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Entrevsta a J. Randy Taraborrelli
Cortesia mjjforum
E
XCLUSIVE
Interview with author J. Randy Taraborrelli - Part 1
by: Lei Langston
J. Randy Taraborrelli is the best selling author of “Michael Jackson - The Magic and the Madness”. This Unauthorized Biography was first published 10 years ago. Taraborrelli has updated and re-written the book that many of us love to hate and hate to love. I had a million things I wanted to ask him, and I know YOU did too. So, I started out my interview by asking him questions from members of the MJJForum Community. Sit back and relax, J. Randy has something to say.
(J.Randy Taraborelli)
Lei: In the original edition of the book you speculate on Michael´s mental state at various points. What makes you qualified to make such judgements?
JRT: My opinion, which is always based on my research and what I believe to be true. My readers can accept it or reject it, that´s always a given with my books. I believe that people do not have to take everything they read to heart, as the gospel-truth. We all have a responsibility to make decisions for ourselves, and not just follow someone else´s lead. I wouldn´t want anyone to just take what I say as the blind-truth, and not question it or, at least, think about it. Rather, I would want people to read what I write and balance it with what they think with their minds and what they feel with their hearts, and what else they have read and then come up with their own conclusions. That, I think, is the best way...
Lei: In your book you say Debbie had a miscarriage on a certain date and yet Prince Jr. was born about a month after the alleged date. How is that possible?
JRT: It´s a typo in the book. The miscarriage was in March 1996, not 1997. I hope they correct it in a future edition.
Lei: How does Maureen Orth and the rest of the tabloid magazine writers
feel about you plagiarizing their material?
JRT: Obviously, I never plagiarize other writers. I think, also, that Maureen Orth and I have very different points of view about MJ. For one, she believes he is a pedophile, doesn´t she?
Lei: When was the last time you spoke to Michael?
JRT: Winter of 2001. But it wasn´t an interview. I haven´t interviewed MJ in
years, since I´ve been off on other projects not involving Michael. I´ve written 10 books that don´t have anything to do with the King of Pop, even if he is my favorite subject.
Lei: What is your relationship with Michael?
JRT: I hope we´re on friendly terms, but I wouldn´t call myself a "friend" of
Michael´s, or of any celebrity´s. None of the people I hang out with are famous, or are celebrities. Michael has his own friends...
Lei: In your original version of the book you paint Michael as a scared
virgin? In the latest edition he is described as a sex animal. Why is that?
JRT: Because thirteen years have gone by and, thankfully, he´s changed as I hope all of us have, on some level. Also, just because he and Lisa Marie had an active sex life doesn´t mean he is a "sex animal." Would it have been better for me to report that he and Lisa did NOT have sex? It´s not true, but it´s what a lot of people think. My feeling is that it´s good news, not bad news, that Michael has had a satisfying, physical relationship with someone in his adult life. However, I think there is no way a reporter can win with this matter, where Michael Jackson is concerned. Those who believe he can be intimate with a woman -- like me -- are criticized, and those who think he is still a virgin are also criticized (though I think they may be more believed by MJ´s critics.) Then there are those who think he is a pedophile, and that´s obviously not good, either.
Lei: What is your view on Michael´s fans?
JRT: I think all fans of all of my subjects are terrific, and as protective as
they should be. Don´t forget that Michael is just one of my subjects. When I write about the Kennedy’s or Grimaldi’s or Madonna or anyone else, I engage with their fans, as well, sometimes contentiously, sometimes not. Some fans aren´t happy with my books -- many don´t want to hear criticism of their favorite people, which I can understand. However, my job is to put forth the best, honest and most life-affirming picture I can present of my subject. I then let the book speak for itself. Also, I have my own fans, people who read all of my books and just enjoy them because they are loyal to me, as a writer, which is great.
(I have also found that some people tend to go back to my books and feel less unhappy about them with the passing of time.)
Lei: Do you consider Michael to be one of the most influential artists of all
time, if so, why?
JRT: Of course. Just look at his life and track record. He´s the KOP, right?
Lei: Why was so much of the book focused on the 1993 allegations instead of other positive events?
JRT: I felt I needed to fully explain what happened. There are still many, many people who believe he was guilty as charged, especially since he settled. I know the fans don´t feel that way, but many others who are not fans do feel that way. I hope that after reading my book, they understand why he settled, and that it was not because he was guilty. However, in order to get them to that point, I had to explain all of it in detail.
