La Toya Jackson: Tyrant Husband Made Me 'Most Hated' Person in the World

By Nicki Gostin Posted Jun 28th 2011 09:29PM

La Toya Jackson's newly released 'Starting Over' is really a bifurcated memoir. The first half is about the abuse, both physical and mental, that she suffered under her manager/husband Jack Gordon. The latter deals with her gradual reconciliation with her famous family, especially Michael, and what she really thinks of her brother's death. Since the book is a two-parter, let's mimic that and only delve into one-half of La Toya's harrowing story, saving her striking theories about MJ's death for Wednesday.

This must have been a difficult book to write.
I had to write this book and I did not want to write it because I didn't want to think about it. I wanted to put it behind me. I was embarrassed to let people know that I endured this but then more women came up to me and started telling me their stories and how they'd been abused and crying and saying, 'You need to go out there and speak.' I started thinking they're right, they need a voice. People walk into your life, they control you, they take away your dignity, your self-esteem and self-worth. They take away from you everything that you love from you and they seclude you from your own family and this is a way of dividing and controlling and conquering you from your family. Women need to know when a man touches them it's one time too many because it doesn't stop there, he's going to do it again and you can get away. You can start again and they need to know that.

You were with Jack Gordon a long time.
It was nearly ten years. I had no choice, no control. If I was to make a move or do anything, first of all I was surrounded by his people and also he promised me that he would kill my brothers and then kill me. He said, 'If you ever try to run away I'll come and find you and kill you and your brothers.' I believed it because I knew the way he operated.

Just, horrible.
He forced me to do everything against my will, like Playboy magazine. I would get beatings twice a week. The straw that broke the camel's back was when he wanted me to do porno with a couple of men. I said, 'I can't do this.' He said, 'Yes you are.' And he got in the shower and I picked up the phone and I was terrified he was going to catch me and I made a phone call to my mother and father and they told my brother Randy, 'You get over there and get her now,' and he got on a plane and got me and I escaped.

Why do you think you were so susceptible to someone like Jack Gordon?
I know exactly why it happened. He was fortunate enough to get a religious girl who knew nothing about the world, who was wealthy and he could take advantage of and use her and make money off her and then toss her aside. He told me, 'I'm going to make you the most hated person in the world.'

So you had parallels in your life with Michael, in terms of being isolated.
Absolutely and that's what they do. They isolate you and control you. You have no one to go to, you're dependent on them.

Part 2 of my chat with La Toya runs Wednesday. In it, the singer-actress unravels what she sincerely believes was a conspiracy to murder her brother, Michael.

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La Toya Jackson Snapshots

La Toya Jackson poses with fans at Katsuya in Hollywood. March 16, 2011 X17online.com

Green/X17online.com

X17online.com

La Toya Jackson Snapshots

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: La Toya Jackson promotes "Starting Over" at Barnes & Noble Tribeca on June 22, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)

La Toya Jackson Snapshots

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: La Toya Jackson promotes "Starting Over" at Barnes & Noble Tribeca on June 22, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Marcel Thomas/FilmMagic)

La Toya Jackson Snapshots

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: La Toya Jackson promotes her new book "Starting Over" at Barnes & Noble Tribeca on June 22, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images)

La Toya Jackson Snapshots

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: La Toya Jackson promotes her new book "Starting Over" at Barnes & Noble Tribeca on June 22, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images)

La Toya Jackson Snapshots

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: La Toya Jackson promotes her new book "Starting Over" at Barnes & Noble Tribeca on June 22, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images)

La Toya Jackson Snapshots

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: La Toya Jackson promotes her new book "Starting Over" at Barnes & Noble Tribeca on June 22, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images)

La Toya Jackson Snapshots

RIDGEWOOD, NJ - JUNE 21: La Toya Jackson signs copies of "Starting Over" at Bookends Bookstore on June 21, 2011 in Ridgewood, New Jersey. (Photo by Bobby Bank/WireImage)

La Toya Jackson Snapshots

RIDGEWOOD, NJ - JUNE 21: La Toya Jackson signs copies of "Starting Over" at Bookends Bookstore on June 21, 2011 in Ridgewood, New Jersey. (Photo by Michael N. Todaro/Getty Images)

