Jackson Tapes Reveal Inner Turmoil

By PopEater Staff Posted Sep 25th 2009 12:57PM

Taped conversations between Michael Jackson and his one-time friend Rabbi Shmuley Boteach are the subject of a new book: 'The Michael Jackson Tapes: A Tragic Icon Reveals His Soul in Intimate Conversation.' The rabbi appeared on NBC's 'Today' show to discuss the 30 hours of recordings (taped with Jackson's permission) he used when writing the book. "I don't think Michael will be looked at the same after people read this book," Boteach says. "It's impossible... So many of us who look at Michael as strange or weird - that's not what I experienced. [I saw] indescribable pain."

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The conversations, which occurred nine years ago, paint a picture of a troubled man. He described the abuse he suffered at the hands of his father, Joe Jackson, telling Boteach that his youngest performances with the Jackson Five were marred by his father's attention. "You'd look in the audience and he'd make a face like this," Jackson said. "You'd go, 'Oh, I can't mess up, he's gonna kill us.' It would just scare the bejesus out of you."

The punishment for messing up, as Jackson recalled, was being stripped naked and doused with oil before being whipped with a cord. "He was rough," Jackson said. "The way he would beat us was rough. There was nothing I could do. I hated him for it."

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Michael Jackson with baby son Prince and mother Debbie Rowe on cover of OK! Magazine in 1997.

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Jackson also told Boteach that he felt that his childhood was lost to a music career that was more time-consuming than he wanted. "I wanted so badly to play in the park across the street because the kids were playing baseball and football but I had to record," Jackson said. "I could see the park, right across the street. But I had to go in the other building and work until late at night making the albums.

"I sat there looking at the kids with tears running down my face and I would say, "I am trapped and I have to do this for the rest of my life. I am under contract."

One of Jackson's more questionable revelations was his opinion of Nazi party leader Adolf Hiltler. The King of Pop told Rabbi Boteach that he considered Hitler a "genius orator" and said no one is purely evil, insisting he could have helped Hitler "by touching something inside of him."

Jackson described himself as a lonely man, isolated by his fame, and explained some of his bizarre habits to Boteach. "There was Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, an aloof superstar who had everything and needed no one," he said. "And Michael Jackson, the shy kid under the mask, who lacked even a single real friend. I knew that something was wrong with me at that time. But I needed someone... That's probably why I had the mannequins."

"I would say because I felt I needed people... I was too shy to be around real people. I didn't talk to them."

Tags: joe jackson, JoeJackson, michael jackson, MichaelJackson, shmuley boteach, ShmuleyBoteach

Comments

(264)

Monday 28 September

By B.

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

hey lets not get carried away ok...We love Michael Jackson and we enjoy his music and talent but in a million years should we ever place him on the same level as Jesus Christ. Lets keep it real and stay grounded!

Friday 25 September

By tom m

agreed.And I have massive respect and love for Michael but I know that even he would bristle at the thought of being compared to Jesus.

By C-1

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Since jesus wasn't special by any means, yes I would. I would put this man in higher regards, he had some serious issues, but made billions of people happy. He affected so many people, he was one of, if not the greatest entertainer of all time.

I can't recall jesus actually doing anything worth talking about in reality. Not in your little fairy tales you, for some odd reason, believe.

Wednesday 11 November

By Pickle

Vote down Vote up Report this

To C-1:
Perhaps laying your life down for the whole world,
a world that you made with your own hands,would qualify you as doing something beyond GREAT!! Something MJ cannot take credit for(God Rest His Soul). GIVE YOURSELF TO JESUS!!!!!!!

By Tonia

Poor Michael. I hope he is at peace now.

By Brenda

It's a shame. All the people make a quick buck from Michael Jackson's death. Especially people who called themselves friends.

By Joann

Yes, Brenda, you hit the nail on the head.
Jackson was from a large family but he could not have been more alone. His father should disappear from the public and his mother should feel equally as guilty for letting her children be treated in this way.
Let's hope his children have a shot at sanity, although I doubt it.
And let's hope that his friends develop even the slightest sense of what true friendship is.

By Pam

I agree. This Rabbi is exploiting his relationship with Michael. It's sickening. How do we know he had Michael's permission to tape the conversations? They sound like he had no idea he was being recorded. This so called "friend" stabbed him in the back. I won't buy this book.

By cannotbelievethis

Brenda - as Michael points out himself he had no real "freinds" I met Michael twice when he was living in St. Michaels (ironic), Maryland - he was renting a house down there with the kids, and enjoying anonymity. I saw and recognized him a bookstore, and quietly said to him "I think I know who you are, and if you want, I'll walk away and leave you alone." He said no, and we chatted for about an hour. He was very engaging, sweet, funny, and smart. It was then i realized as he talked about his children he would NEVER EVER HARM a child, after what he had experienced in his childhood. I saw him once more before he moved away, and the real Michael is not the person we would see on stage.

