September 2019 Sharing MJ news and comment from the World Wide Web
Editorial
Last month the world was made aware of countless fires buring out of control in the Amazon rainforest, leaving many indigenous people and wildlife homeless. Michael Jackson released “Earth Song” in 1995 to make us aware of our responsibity to “take care of the planet” – something he encouraged us to do right up to the last night of rehearsals for This Is It.
This latest disaster reminds us that, as per Michael’s words, “it’s up to us, else it’ll never be done.” Visit Rainforest Action Network, World Wildlife Fund, Amazon Watch and Earth Alliance/Amazon Forest Fund for information or donations. Let’s give a damn!
Keep the faith and keep on Michaeling.
Kerry Hennigan Kerry Hennigan Global MJ Pilgrim (“I’m with the doll”) SOS Amazonia Editor 'A Candle for Michael Newsletter' Admin: Michael Jackson's short film 'Ghosts' fan group Blog: https://kerryhennigan.wordpress.com
Calendar of MJ Events
Until 26 Jan - Michael Jackson On the Wall, Espoo, Finland • MJ Innocent UK campaign at Edinburgh TV Festival 14 Sept – For You Michael Tour tribute - Épernay, France The MJ Innocent UK campaign projected its poster image of Michael on Edinburgh Castle and on the venue where Leaving 21 Sep –KINGVENTION – The Shaw Theatre, London Neverland director Dan Reed was appearing at the Edinburgh TV Festival last month. During Reed’s event, vans carrying 21 Sep – In the Studio with MJ 2019, Seattle MJ Innocent billboards drove by the venue. Organiser Seány O'Kane reported that Reed was so concerned he apparently 25 Sep – Major Love Prayer Day www.majorloveprayer.org asked for a police escort when leaving. Though he later
28 Sep – Square One film premiere at Chinese Theatre, Los Angeles denied this on Twitter, it was confirmed that police were definitely present and Reed’s car was moved to the rear of the 5 Oct – Square One film becomes available Free on YouTube building with a police car following. (Leaving Neverland was nominated for an award at the festival but failed to win.) View 18 Oct – In the Studio with MJ 2019, Prague an article in Edinburgh Live here. Access MJ Innocent’s campaign report here. 19 Oct - MJ Music Day, Association On The Line, Lyon, France • Michael Jackson on the Wall opens at the EMMA 22-23 Oct – In the Studio with MJ 2019, Vienna (2 night event) The Michael Jackson On the Wall art exhibition which began in London in June 2018 has now opened at its final scheduled 25-26 Oct – In the Studio with MJ 2019, Budapest destination at the EMMA, at Espoo (near Helsinki) in Finland. Chief curator Arja Miller said some organizations refused to 15-16 Nov – In the Studio with MJ 2019, Gothenburg, Sweden sponsor the exhibition over concerns about the controversies surrounding Michael. "I'm convinced that if everyone would 1 Dec – Forever the Best Show about the King of Pop, Paris have seen the exhibition they'd gladly be our partner because the exhibition is so diverse," she told AFP. Romanian artist 13-14 Dec – In the Studio with MJ 2019, Berlin Dan Mihaltianu said that interest in his piece, from 1994, has
grown every time Michael Jackson has hit the headlines over the years. "He will stay as an icon somehow, you cannot just News of Note erase him," Mihaltianu said. Read the full article here.
