.
July 9th, 2009
04:42 PM ET
About this Show:
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
Questions or comments? Send an email
Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with AC361°
Subscribe to the podcast
Subscribe to the AC360 podcast on iTunes!
On Twitter
RT @CNN: Sandy Smith tells CNN’@andersoncooperer how she wants her son Stephen Smith to be remembered after authorities shared that her son…
9:54 pm ET March 22, 2023
RETWEET
RT @CNN: Investigative journalist Ronan Farrow chats with CNN’@JohnBermanan about his reporting on adult film star Stormy Daniels and Playb…
10:39 pm ET March 21, 2023
RETWEET
RT @CNN: CNN political analyst Maggie Haberman joins a panel on @AC360 to explain former President Donald Trump's ties to attorney Evan Cor…
9:36 pm ET March 17, 2023
RETWEET
RT @CNN: CNN's @andersoncooper and @ForecasterEnten discuss a new report from the Wall Street Journal about the nutritional value of sandwi…
10:01 pm ET March 15, 2023
RETWEET
RT @CNN: CNN’@andersoncooperer speaks with author Jodi Picoult about what some are calling a book ban in Florida by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Twen…
10:59 pm ET March 13, 2023
RETWEET
RT @CNN: Embattled Rep. George Santos said he was “innocent” of an allegation that he had orchestrated a credit card skimming operation in…
11:42 pm ET March 10, 2023
RETWEET
RT @CNN: A new single released by a choir of men who are in prison for their participation in the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 20…
1:12 am ET March 7, 2023
RETWEET
RT @CNN: Alex Murdaugh received a prison sentence of life without the possibility of parole for the murders of his wife and son. CNN’s @and…
11:03 pm ET March 3, 2023
RETWEET
New York Republican Congressman Anthony D'Esposito, the first of Rep. George Santos' fellow House Republicans to catwitter.com/i/web/status/1…tg
9:58 pm ET March 3, 2023
RETWEET
RT @CNN: In a discussion with CNN’@andersoncooperer, former federal prosecutor Jessica Roth describes what she thinks was the most importan…
11:24 pm ET March 2, 2023
RETWEET
RT @CNN: CNN's @andersoncooper investigates the stories of Ukrainian children allegedly taken to Russia to be used for pro-Russia propagand…
11:23 pm ET March 1, 2023
RETWEET
RT @CNN: Scientists say Antarctic sea ice has reached record low levels for the second time in less than a decade. @BillWeirCNN reports. Wa…
11:34 pm ET February 28, 2023
RETWEET
Search the AC360 blog
Why is no body talking about Micheals dad, what actually happened during his childhood for him to become what he was. I think his dad should be investigated , did he torture him in a way known to only micheal? I am sure if this is uncovered we will be suprised with what we find.
I can't believe that your news agency is still making allegations about the mj story why don't they move on to something else that is much more pertinent; that even in death there is no end, for some of us; such as the fact that grave diggers were moving bodies and and selling the grave sites for profit; what gives with cnn you guys don't have enough to cover apart from the michael jackson debacle!!
With someone like Michael Jackson, who was so out of touch with what was happening in his life, just stopping by and talking to them is not an intervention. Of course, he is not going to listen. He needed to be "abducted" by his family and taken away from all the letches surrounding and "protecting" him, to an undisclosed location with appropriate medical care followed by a lengthy rehabilitation period. Perhaps the family could even have told him they would apply for temporary custody of his children, until he got his act together. Going to a 3 week rehab program is not a successful way to get off the drugs and change your life around. Whether he was an adult or not, he was out of control, obviously not thinking clearly and needed some very tough love!
Thanks mary ,you are so right. Leave the kids alone, and please please stop digging.Let poor MJ rest in peace.
Thanks you
Dee Diahn/OR
Why are we going back and forth with this drug abuse?This is really rediculous–didn't he have some medical ailments?Didn't he suffer from Lupus?Why not give all the facts on his medical history rather than tear someone apart.. He gave so much to us, why can't we give him the same respect.!!!
While an exceptinally gifted artist, Jackson abused prescription drugs. He lived a risky life those that go to local mountains fall and get rescued by helicopters get a bill for using this service. Tax payers are not burdened. Now take some of that money Jackson family, and pay the city back the $1.4. City: if they don't, just send them a bill. Why should tax payer pay for those who want to live risky lifestyle. Taking Xanax is risky. And his lifestyle should not be glamorized.