Lei: Do you know if Janet and Michael speak regularly?
JRT: I think, maybe, once a year. Maybe twice. Probably not more than that, though.
Lei: If Michael and Lisa are still friends, why do you think she
chooses to say otherwise? Do you have proof of their friendship?
JRT: For me, the bigger question is: why do so many people want Michael and Lisa to be enemies? I don´t know. But I do know that Michael cares about her a great deal and, in her own way, Lisa cares about him. But, again, I don´t know why some fans want Michael to be enemies with the one woman he has really, really cared about in his life on a deep and meaningful level. As much as he loves Debbie, even she will tell you that Lisa was the love of his life.
Lei: Do you consider yourself a good biographer?
JRT: Sure, I do. (Can you imagine that I wouldn´t think that about myself?) Some agree; I have had eight best sellers. Other don´t agree. That´s cool.
Again, I think people should follow their own hearts, and make up their own minds about what they read.
Lei: Does Michael approve of your books? Has he ever tried to
stop one of your books from being published?
JRT: He said he liked the original edition and, no, he has never tried to stop me in any way. It would be very unlike him to try to stop people from realizing their visions and feeding their passions... and for me that is as a writer. However, anyone who thinks Michael is happy about everything I have ever written or said about him would be wrong. Michael has his own
opinions about his life and career, and I wouldn´t expect him to agree with me, or with anyone else. Michael Jackson is his own man.
Lei: Why do you say that Michael blames the fans for what he is going
through now when all Michael ever says to the fans is "Thank You"?
Where did you get this information from?
JRT: My point is that, in my view, Michael often does not take responsibility for his own problems and, instead, blames external forces ... but I also know that he loves his fans. I definitely think many of the problems Michael has had, such as with his image, could be easily avoided with a little forethought... as I outlined in the book.
Lei: Where did you get the information about his prosthetic nose?
JRT: I´m not going to say ... but does anyone seriously doubt that this is
true????
Thanks so much... I´ve met a lot of Michael´s fans on my book tour and they have all been absolutely cool, even if we disagree on certain matters. I think that, in the end, we recognize that we all care about Michael, and that is the important thing.
Best to you all...
Cortesia mjjforum
E
XCLUSIVE
Interview with author J. Randy Taraborrelli - Part 1
by: Lei Langston
J. Randy Taraborrelli is the best selling author of “Michael Jackson - The Magic and the Madness”. This Unauthorized Biography was first published 10 years ago. Taraborrelli has updated and re-written the book that many of us love to hate and hate to love. I had a million things I wanted to ask him, and I know YOU did too. So, I started out my interview by asking him questions from members of the MJJForum Community. Sit back and relax, J. Randy has something to say.
(J.Randy Taraborelli)
Lei: In the original edition of the book you speculate on Michael´s mental state at various points. What makes you qualified to make such judgements?
JRT: My opinion, which is always based on my research and what I believe to be true. My readers can accept it or reject it, that´s always a given with my books. I believe that people do not have to take everything they read to heart, as the gospel-truth. We all have a responsibility to make decisions for ourselves, and not just follow someone else´s lead. I wouldn´t want anyone to just take what I say as the blind-truth, and not question it or, at least, think about it. Rather, I would want people to read what I write and balance it with what they think with their minds and what they feel with their hearts, and what else they have read and then come up with their own conclusions. That, I think, is the best way...
Lei: In your book you say Debbie had a miscarriage on a certain date and yet Prince Jr. was born about a month after the alleged date. How is that possible?
JRT: It´s a typo in the book. The miscarriage was in March 1996, not 1997. I hope they correct it in a future edition.
Lei: How does Maureen Orth and the rest of the tabloid magazine writers
feel about you plagiarizing their material?
JRT: Obviously, I never plagiarize other writers. I think, also, that Maureen Orth and I have very different points of view about MJ. For one, she believes he is a pedophile, doesn´t she?
Lei: When was the last time you spoke to Michael?
JRT: Winter of 2001. But it wasn´t an interview. I haven´t interviewed MJ in
years, since I´ve been off on other projects not involving Michael. I´ve written 10 books that don´t have anything to do with the King of Pop, even if he is my favorite subject.
Lei: What is your relationship with Michael?