La Toya Jackson Snapshots

RIDGEWOOD, NJ - JUNE 21: La Toya Jackson signs copies of "Starting Over" at Bookends Bookstore on June 21, 2011 in Ridgewood, New Jersey. (Photo by Michael N. Todaro/Getty Images)

La Toya Jackson Snapshots

RIDGEWOOD, NJ - JUNE 21: La Toya Jackson signs copies of "Starting Over" at Bookends Bookstore on June 21, 2011 in Ridgewood, New Jersey. (Photo by Michael N. Todaro/Getty Images)

La Toya Jackson Snapshots

Tags: Jack Gordon, La Toya Jackson, Starting Over

Comments

(42)

Tuesday 28 June

By me

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La Toya was hardly ever the most hated woman in the world. If anything, people have always felt very sorry for her. She's always seemed incredibly lonely and naive and overly-sweet to people who used her. I've always liked LaToya, especially when she was on a goofy show called 'Armed & Famous'. See, this is what sheltered religious girls with low self-esteem do, they end up with men like this.

Wednesday 29 June

By Courtney

Vote down Vote up Report this

She ended up like that because she didn't hold onto her religion, and married someone outside her faith. Rebe is the only normal Jackson because she stayed a Jehovah's Witness and held on to her relationship with God. She let God guide her and adhered to his standards. The rest of them allowed crazy Joe to drive them crazy and to fill their head and hearts with dreams of fame and fortune, now look at them today. Shadows of what they once were.

By Muscleman

wow...so I guess she didnt just LOOK like a puppet either? lol

By at

I was sheltered and religious growing up, but was never dumb. I was taught what's out in the world and what type of people to stay away from. Women have been abused from all walks of life, you never know what type of man your getting with. They all can act nice in the beginning, then when they get you they change. No woman can ever be prepared to know whether a man will abuse her or not. All a woman can do is be ready to leave as soon as that man raises his hand.

By xzxian

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I love reading this , So does My boyfriend .he is almost 11year older than me .i met him via agelessc'upid.c'om a nice place for seeking age le ss love.which gives you a chance to make your life better and open opportunities for you to meet the attractive young girls and treat you like a king. Maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends.. s4356

By MicaBrown

Does anyone really care anymore, LaToya?

By say it

You took the words outta my mouth. Find a friggin job Latoya - America just doesn't give a rat's a__ about this dead horse!

By WminPhoenix

Hate to the harbinger of bad news to LaToya Jackson but her alleged career has been over for years. Janet and Michael were/are the real talents in the family. The rest of the siblings are blood sucking leeches. No one care about the "problems" of LaToya.

By MadameX

LaToya's always been a user and a hanger-on. Even now she has to use her brother's face on her book cover to gain attention and increase sales.

By joan

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Very true. Unfortunately LaToya is the least talented of the Jackson clan and brings up the spousal beating periodically to have her name in print. Doesn't she realize that no one really cares? Get a job LaToya and stop rehashing old news just to be heard of.........

By fiona

It was LaToya's Pity Party. Everyone was invited. Nobody came.

Boy, you got that right!

By John Doe

Jack Gordon didn't make you the most hated woman in America. You did it to yourself by abandoning your family for that clown! And if anyone has ever seen any of your early interviews. clearly you are a "nut case". Let's call a spade a spade (no pun intended). You really have no talent to speak of.

By Kat2988

Who says that about their family member when it isn't true? that is just awful.

By cry me a river

Kat2988 you are so right. I will NEVER forgive her for what she said about Michael; that to me was truly cruel.

By SMS

If you go to Wikipedia and read info on Jack Gordon about his life.Latoya Might have a point...He wasnt a nice man..

By JBaer

Okay, so she wrote a book. But I don't have to read it to know what she said in this mini-interview. Hell--I didn't need to read this mini-interview either to know how she feels.

By clo_bird

I don't think La Toya is hated,but she is the subject of ridicule. She says the most ridiculous things,makes poor choices that adversely affect her career...

By YellowRose3218

Im sure Latoya thought that her husband, would kill all of her brother if she ever left him.
Thats one of the biggest loads of stuff ever written.
It sounds like Latoya thinks, we all are as slow as she is.
Shes known for her long tales, this is another one.