All this "sources say" "supposedly", "possibly", etc. and other terminology so easily thrown around in this breaking news reports about MJ. Why not tell the real truth, the gossip is...blahblahblah, and we don't know anything, but we need to keep your focus on our channel. It's ratings, ratings, ratings. Campbell Brown seems almost delighted to use words with plenty of emphasis...Demerol, etc. Everytime she was to make a bad point about Micheal, listen to the tone of voice, watch the body language and read her face. She could care less about anyone but her own paycheck. The saying goes, "the truth shall set you free." How much freedom will people like Campbell have if these children turn into depressed, uncertainly, and hopelessly confused teenagers and adults. How many nightmares do you want them to wake up from in the middle of the night? Think of your own loved ones. Not just your paycheck.
Has anyone considered the leading cause of severe chronic insomnia is mercury poisoning from dental amalgams? Would it be possible that Michael Jackson, like so many of the post second world war generation, had dental amalgams at some point in his life and had never been chelated to remove the mercury from tissues and from the brain. Mercury toxicity in humans causes auto-immune diseases, neurological and central nervous system disorders.
REM sleep does not exist for the mercury poisoned brain.
@adela palenquela: not only was MJs funeral NOT boring it was a Magnificent memorial and Tribute to Michael Jackson. How anyone could find that boring is beyond me.
Fred Astaire said of Michael Jackson, "he was the Greatest dancer of our Time." Many others have referred to him as a genius. I only wish Michael could have asked Deepok Chopra for help, because Deepok is one person who could have helped Michael. He could have brought him back to a balanced state.
Deepok Chopra was a good friend of MJs but unfortunately MJ did not percieve how Deepok could have helped him.
Please take this great chance to educate the public about the disease of LUPUS. -and The struggle of living with lupus. Use 2 minutes to talk about the symtoms that is seen in these patients ,e g needing to use a wheelchair at times, and the life expctancy of this disease.
With all the hard, critical news facing the US & world, the media orgy over MJ is typical and divorced from any reality that matters today. One of the fundamental problems of America is the loss of our manufacturing base supplanted by an effete entertainment culture exported to the world. Sad to see the way our country has devolved.
Not only was the funeral not too long It was absolutely mesmerizing and phenomenal. It was so well organized, it was unbelievably wonderful.
I am troubled by the amount of time that is being spent on what killed Michael Jackson. What really killed him was the muck raking media, who are now picking over his corpse. Please let the man just rest in peace.
On regards to drug intervention. I can relate to the story. I have a brother who used to have a drug addition. (I don't know if he still does) But we try to intervine, but like Michael he distance himself from family members. We try to get him to a drug rehab, but he did not want help. Drug addits, do not want help.
It seems that everyone wants to make a comment pertaining to "what seen or heard" about Michael's last days. But let us remember "Look at the man in the mirror" before we pass judgement. I am a fan of Michael and I will always remember how his songs made pain feel a little better.
Hello Anderson,
I am from Brazil and consider MJ a great artist. But we need to separate the facts. He decided to have a family. Now he is dead. So, his children custody is a very serious and important aspect in this situation. In my opinion you can go on with this subject. It crossed my mind that he could probably had a kind of mutual agreement with Debbie Rowe before the children were born.
The situation that the mother "gave up" the custody seems to me that she had to do it. I confess that I never looked thru newspapers before to know better about the subject. Now, all of this became more than public. Has she being able to see their children in regular basis? Children needs and want to see their mom. And vice-versa no matter what happened between the parents. It is a very complicated situation for us to judge mainly because there is another child whose mother's name was not informed. May MJ rest in peace and his children grow up well. thanks
i just hope they dont stress those kids out and let them choose who they want to live with.i wish debbie will go into hiding like blanket mom.let them fight for micheals money he went and leave it, so all those who are only intrested in micheals money is going to die and leave it too cant take it with u have no use to u when ur dead just remember that.
i dont think a judge should realy give debbie those kids,she was a serget mother only difference with she and blanket mother was because micheal marry her.i listen to debbie talk she dont sound like a mother who love her kids and want to bond with them.how can u tell ur kids not to call u mommie come on,then ur going to say they are not ur kids they are micheals. unless u are not the biological mom.she is pathetic they need to replay that tape with her.she needs to leave those kids with micheals mom.just like how when micheal had them sshe was not intrested to visit or be apart of their lives just tell ur self that he still has them it just for the money she is just like joe jackson catherine need to divource joe and let him and debbie get married.
