Michael’s Mom Will Get His Kids

This is exactly why I didn’t understand all of the hoopla surrounding Michael Jackson’s will and who would get his kids. Since Michael’s will stated that his kids would go to his mother, Katherine Jackson, I didn’t understand why there was any question about it. She seemed ready, willing, and able, and was even willing to go to court. So, when did Debbie Rowe, Janet Jackson, and Diana Ross all come into it? Well, Diana Ross is stated to get the kids should Katherine not be able to care for them but as for the rest of it, I just don’t get where all the confusion came from.

Now though, we can put all the rumors and speculation behind us as we learn that not surprisingly, Katherine Jackson is going to get custody of Michael Jackson’s kids. From Celebrity Dirty Laundry,

“Michael Jackson’s mother has agreed a deal to get custody of his children.
Katherine Jackson – who became the temporary guardian of Prince Michael I, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II shortly after her son’s death last month – has reportedly reached an agreement with the eldest two children’s biological mother Debbie Rowe.

Katherine’s lawyer L. Londell McMillan told US TV programme ‘Early Show’: “It’s an agreement, an agreement for the best interests of the children. This is not a money deal. This is not about money. “There is no situation better for these children than for them to be raised and reared in the loving care of Mrs. Katherine Jackson.”

I am so glad that this custody situation seems to have been cleared up. Hopefully it stays that way.

Omer Bhatti is Not Michael Jackson’s Son

When there were rumors spreading that Omer Bhatti, one of Michael Jackson’s close and younger friends, was really the secret son of the King of Pop, Michael’s family claimed that the rumors were untrue. Friends and family both said that Michael wanted to be the boy’s father and called himself so sometimes but, that it was ‘all a part of Michael’s fantasy.’ People wondered if that were really true or, was Omer really Michael’s son that no one knew about?

Omer himself has come out and laid those rumors to rest, saying what I think we all suspected, that he was not Michael’s secret son. Omer has had a very close relationship to Michael and I also suspect it was something like many of us experience when we revere someone who’s not our parent as equal to such. He also explains why he sat with Michael’s family at the memorial service which, I think is just something so ridiculous to explain. Nothing against Omer, I just think that a rumor based on where someone sat is a little absurd. This is what Omer says, from Pop Crunch,

“Omer Bhatti, who goes by the rap moniker O-Bee, recently confided to friends that whispers that Michael Jackson was his biological father are completely false, The Daily Mirror claims.

“Michael is not my father. He and I were just very, very close. He was my best friend.”

According to urban legend, Omer was conceived in 1983, after Michael had a one-night stand with a young Norweigan woman. MJ gave Omer’s mother, Pia, a job as a nanny for his son Prince Michael and employed his dad Huayoun as a driver after meeting his young impersonator during a trip to Tunisia in 1996, Omer insists.

In the late 1990s, the family briefly lived on the grounds of Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara.

“Michael always used to say I was like a son to him,” he told the friend. “But my true parents are here in Norway. The reason I was asked to sit with his family at the memorial service is because I was Michael’s closest friend – not because I am his son.”

He further confided: “Michael was such a special person to me and I cannot believe he is gone, I am in total shock. I have lost weight because I cannot eat anything. All I can think about is Michael and how he died.”

It’s really too bad for Omer that he had to deal with this, rumors and nonsense, when he is mourning the loss of someone that he loved so dearly. That’s just something else I suppose, that he along with everyone else associated with Michael, will have to deal with for a very long time.

Is This Just a Little Too Convenient?

So ever since Michael Jackson died, people have been wondering and speculating on who the biological mother of his youngest child, Blanket, is. I don’t know why people didn’t wonder more about this while he was alive, and now all of a sudden there’s a big fuss but, it’s been one of the question marks surrounding Michael’s life and death. It wouldn’t surprise me if millions of women came forward claiming to the be the child’s rightful mother. A lot of people see dollar signs hanging over the heads of those children. And there’s a lot of sickos out there.

I don’t really know if millions are to follow but, the first woman willing to take responsibility for being the birth mother of Blanket has stepped forward. Her name is Pia Bhatti, and she is also the mother of Omer Bhatti, the rumored “secret son” of Michael Jackson’s. From Pop Crunch,

“Star Magazine is reporting that the youngest of Michael Jackson’s three children was mothered by a Norwegian dental hygienist, whose 25-year-old son is the rumored “secret lovechild” on the late pop icon.

Jackson never disclosed the identity of seven-year-old Prince Michael Jackson II’s (AKA “Blanket”) mother, revealing only that he was born to an anonymous surrogate, however Star claims Jackson’s longtime friend and former employee Pia Bhatti agreed to donate her eggs to the superstar after he learned that her son Omer – a rapper known as O-Bee — was the result of their one night stand in 1984.

