District Attorney’s Office helped the family move to a secret location during the trial and change their names to avoid being harassed, he said.
However, the family has received no further money from the county, the prosecutor said.

Following the verdict, a Jackson fan used his own Web site to reveal the boy’s name and the school he was attending, Mr. Zonen said. “It’s a credit to the boys that they didn’t run or change schools.”

The boy’s mother has apparently had standing offers to sell her story to the media but has declined, he said.

The woman, whose bizarre testimony and erratic behavior made jurors question her credibility, may now be facing trial herself. During the Jackson trial, she invoked the Fifth Amendment to avoid testifying about alleged welfare fraud.

After the verdict, Los Angeles authorities filed charges against her: one count of welfare fraud and four counts of perjury pertaining to false applications for welfare aid. She faces arraignment later this month.

THE DEFENSE

After the verdict, Mr. Mesereau landed a spot on Barbara Walters’ 10 Most Fascinating People of 2005, along with Condoleezza Rice and Tom Cruise.

The Los Angeles-based lawyer has spent the past year speaking with various legal and civil rights organizations. But he’s most proud of his talks with schoolchildren about the value of an education and the futility of interracial violence. Two weeks ago, he received an award in Washington, D.C., with New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for his work on behalf of inner-city children.

Mr. Mesereau continues his annual trips to the South. Each year he takes the case of a defendant facing the death penalty, and this year again received an acquittal on a capital murder charge in Birmingham, Ala.

He recently assisted in the opening of a free legal clinic in Los Angeles that was named after him.

“The trial has made me much more popular — for better or for worse,” Mr.
Mesereau said. “But I would hope I’ve stayed who I am.”

He’s formed a new law firm with partner Susan Yu, who also opened a free legal clinic at her Korean-American church in Los Angeles and was named one of the top 75 women litigators in California after the verdict.

Co-counsel Robert Sanger has returned to his law practice in Santa Barbara.

He recently received an award from Death Penalty Focus, an anti-capital punishment group, for an article published in the Santa Clara Law Review that prompted legislators to form a commission to review the application of the death penalty in California.

“The trial really didn’t change my life,” he said.

THE PROSECUTION

Mr. Sneddon, who also tried to put Mr. Jackson behind bars a decade ago on similar allegations, said before this round that he was going to step down from the post he’s held since 1983. His successor will be Christie Stanley, his North County assistant.

Mr. Sneddon could not be reached on Monday.

After the trial, Mr. Zonen returned to his work with the district attorney’s sex crimes unit. The veteran prosecutor is also preparing for the trial of Jesse James Hollywood, who was arrested in Brazil during the Jackson trial and charged with the murder of 15-year-old Nicholas Markowitz.

“Frankly, once the Jackson trial was over, I went about my life and was doing what I was doing before,” Mr. Zonen said.

Source: Santa Barbara New Press

Earth Song debuted at #34 today in the UK singles chart.

Source: BBC Radio 1