Having the same dna does not make a person a parent mj friends said he was a good father let the man kids mourn his death in peace. Focus on the good things that he has done . Nothing is wrong with remembering good things about others.mary i can see you have a heart God bless you
HEY TERRESA,u have to remember that everyone deal with situation differently.the way how other celebs deal with stress is basically the sameway micheal did,he did not do it no different. anything to makes them feel better that's what they going to do just to get a peace of mind.if i dont understand no other celeb i understand micheal. he has been going through stress fr he was a baby.he has not gotten a break.it started fr the father and stranger continued it.people build you and break u and thats what they did to him.and i dont think he will rest in peace not with these custudy battle and scandal.
I agree, Mrs. Chalk, these kids have endured enough of the media's attention on their father. Life is going to be hard enough for these poor children, especially with the custody battle coming up. My opinion, the children looked quite comfortable with the Jackson's family. I would never want my kids raised by someone who would use her body as a donor no matter who the person was paying or lack there of. I could be wrong but I don't know of any mother who would willingly do what she did for monetary gain. I hope that the Jackson's family have very good lawyers b\c I don't think this woman would be a good role model for the children. Aside from how she lives, but simply guiding these children down the right path in life. It has been a complete circus on Michael Jackson.
Cynthia, yes, the children will go on but not in this capacity. I am sure that you did not not have the media constantly ridiculing your father in this way. True, a child is able to grow normally, if provided with the right structure and rearing to overcome this mess that has been created for them. Who cares that Michael may not be the biological father, the fact is, he was their known father. End of story.
I hope they did try to stage an intervention so they feel like they did everything they could and they can mourn and grieve their son after his death from addictive disease.
As dignified human beings, we need to get past all the tabloid garbage roaming around (biological questions, physical changes, financial issues, and substance abuse). All these unnecessary social forces we inflict on each other distract all of us from focusing on our inner lives and trying to achieve a certain amount of happiness while alive. The media needs to let this go and show our American youth that we are going to change our obsession towards celebrities. This obsession only models the wrong thing for our children. After death, we must celebrate life instead of mock it and bring it down.
I don't know why I'm always surprised at folks who complain about too much coverage....change the channel. The same complaints came when CNN covered the Memorial Service for Tammy Wynette (sp)? I appreciate having the opportunity to 'be there' via CNN. To those out there who took advantage of Michael I wonder what you see when you look at 'the man/woman in the mirror"
There must be some good come out of this tragic situation. The people who provided the drugs should be held to task. No matter how long it takes. My condolences to the family. I'm sorry that the intervention in February was stopped by Michael. It must have been a difficult thing to just walk away and look back knowing it's just a matter of time. My prayers go to those who truly tried....God Bless
Tend to agree with some of the comments. Is it necessary for the public (including me) to know who the biological parents of the Jackson children are? Does it really matter? Michael Jackson is dead now. He was the superstar. They are young children. How much more needs to be dredged up? What is a little odd to me is that some of the talk show hosts and hostesses who hated Michael Jackson the most and convicted him before his trial was even held, are now expressing so much concern as to why his family did not intervene; what will happen to the three Jackson children; etc. It seems that Joe Jackson is not the only one who is still trying to exploit the tragic superstar, even after death! I don't blame his family for keeping it quiet if they did try to intervene and were stopped. The media and public are insatiable parasites that sometimes need to be ignored or misled, as far as I'm concerned. Especially when it comes to the personal lives of innocent children.
Hi Anderson,
Why does everybody say that Michael Jackson is so good in that last rehearsal we see? Personnally I think he looks kind of awkward and to me he is not the performer he was. I love Michael and I have an idea that keeps popping up in my mind, do you think he thought he was so good and ready for the performances he was going to undertake?I have this feeling that this might have been a suicide. Nobody has mentioned this possibility, to my knowledge..
Maybe this was too much pressure for him and it was better to leave our world in glory rather than being a has been.
Just a thought,,,
thank you
I doubt the children or probably most of the Jackson family are watching CNN or any other news show lately. Except for maybe Larry King – he is certainly energetic about this story.
