Last night, NBC ran a cut-down version of the 2003 TV special that did more than any other piece of media “reporting” to turn Michael Jackson into a punchline and worse. Living with Michael Jackson is a documentary overseen by the British journalist Martin Bashir, who now co-anchors ABC’s Nightline. In 2003, however, Bashir’s biggest claim to fame was interviewing Princess Diana in 1995 about her failed marriage.
Grinning at Jackson in their face-to-face encounters, sitting cozily next to Jackson on a Ferris wheel on the singer’s Neverland estate, or holding the hand of one of Jackson’s children, Bashir was the very picture of fawning unctuousness. But when he got into his editing room, he started playing the concerned tough-guy: “Jackson’s behavior was beginning to alarm me,” he says in a voiceover Jackson would hear only after the documentary aired. “Confronting him wouldn’t be easy, but now it had to happen,” Bashir describes himself with heroic determination.
Yeah, right: But only after making sure he had footage of Jackson spending gobs of money buying garish home furnishings in a Las Vegas store. “That’s only $275,000 each,” he says loudly, smilingly, as Jackson chose two items, among many others. Bashir wanted to make sure we thought the singer was a no-taste spendthrift.
Having secured scenes that would make for maximum salaciousness — “What else would he beat you with?” Bashir prodded, after reducing Jackson to tears amid tales of father Joe Jackson’s cruel punishments — Bashir went in for the money-quotes. He brought up the 1993 allegations of child molestation and let Jackson talk about how his relationships with minors were “not sexual.” Bashir made sure we heard that Jackson had made a “financial settlement” with his accusors.
Jackson was so upset with how Bashir portrayed him in the original, two-hour version of Living that he produced his own special, The Michael Jackson Interview: The Footage You Were Never Meant To See, which aired on Fox and showed some of Bashir’s wheedling and manipulations. The harm had been done, however.
It’s safe to say Living with Michael Jackson was, at the least, one reason Jackson withdrew from the media, and the world, even further in his remaining years. And you can watch it six more times on MSNBC over the next two weeks. What a way to honor the dead.
I watched this last night and I think I was more terrified than the first time it aired back in 03′. There were so many times he just gave the most bizarre answers and explanations. It was really sad.
Don’t believe the hype!
I actually think it’s a well-done documentary…I mean, imagine if we didn’t have it…It at least gave us a glimpse into the the most mysterious, odd pop cultural figure…I hate how some are acting like Michael Jackson was never weird…He’s dead, and journalists are afraid to bring this up again…
Ken Tucker, isn’t it EW that had a cover of Michael Jackson saying “Jacko the Wacko”?…
Michael was the most wonderful person that I know. HE was very genuine, pure and naive. Each time I watch this movie I just continue to hate strongly Martin Bashir and his alikes! I hate Martin Bashir He is just yellow journalist nothing more. I ignored everything where he appeared and will do it ever since!If everyone start to do it, his career will be ruined. He is jerk, he is null. This movie prove it completely! I do strongly hate martin bashir!!!
It’s amazing how all the opportunitists are coming out to slam a dead man. How brave of them. Bashir is still trying to ride MJs coat tails since he is just another hack journalist. All of these “experts” and “friends” are pond scum.
Martin Bashir is a joke and an opportunitist. All these folks saying all these ugly things about a dead man are pond scum. It is obvious these so called “experts” and friends” making all the rounds on the TV shows were part of MJs problem and are still trying to make a buck off of him and his grieving family. What a bunch of jerks!
I will grant you that Bashir’s ‘concern’ was highly suspect, as I think he produced exactly what he was going to from the beginning. That doesn’t change the fact that for the last 15 – 20 years, Michael Jackson was off the rails weird. And while everyone wants to see him in the best light now, his relationships with kids was highly questionable at best. It may have been totally innocent, but there were enough questions and clues that had it been anyone else, he would have been suspect years prior. And watching it last night, knowing what we know now, there were times that Michael was outright lying. There were two MIchaels – the highly creative and talented performer that should be celebrated, but there was also the messed up Michael who seemed to live in a world not based in reality. You can’t just pretend that the messed up Michael – on full display the last 1/3 or his life, never happened.
Yes but when someone is dead whait until a suffient time pass and then trash him down.Oh but whait in America there isn’t such thing as rispect the dead.
Truth be told, NOONE except friends and family, knew the REAL Michael. He had many medical ailments that he had no control of, and to say he was a weirdo and a child molestor, is totally unjustified. Except for a few youtube videos and biased interviews, all you people who assume the worst are the real IDIOTS. These are the same people who dont realize Michael had a skin condition and believe he was bleaching his skin to look white. YES these morons are still out there. Let the King rest in peace!!
DOnt you people realize this from watch the reality TV crap. Editing can make the most “normal” person seem weird or outrageous. People are sooo gullible and quick to assume the worst. Sadly,its beginning to become human nature for most Americans to have this quality
Yes, you TMZ Americans..the same ones who want nothing good to say about anyone they dont understand. All they do is wait for someone to screw up and then pounce on them. A nation who used to be all about helping others has turned into a NATION OF FOOLS
TMZ and other American paparazzi derived much of their ideas and methodology regarding “journalism” from the British tabloids.
Ken – your article is spot on. Martin Bashir has no journalistic integrity and is a world class louse!
Shame on NBC. Shame on ABC for turning a once respectable late night news magazine into a tabloid show by putting that sleeze on it. Remember the Nightline that Ted Koppel created during the Iranian hostage crisis and turned it into a forum for respectable TV journalism and then see what it’s become and mourn.
“When innocence is standing by
Watching people loosing lives
It seems as if we have no voice
It’s time for us to make a choice
There’s nothing that can’t be done
If we raise our voice as one
They’ve gotta hear it from me?
They’ve gotta hear it from you?
They’ve gotta hear it from us?
We can’t take it
We’ve already had enough
They’ve gotta hear it from me?
They’ve gotta hear it from you?
They’ve gotta hear it from us?
We can’t take it
We’ve already had enough
They’ve gotta hear it from me?
They’ve gotta hear it from you?
They’ve gotta hear it from you baby?
We can’t take it
We’ve already had enough
Deep in my soul baby
Deep in your soul and by your side
Deep in my soul
It’s so big and i’m still alive
They’ve gotta hear it from us?
We can’t take it
We’ve already had enough
It’s going down baby
Just let God decide”
Ladies and Gentlemen…I believe you have all boarded the crazy chain and become dillusional. What’s up with all this revisionist history mess? So the guy dies and now we are to forget how strange he was? That makes no sense. When this first aired, everyone was like “Michael is messed up!” Now that he’s dead, its “poor Michael”….makes not sense to me.
I think Michael Jackson’s only down fall was that he was always a kid at heart and maybe a little naive with things but I don’t think he did anything wrong. People always took advantage of him and made him into a monster but even though I don’t know him but I know he was a wonderful father and loved children. The problem is people took advantage of him and never appreaciated him. What kind of parent accepts dirty money if they’er child was really molested. It makes no sense to me. I have always been a huge Michael fan but it’s funny to me that everyone is so sad now when if the topic of Michael Jackson came up 2 weeks ago people would put him down. I have to agree with the poster about American, you guys love to see someone down and when you do you kick him harder. It’s so sad.
Michael was a human being! God created man . Michael was God’s creation. Say what you want about anther human being you have to answer to God.