“Pia was sworn to secrecy about Blanket. The agreement she had with Michael was that she would never reveal herself to be Blanket’s mom.”

According to the tabloid scoop, MJ struck up a deal with Pia to provide him with a third child. When approached by Star reporters, Bhatti refused to comment on the claims.”

There are so many things wrong with this story. One, I don’t think that Omer Bhatti is the secret son of Michael Jackson. I think that in itself weakens Pia Bhatti’s argument. I also find it weird that just a few days ago, Ritz Bhatti, Omer’s father, practically confirmed the news that Omer wasn’t his biological son but then his wife refuses to comment. I think that these seem to be pieces of a puzzle that fit together quite nicely for the Bhatti family. But I don’t think there’s a lick of truth to anything that they’re claiming.

Did Michael Jackson Have a Secret Son?

I’m so angry at myself for being sucked in by this headline and reading any further that first, I must apologize for doing the same thing to you. I think we all knew that after Michael Jackson died, there were going to be all kinds of people, and details, coming out about his life all so that someone, somewhere could make a buck off it. It’s what Michael’s life was about. And I think the thing with Michael Jackson is that it’s hard to separate fact from fiction because it’s Michael Jackson and really, would anything he do surprise anybody?

But, the latest story that I wholeheartedly disbelieve, is the possibility  that Michael might have a “secret son.” The Daily Mail seems to think that there’s strong evidence to point towards the fact that Michael had a 25-year-old secret son. This also seems to be solely based on the fact that Michael was a very good friend to this young man throughout most of his life, and that this man attended Michael’s memorial service and sat with the family. The boy’s name is Omer Bhatti and if you’re still not convinced that this is probably not Michael Jackson’s son, please also take into consideration the fact that Omer’s father - his father - Ritz, is also quoted in the article. Hmm…From the Daily Mail,

“A Norwegian rapper suspected of being the secret son of Michael Jackson sat with the Jackson family at the singer’s memorial concert.

Omer Bhatti, 25, was seated in between Michael’s son Prince and eldest sister Rebbie, 59, in the front row at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on July 7.
Wearing dark sunglasses and a black suit, Omer looked just like a member of the family as he bowed his head while listening to tributes to the King of Pop.

His appearance at the memorial and his physical similarities to Michael’s youngest son Prince Michael II, aka Blanket, has fuelled speculation that he is the son of the legendary star.
Omer has remained in LA since Michael’s death and is believed to have asked for a DNA test to prove once and for all if he is the singer’s love child.
If he is, Omer would be the oldest of Michael’s four children, joining ’siblings’ Prince Michael, 12, Paris Michael, 11, and Blanket, seven.

The Thriller singer reportedly told close friends several years ago that he fathered Omer after a one-night stand with a Norwegian fan in 1984.

After hearing of the singer’s death of a cardiac arrest on June 25, Omer’s mother, Pia, said: ‘He was the King of Pop. But for us he was so much more.
Omer’s Pakistani father Riz confirmed his son was at the memorial, but declined to give further details.
He told The Sun: ‘Yeah, yeah, I know because I was watching. I told my wife, “Just wait until the Press see this. It’s not a small thing.”‘
When asked if Michael was the biological father of Omer, Riz replied: ‘Make what you like. I don’t want to discuss anything.’”

I don’t understand why Omer’s father seems to be confirming the fact that Omer is not his son. But the rest of the article, which you can read here, goes on to quote Michael’s friends who say that Michael did sometimes refer to Omer as his son but that it was all a fantasy Michael had. Admittedly, that’s something that very well could have happened. The article also talks about how Omer and Michael met in 1996, when Omer would have been about 12. So, if Omer really was Michael’s child, and they both knew it, wouldn’t they have met long before the boy was 12?

I just don’t think there’s really enough to stand on here to even consider this story as being true. And I doubt that anything will ever come of it. I also find it very suspicious that Omer is sticking around LA after his “father’s” death. Yet he didn’t live there while his dad was alive. The whole thing seems very suspicious to me.

Michael’s Burial Plans

I knew the coverage on Michael Jackson’s death was going to get bad. But, I don’t think I realized that his death would not only shed some light on what a freak the man was, but also what freaks his family are. I’m sorry, but I don’t really understand how everyone can just conveniently forget about the horrible things that Michael “allegedly” did. And I don’t buy the allegedly part. I think once you’ve paid off a little kid so they don’t talk in court, the “allegedly” goes out the window.