• Michael’s Birthday trends across the globe • Branca responds to TMZ article on Dave Chappelle MJ fans, radio stations, music blogs, friends and family When TMZ featured a story on stand-up comedian Dave members celebrated the birthday of the King of Pop by getting Chappelle’s comments on Robson and Safechuck in his #HappyBirthdayMichaelJackson and #KingOfPop and other Netflix show, John Branca, co-executor of the MJ Estate, hashtags trending across the internet. Fans partied around responded. “We agree with Dave Chappelle, these guys are the world and at the official MJ ONE event in Las Vegas damn liars.” He also attacked the creators of Leaving where the show’s director Jamie King and the Estate’s John Neverland, saying “They did not verify the stories. They didn’t Branca attended a Meet & Greet session with fans. In China talk to anyone because they did not want another side. This and the US full page fan-funded advertisements appeared in isn’t R. Kelly – there are no videos. This isn’t Harvey local newspapers, and Forest Lawn’s Holly Terrace was filled Weinstein, there aren’t multiple accusers… They interviewed with floral tributes. In China, fans took part in nation-wide only two guys out of the thousands who visited Neverland – flashmobs which you can view here. oh, and surprise surprise – they are the only two with lawsuits
for hundreds of millions of dollars. Why wasn’t their financial • MJ Estate v. HBO – Estate’s response to HBO motion interest disclosed? The whole documentary is bogus.” The MJ Estate has filed it’s respone on Aug 29 to the Anti- [Edited extract] Read the full text here. An article in The Blast st SLAPP motion lodged by HBO which has used the US 1 also quoted Branca saying “Wade’s accusations emerged only Amendment Freedom of Speech argument in an attempt to after his book failed and we turned him down for a job with our avoid public arbitration on Leaving Neverland. The Estate has Las Vegas show 9 years ago.” He finished by saying, “Sorry, responded by pointing out that Anti-SLAPP does not apply in Wade you weren’t good enough to direct our show.” the Federal court where the matter is being heard, and that HBO’s motion fails on the “merits”. You can read the full • Michael’s former manager announces foundation document here. Thanks to Rasheed @rasheedKOPV on Michael Jackson’s former manager, Raymone Bain, held a Twitter for this information. The next court session will be press conference last month in which, among other things, she September 19. announced that she was launching an “MJ Legacy Foundation” to "preserve, protect and defend his name while • Two Documentaries released defending Michael supporting the numerous organizations he supported during #1 “Lies of Leaving Neverland” his life." However, as reported by The Blast, Raymone Bain Two new documentaries that challenged the Leaving does not have the right to use Michael’s image or name in any Neverland allegations were released in August. The first was company, even a charity. A spokesperson for the MJ Estate “Lies of Leaving Neverland” which includes excerpts from said, "Raymone Bain is not authorized to act on behalf of the Wade Robson’s deposition of 2016 and compares past Michael Jackson Estate nor to use Michael Jackson’s name in statements of Wade and his mother, Joy Robson, to those any way for charitable or her own commercial purposes. We made in the documentary and elsewhere. “Lies of Leaving do agree with her comments about 'Leaving Neverland' and Neverland” caught the attention of some mainstream media, her encouraging a boycott of HBO over its inexcusable aided by a Twitterthon organised by fans shortly after its disparagement of Michael Jackson’s character The Blast release. “Lies of Leaving Neverland” can be viewed online via article further states that “sources close to MJ's family tell us the official website: https://leavingneverlandlies.net/ An article they have a huge issue with Bain” because they feel she in The Blast can be accessed here. Comments from "failed as Michael Jackson’s manager" and was eventually Michael’s friend Geraldo Rivera on a Fox News report can be terminated from that job in 2007. Also, Bain sued Michael viewed in three parts, as follows. Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3. Jackson in 2009 before he died for $44 million and then his estate after he passed away for over $50 million in two #2 “Michael Jackson: Chase the Truth” separate lawsuits. Both lawsuits resulted in dismissals or The second documentary comes from Entertain Me in the UK verdicts against Bain. and features comments from author Mike Smallcombe as well as Mark Lester and his family and former bodyguard Matt • Jennifer Batten on MJ and Leaving Neverland accusations Fiddes. Gloucestershire Live subsequently featured an article Jennifer Batten recently took part in a show called Five Feet on Lester’s daughter Lucy. Speaking from London, Lucy said, from Famous along with Kat Dyson, guitarist for Prince. “I'm so grateful that I was able to be involved in this and hope Jennifer spoke in interviews about working and touring with it provides people another perspective of Michael that the Michael (and getting acquainted with Bubbles!) and also gave media try to keep quiet.” Chase the Truth is on YouTube. her frank opinion on the Leaving Neverland film. An interview with Jennifer and Kat can be viewed here. Another interview • Square One Documentary focuses on 1993 allegations with Jennifer and event organiser Jim James can be accessed A documentary on the 1993 false allegations against Michael here. Finally, there is the indepth Natternet interview in which Jackson has been produced by independent filmmaker Danny Jennifer talks at length on her career, on Michael and gives Wu. Called “Square One”, it includes Taj Jackson, Geraldine her opinion on his accusers in Leaving Neverland. Hughes and Charles Thomson among others. It premieres at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on 28 September as part of • R.I.P. Chuckie Debise and Ian Magan the Indie Night Film Festival and will be available to view August saw the passing of two figures from MJ’s career – FREE on Youtube from 5 October. Read about the film and security staffer Chuckie Debise who can be seen in view a trailer via MJ Vibe’s article. Purchase Tickets for the Moonwalker wearing a top hat, and Ian Magan, founder of premiere at: http://www.indienightfilmfestival.com/attend/ New Zealand radio station Radio Hauraki who brought the HIStory tour to NZ. May they rest in peace. • Bubbles features in Centre for Great Apes Instagram post Bubbles the chimp was recently • Brad Sundberg – on listening to Michael’s music featured in an Instragram post Brad Sundberg recently posted a note on his Facebook page from the Centre for Great Apes explaining that he doesn’t listen to Michael’s music casually. “I in Florida, with the following hear every nuance and inflection. I remember specific events accompanying text: “Bubbles and details. I respect the music too much to just have it on in has been at the Center for Great the background. But today I am testing a little McIntosh Apes for 14 years and has come system and for whatever reason this is the song I chose. This a long way. He has learned how is the production team firing on all cylinders. This is Andre's to play an important role in his choir and the LA Philharmonic. The best studio musicians in chimp family and has become LA (Buxer, Phillinganes, Boddicker) in the best studios, with good friends with Grandma Bruce Swedien brilliantly driving the mix. And Michael nailing Oopsie, all the way down to every single vocal take with confidence, perfection and ease. young Kodua. We are ever And... it takes a tremendous amount of confidence in a song grateful to the Estate of Michael J Jackson for continuing to for the singer not to make a sound until 2 minutes and 2 support Bubbles and the Center. Hey @latoyajackson seconds after it starts. This is the Michael I remember, who @janetjackson @parisjackson @michaeljackson made me proud to be part of his team - then and now. It @princejackson look how well he is doing For those of you sounds as good today as it did on the big Neve at Record One asking: if you would like to support and adopt Bubbles, please more than 25 years ago.” [Edited extract] For anyone who visit the link in bio to learn how!" [Click here for the details.] hasn’t worked it out from the clues, the song was “Will You Be There”. Brad also wrote a wonderful birthday message in the • VMAs don’t mention Michael, but Missy does! form of a letter to Michael which you can read here. Missy Elliott paid Michael Jackson due tribute when making her acceptance speech of the Video Vanguard Award last • MJ mural completed in Sao Paulo, Brazil month, saying, “This Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award A magnificent new Michael Jackson mural by artist Paulo means so much to me.” On the red carpet prior to the event, Terra has been completed in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The mural celebrity attendees were asked if they thought Michael’s name depicts MJ right thoughout his career, from child star to the should be removed from the award because of the Leaving 21st century. See more photos and an article on MJ Vibe. Neverland controversy, and the concensus was that it should stay as it was. While many of the artists remained cautious in their statements, Jason Lee of Hollywood Unlocked came out strongly in support of Michael, saying he didn’t believe Leaving Neverland, and referred to Wade Robson as "a piece of sh*t and a liar!" The video can be viewed on Yahoo Entertainment. Jason later caught up with Missy Elliott at the
after party and posted on Instagram that he loved how she
purposely said Michael’s name when accepting her award. A Candle for Michael Newsletter – September 2019 Editorial comment, layout and design © Kerry Hennigan 2019