Janet Jackson: We Knew About Michael's Drug Problem

By PopEater Staff Posted Nov 18th 2009 10:41AM

In an interview with ABC's Robin Roberts, Janet Jackson opens up about her late brother Michael Jackson's death, and how the family tried to help the King of Pop through his drug addiction.

"Of course, that's what you do. Those are the things that you do when you love someone. You can't just let them continue on that way. And we did a few times. We weren't very successful," she tells Roberts about trying interventions with Michael.

The singer also discusses her relationships, as well as how work was her savior after her brother died.

Michael understood why his family would intervene: "How do I say this? Understanding. I guess that will be the best way to -- understood that it was out of love, because of caring. But when it's something like that, people can tend to be in denial."

Was Michael in denial? "I wish he could answer this question for you and not me. I felt that he was in denial."

Janet knew ultimately he would have to help himself: "You can't make 'em drink the water. ... I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer -- but it's, it's something that you can't do for them. Something they have to do for themselves."

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Ms. Jackson Snapshots

©AXELLE/BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Janet Jackson celebrates the release of her new album "Number Ones" with her fans. The Grove, Los Angeles, CA. November 14, 2009. Job: 91114A2. www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

AXELLE/BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM

Janet Snapshots

FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2009 file photo, Janet Jackson arrives for the amfAR charity dinner during the fashion week in Milan, Italy. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, file)

FILE - In this July 7, 2009 file photo, Janet Jackson comforts her niece Paris Jackson as LaToya Jackson, left, looks on at the memorial service for Michael Jackson at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Janet Jackson blames Dr. Conrad Murray for her brother Michael's death. She told ABC News in an interview that Murray should no longer be allowed to practice medicine. Murray faces manslaughter charges for the pop star's death this summer. (AP Photo/Gabriel Bouys, Pool, File)

AXELLE/BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM

She believes Dr. Conrad Murray should be held responsible for her brother's death: "He was the one that was administering. I think he is responsible."

Trying to help Michael with his addiction was like trying to help her first husband, James DeBarge, with his: "It kinda goes back to my first relationship, something that you have to want. ... it's something they have to want."

She married DeBarge for rebellious reasons: "I wanted to be on my own and get out of the house. We were the kind of kids that -- we -- obeyed our parents, really obeyed our parents. If they said no, you don't ask why. You just understand that it's no."

Has Death Wiped Clean Michael Jackson's Sins?

His drug issues led to the breakup of their marriage: "He was my first love and very much so. And there was a lot going on in our relationship, a lot going on with him, I should say. And -- just being so young and not really -- not really knowing what life is really all about, just beginning to explore life and wanting to -- help him, thinking I could change him, if I only could do this and that, and not realizing that it was something that he had to do and want for himself."

She's not married to Jermaine Dupri: "I know people thought we were. ... I just heard that today. Someone said to me, or just yesterday, someone said, 'You engaged,' and I said, 'Who am I engaged to?' And they said to Jermaine. I said, 'Oh, I am?'"

In fact, they split up: "I adore him. Absolutely adore Jermaine. Love him to death and we're still very good friends to this day. Very good friends, but that's all I'll say."

Going back to work helped: "I needed to get back to work. It helped me get through it. I was able to put a lot of my focus someplace else."

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Tags: janet jackson, JanetJackson, michael jackson, MichaelJackson, robin roberts, RobinRoberts

Comments

(218)

Wednesday 18 November

By What?!

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You know about his drug problem and yet you do nothing to save him? Maybe we should free the doctor who administrated MJ's last dose.

By snidewoman

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You obviously don't know anyone with an addiction. What could she have done.. he's a grown man with security staff all around him. If he didn't want help he wasn't going to get it.

It unfair to blame his family... only one responsible for his death is Michael himself PERIOD..

The Doctor does need to be charged for mal practice..there is no excuse for assisting his drug habbit.

By MIchelle Cornal

DRUGS ARE SYNONOMOUS WITH MUSIC Janet is not behind one door.....

By themeeker

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What could she have done? She could have gone to the press and told all. That may have shamed him into admitting he had a problem. When you deal with an addict, you have to deal with them anyway you can because they will always figure out how to get around you. If Janet had gone to the press, instead of worrying how the people were perceiving him, MJ would have had the eyes of the world on him and he might still be alive today.

Thursday 19 November

By Azure2

To What: Please tell us of your experience with addicts. How did you help them and are they still drug free?