One of friends who actually had a working relationship with Michael would say, "When the lights were on and Michael was on stage, that was when you might see him almost happy. But once the lights were turned off, Mike would descend into a desperate wrenching saddness - he didn't know what to do - all he had was the stage, he knew nothing about life." We don't know about his private Hell or the demons that stalked him. I would like to think with his final breaths, Michael knew to make his peace with his Maker.

By Eva

I totaly agree with you, You really doesnt have a friend.Now look at this guy cant wait to write a book and tell it all. I will not be reading or buying his book.we all should stop any kind of book that people who betray each other friendship.this lady came on oprah show and say she went with her father i would not look at it.when her sister came on today and talk i really didnt know what she was talking about my mind was close to her,what happen now Oprah need rateing.

By russ

to Eva: Not trying to be mean, but I don't understand a bit of what you wrote. Your spelling seemed fine, but your attempts to convey an idea or sentence just didn't happen.
Bottom line - I hope you're alright, Sis.

By Tex

Normally I would agree with you, but from what I've read this particular book it could produce some sympathy for Michael. The Rabbi could possibly tell us things that Michael didn't feel comfortable saying. Of course, in the end, it's not really anyone's business, but people with a lot of fame get talked about. Better to understand than to judge.

Thursday 12 November

By Janice

I believe that Michael wasn't capable of handling a true friendship, because the two closest friend you could ever have (mom & dad) failed him a long time ago.
As far as the book goes, if Joe Jackson has any chance at making it right he should file suit against this so-called friend instead of trying to milk Michael's estate

By Mosby

Always knew there was abuse int hat family. You don't get that odd without it, even with early fame thrown into the mix. WTF is with some parents??? I mean, what don't they understand about if you beat a kid he'll be a basket case for the rest of his life.

Saturday 26 September

By James Edwards-Marche

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

"WTF is with some parents??? I mean, what don't they understand about if you beat a kid he'll be a basket case for the rest of his life."

That's what I'd really like to know. Been asking that question most of my life...

All I can say is, I understand what MJ went through.

Sunday 27 September

By moni

No! a lot of parent's don't get it. not unless they get help. I was abused for 22 years by my family and they don't know and don't care about the damages they caused me.I can relate to micheal because you want to do things so people will love you whether it's being a celebrity or a artist. Just something that would put you in the lime light. It is sad really because a lot of parents don't think because there thinking is so shallow. they only think about themselves and what they can gain that alot ofthe time they are willing to let there kids suffer to satisfy self.
I believe micheal's family loved him but I also believe that there as alot of self in them becase he should not have felt so alone having all of them in his life. There may have been some who were not genuine in their relationship with him. I believe Janet and Reebie were probably the only ones who really loved him and weren't looking for anything from him. It is just sad. because there will always be people who will sacrifice their children for the almighty dollar. It is even more sad that micheal died not realizing he always had the power to change his life and that he was loved and beautiful inside and out. he does have a message to share with the world but it is much deeper. Love and accept who you are, see your beauty, your handsomesness in your original selves. Realize that you always have the power to change your life if you don't like it. Nothing is ever concrete. Micheal had a power inside him that he never got to tap into. Freedom comes from inside yourself. I will never forget and I will always love and listen to his music. But most importantly the one thing I will always remember is this... I can give money to people all over this world, to this charity and that charity but if I just love who i am and accept who I am I can help millions of people to do the same. rest in in peace micheal.

By Madison

you are retarded! i can't imagine what kind of person YOU are. i'm sure the whole world will never know you for contributing anything significant!

By ondbuyu

Jerry, Respectfully this comment is beyond tacky and distastefull. WHY, would you make such a comment or ILLUSTRATION? Have you ever excepted Jesus Christ as YOUR personal savior and asked him to be your friend? It is not being ARGUMENTATIVE to ask why you wrote such a extreme comment but hoping you would see open mindedly how unnecessary it was. GOD BLESS YOU.

By NIKKI PARKS

ENABLING RABBI....ENBLING RABBI....ENABLING RABBI....ENABLING RABBI.....ENABLING RABBI....ENABLING RABBI......ENABLING RABBI.....ENABLING RABBI....ENABLING RABBI....ENABLING RABBI....ENABLING RABBI....ENABLING RABBI....ENABLING RABBI....ENABLING RABBI.....A Rabbi that chose to ignore the Drug Addictions of Michael Jackson must burn in Purgatory.....ENABLING RABBI....ENABLING RABBI.....ENABLING RABBI......ENABLING RABBI....ENABLING RABBI.....ENABLING RABBI......You are a Disgrace to profit from the Death of Michael Jackson after you ignored his Addictions just to stay in his good graces or on his Payroll....ENABLING RABBI.

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