All this on whether Michael was really their father – do you all mean legally or biologically? Biologically – maybe yes, maybe no. Legally – yes if he and Debbie Rowe were married when she gave birth then those two are legally his; I don't know about Blanket, the third child. I had heard it was a surrogate arrangement and that would imply an adoption. Most surrogates are set up with a lawyer involved so all the required documents and agreements are done – I doubt Michael's lawyer would let the adoption fall through the cracks. Again, if you mean biological father – who knows!
What is Oprah Winfrey's reaction to Michael jJackson's death? No interviews......no comments.........not even on her own website? She knew him personally and has a reputation of being an honest personality. Where is she?
I am not a psychiatrist so I can only speculate but doesn't MJ sound bipolar? Bipolar people have delusions (did you see the portraits of him as Christ at last supper with history's geniuses) of grandeur and often that is what drives them to accomplish so much without sleep like MJ has always done. It would also explain his overspending during his highs and his isolation and depression during his lows. Maybe if he tried a bipolar med instead of all these other drugs, he could have had a stable life. But I am just guessing from what I saw that his early in life overworking may have MADE him bipolar,burnt something out in him. I just hope his kids didn't see too much of him in the too highs and too lows. He should have gotten help for them but his ego would never of allowed him to get real help. He was really just a spoiled brat if you ask me.
Oh michael i have always wish to meet u in person bt God has takin u away fro us. Rest in peace michael. Zulai idris nigeria
Hey Anderson
Here's my beef with What's going to happen w/the kids?
I was 5 years old when my Father died in front of me from a heart attack.
How many other children in this world loose their parents and yes even from drugs?
You go on. And believe me his childeren have a lot more than I ever did.
Oh My God Mary, U said it all. I'm with u . Please let those poor kids along. They don't deserve all of this , they r innocent in all of this. For God sake let those children have peace don't keep hurting them . What If this was your family member, woulldn't u want peace ? Mary, who ever u r ,God bless u. I couldn't have said it any better. enough is enough. Thanks again Mary. Mrs Chalk/ Texas
I"m a big fan of Michael..........oh yes Michael Ware.
Mr.Jackson funeral remind me of Regan, too long and too boring.
poor kids........
can we please stop saying that MJ's death could have been prevented. Obviously it could'nt because if it could, he would still be with us. From a religious aspect, none of us will live past our one designated day. From life aspect, NO ONE can make an adult do somthing they don't want to do until the adult wants to change themselves. the end.
@Doug: MJ donated alot of money to the poor and it wasnt for organs.
@Mary: ummm, I'm nosey and I DO want to know who the father is as MJ supposedly did NOT legally adopt the kids. Yes, he is their father in their hearts and for all purposes. Why it might be advantageous, at least for the Jacksons to know who the bio-father is, is because he just may come knocking at the door looking for his biological kids. Also, they may need to have legal documents to take permanent guardianship of the kids in order to make all legal and medical decisions for them.
I can promise you one thing: NO one is letting those kids watch tv in the Jackson home.
and Mary: Michaels death and destruction were all brought on by himself. He acted in a negative manner and it brought negative attention. There are many celebrities who go through their whole careers and find a balance between the "celebrity" and the "person"
they really are. MJ got lost. And now we all lost him–the greatest performer ever.
WHY NOT LET THE MAN REST IN PEACE????
Who cares? Just another famous person that overindulged and killed themselves. Why should we care, the rich don't really care about the poor, except as organ donors.
Anderson Cooper – after the speech of Michael Jackson's daughter at his funeral service, WHY is CNN still digging to find out if Michael is the real father of his children. Not only is the CNN reporter willing to stripe a child of her only known fathers memory, but it seems almost cruel and mean spirited that during the worst time in a childs life they also want to stripe them of their birth rights to the only father they have know. Enough is Enough, this is not news this is pure curiosity at the price of children lives. PLEASE DROP THIS STORY, WE DO NOT CARE IF MICHAEL IS THE BIOLOGICAL FATHER, we want his children to now have peace, they have already lost everything, why is CNN digging to completely ruin there lives. This is not reporting, it is destruction, and as human being now the news is digging where nothing can happen but satisfying an ego at a human beings expense, wasn't Michael's Death enough, do you have to destroy his children lives seeking what some one believes. Please let these children moan their father, don't cast doubt now, Please let his children live in peace.
Thank you