By tonya2982

obviously you know nothing about addiction. there is only so much you can do for someone. they will not always do what you know to be best for them. educate yourself a little please.

By Cherokee

It would be good to identify the word "drugs" and place that under the word (medication) because it appears that he over medicated himself due to his conditions which he hid because of his performances. I myself am a lupus patient w/rheumatoid arthritis and take/have taken some of the medication MJ took. Look at the performances he gave that we marvelled at. Matter of fact, look at the performances many of these performers give and we don't ask them how do you do it or are you ill? We simply rave and crave more which pushes them to give more in order to keep our support. lupus/ra and ortho is nothing to play with and it causes all types of off shots. Go back and watch his movements, look at the awkwardness but it's very fine to see. He took steroids JANET! Not cocaine, pot, etc., but STEROIDS...

By Tabetha

If you were paying attention she said she and her family did interventions with Michael. But unfortunately you can not force a person to get help. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink it. I'm sure if her family could've legally forced him to get help they would have.I know what that's like first hand as I have a sister addicted to drugs and the only thing my family can do for her is pray. If there was a legal way we could force her to get help believe me we would. I know the pain of having a sibling addicted to drugs and what it does to a family and I also know the pain of loosing a sibling as I lost my baby sister 6yrs ago. My heart and prays go out to the Jackson family.The pain never goes away just in time it gets easier to deal with. One day you'll be able to think about him with out crying.

By Sparky McVane

WACKO JACKO(s)! "How are you?" ..."I'm well, I'm well."

OH, THE DRAMA.............!!

By BooBoo

I'm more concerned about how Rep.Maxine Waters is doing? She wanted a proclamation in Congress to honor a drug addicted pedophile forever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever...

By mlepps72

Clean your ears or wipe your eyes . . .she said they tried but it didn't work. He was an addict who could get what he wanted when he wanted it. They could only do so much. It was up to him.

By Grace Sullivan

If that was so easy and the case there would be no addicts. A person who knows about someones addiction can do all that they can do. The doctor is resposible not the famly. They did what they can do. If Michael had be a average man with little money that doctor wouldn't have done anything as far a s helping Michael. It was about money the doctor was getting paid.

By getagrip

Please answer this, What!?.....How do you help someone who doesn't want you to help them? How do you FORCE a grown man to do what you want them to???? You have no clue what you are talking about. You can scream, cry, beg, threaten, and turn your back on an addict....and until it's THEIR idea to get sober.....it isn't going to happen.

By mary

wow no kidding you have no idea what youre saying keep your mouth shut ~

By Steph

U can not save an addict they have to want to save themselves..He obviously didn't he is the only one to blame for his death..like all addicts there always has to be blame placed everywhere but where it should be!!!oh yea and who cares..maybe so much focus should be placed on actual hero's like the soldiers(fathers, sons, brothers, mothers and daughters)that die giving there lives for people like Michael Jackson who is recieving all this sympathy for being an addict:(boofriggnhoo..He had a choice, he chose and now he is dead.sorry for the loss for his family but why should the rest of us give him another moment of our time..its ridiculous!!!

By sandy

listen i deal with addition everyday brovo to janet for her and her family but yes it was up too mj to reach out my prayers go out to jackson family god bless

By Hannah G

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I read dumb people

By rosey

I agree. You know absolutely nothing about drug addicts. If they do not want to help themselves there is absolutely nothing you can do. I know...I have been there myself. And until I made the decision to clean up my family could do nothing. Jackson is responsible for his choices to use drugs, whether from a doctor or not. The doctor is responsible for what he gave him. Jackson killed himself with help from the doctor.

By Debbie Butler

I think it is somewhat the Doctor's fault he should truly care more about his patients no matter who they are. I also think we as a people need to pray more for our family members and trust 100% in the Lord for the answers for our prayers. GOD is always with us and is mighty to save. And when our prayers go on unanswered we need to pray harder. I think Micheal was a gentle soul who felt lost in this cruel world but he needed clarity. Don't stop praying for Micheal's soul to be saved.

By jpeachy

Having personally dealt with someone with an addiction, there is very little you can do. That person must do it. You don;t know how often they confronted him or tried to intervene, but that cannot make him own his problem - he is a grown ass man. And to the poster "zytychi" - how do you know they did not try many times a day. Unless you tie the person down to a chair and carry them out kicking and screaming then what can you do - and even if you take them to a rehabilitation place, them won;t necessarily accept it.

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