JRT: I hope we´re on friendly terms, but I wouldn´t call myself a "friend" of
Michael´s, or of any celebrity´s. None of the people I hang out with are famous, or are celebrities. Michael has his own friends...
Lei: In your original version of the book you paint Michael as a scared
virgin? In the latest edition he is described as a sex animal. Why is that?
JRT: Because thirteen years have gone by and, thankfully, he´s changed as I hope all of us have, on some level. Also, just because he and Lisa Marie had an active sex life doesn´t mean he is a "sex animal." Would it have been better for me to report that he and Lisa did NOT have sex? It´s not true, but it´s what a lot of people think. My feeling is that it´s good news, not bad news, that Michael has had a satisfying, physical relationship with someone in his adult life. However, I think there is no way a reporter can win with this matter, where Michael Jackson is concerned. Those who believe he can be intimate with a woman -- like me -- are criticized, and those who think he is still a virgin are also criticized (though I think they may be more believed by MJ´s critics.) Then there are those who think he is a pedophile, and that´s obviously not good, either.
Lei: What is your view on Michael´s fans?
JRT: I think all fans of all of my subjects are terrific, and as protective as
they should be. Don´t forget that Michael is just one of my subjects. When I write about the Kennedy’s or Grimaldi’s or Madonna or anyone else, I engage with their fans, as well, sometimes contentiously, sometimes not. Some fans aren´t happy with my books -- many don´t want to hear criticism of their favorite people, which I can understand. However, my job is to put forth the best, honest and most life-affirming picture I can present of my subject. I then let the book speak for itself. Also, I have my own fans, people who read all of my books and just enjoy them because they are loyal to me, as a writer, which is great.
(I have also found that some people tend to go back to my books and feel less unhappy about them with the passing of time.)
Lei: Do you consider Michael to be one of the most influential artists of all
time, if so, why?
JRT: Of course. Just look at his life and track record. He´s the KOP, right?
Lei: Why was so much of the book focused on the 1993 allegations instead of other positive events?
JRT: I felt I needed to fully explain what happened. There are still many, many people who believe he was guilty as charged, especially since he settled. I know the fans don´t feel that way, but many others who are not fans do feel that way. I hope that after reading my book, they understand why he settled, and that it was not because he was guilty. However, in order to get them to that point, I had to explain all of it in detail.
Lei: Do you know if Janet and Michael speak regularly?
JRT: I think, maybe, once a year. Maybe twice. Probably not more than that, though.
Lei: If Michael and Lisa are still friends, why do you think she
chooses to say otherwise? Do you have proof of their friendship?
JRT: For me, the bigger question is: why do so many people want Michael and Lisa to be enemies? I don´t know. But I do know that Michael cares about her a great deal and, in her own way, Lisa cares about him. But, again, I don´t know why some fans want Michael to be enemies with the one woman he has really, really cared about in his life on a deep and meaningful level. As much as he loves Debbie, even she will tell you that Lisa was the love of his life.
Lei: Do you consider yourself a good biographer?
JRT: Sure, I do. (Can you imagine that I wouldn´t think that about myself?) Some agree; I have had eight best sellers. Other don´t agree. That´s cool.
Again, I think people should follow their own hearts, and make up their own minds about what they read.
Lei: Does Michael approve of your books? Has he ever tried to
stop one of your books from being published?
JRT: He said he liked the original edition and, no, he has never tried to stop me in any way. It would be very unlike him to try to stop people from realizing their visions and feeding their passions... and for me that is as a writer. However, anyone who thinks Michael is happy about everything I have ever written or said about him would be wrong. Michael has his own
opinions about his life and career, and I wouldn´t expect him to agree with me, or with anyone else. Michael Jackson is his own man.
Lei: Why do you say that Michael blames the fans for what he is going
through now when all Michael ever says to the fans is "Thank You"?
Where did you get this information from?
JRT: My point is that, in my view, Michael often does not take responsibility for his own problems and, instead, blames external forces ... but I also know that he loves his fans. I definitely think many of the problems Michael has had, such as with his image, could be easily avoided with a little forethought... as I outlined in the book.
Lei: Where did you get the information about his prosthetic nose?
JRT: I´m not going to say ... but does anyone seriously doubt that this is
true????
Thanks so much... I´ve met a lot of Michael´s fans on my book tour and they have all been absolutely cool, even if we disagree on certain matters. I think that, in the end, we recognize that we all care about Michael, and that is the important thing.
Best to you all...