But, what bothers me so, so much about this now (because all of that happened quite some time ago,) is the fact that everyone seems to think that the man was some sort of saint. I get that he was the most talented singer, dancer, and entertainer that the world had ever seen. I might even agree with that. But - and it’s a big BUT - the man was a bad man. Not only was he a bad man but now, his brother, Jermaine Jackson, wants him to be buried in Neverland. At first, this just seemed weird to me. And somehow, appropriate. You know, Jackson was so freaky with Neverland, might as well bury him there. And I do suppose that Michael would be ‘at peace’ there. But it’s Jermaine’s reasons for wanting his brother laid at rest at Neverland that really, really bother me. Like, really, really, a lot bother me. From Contact Music,

“Jermaine Jackson wants his brother Michael to be buried at his former Neverland ranch as he doesn’t want him laid to rest with ”bad people” at a public cemetery.

Jermaine Jackson doesn’t want his brother Michael to be buried with “bad people”.

The former Jackson 5 bassist - who is still devastated by the death of his pop legend sibling, who passed away of a suspected cardiac arrest last month - wants the singer to be laid to rest at his former Neverland ranch and not in a public cemetery.

He told Britain’s The Sun newspaper: “I think it’s a great possibility Neverland will be his final resting place. We have to think about security - we can control that there. In a public cemetery we couldn’t.

“The options are Neverland or the main cemetery in Los Angeles. I’m totally against the idea of a public cemetery. I just don’t like it.

“He’s done so much to make the world special - and he needs to be somewhere special. He should be somewhere where it’s safe and where he isn’t sharing the ground with other people who are not good human beings. At those places they bury people who have done bad things in their life.

“Why should he be in the company of these bad people? He should be by himself. His world is Neverland.”

Seriously?!? I kind of want to find Jermaine Jackson and slap him! I have many people that I love that are buried in “those types of places.” You know, the ones where they put all the bad people? And I can tell you, those people were a hell of a lot better people than Michael Jackson was. Oh, hell no! This makes me enraged, I really must tell you. I really was trying to be respectful of Michael Jackson. Something along the lines of not speaking ill of the dead. But this stupid comment by his brother just makes me see that apparently, the entire Jackson family is okay with saying stupid and doing stupid things so, everything must be fair game.

Michael Jackson may have been a very talented man. But he was also a very bad man. One who probably molested small children. And if there’s any place in the world that the “people who have done bad things in their lives” should go, Michael should be one of the first ones there, in my opinion. This statement wouldn’t have made me nearly as mad if Jermaine would have just said his peace about Neverland and that he thought Michael should be buried there. He didn’t have to speak badly of the millions of people that are buried in public cemeteries all over the world.

The Custody Saga of MJ’s Kids Continues

Michael Jackson died and everyone immediately started talking about custody of his kids. That’s pretty normal I think, when anyone passes away. And I think it’s even normal that everyone should want the children to go to them. Add to that the fact that these children come with millions of dollars attached to them, and the custody battle becomes even more heated. We’ve heard of just about everyone becoming potential guardians of these children, from his mom, Katherine, to Diana Ross. And let’s not forget the biological mother of two of the children, Debbie Rowe. No one really knows where she stands on the issue. But now there’s another name being tossed into the custody ring and it’s none other than Michael’s sister, Janet.

Apparently, Michael spoke with his sister and told her that should something happen to him, he wanted the kids to go to her. Being that the children are so close to her already and the family seems to be behind her, it might just be a good fit. Unfortunately, Michael did not change his will before he died to reflect his new wishes. So, what’s the lesson here? If you want to change your will, change it. From Pop Crunch,

“Pop legend Michael Jackson wanted his baby sister, R&B diva Janet Jackson, to take care of his three children, according to a scoop featured in Britain’s Grazia Magazine on Tuesday.

The “Thriller” star — who died last month at 50 — had reportedly discussed his wishes for his kids - Prince Michael I, 12, Paris, 11, and Prince Michael II, 7 — to be raised by his single sis in the event of his death and was even planning to draft a new will to reflect that wish.

“There was a lot of rifts in the family, but Janet was the one person he spoke to regularly and he made sure the children kept in touch with her too,” a source said. “Ultimately, he wanted Janet to look after the children, with help from his mother Katherine, and was planning to draft a new will to reflect those wishes. He trusted Janet implicitly.”

So will Janet get the kids? I guess only if his mother is willing to give up her legal guardianship. As it stands, I don’t really know why we’re even discussing who will get custody. If Michael’s will states that he wants his mom to get them, shouldn’t that be the end of it? Isn’t that the entire point of a will? There is also the issue of the biological mother, Debbie Rowe, and many stories have been floating around about her as well. The latest says that she accepted millions of dollars from Katherine, in exchange for the promise that she would stay out of the kids’ lives. This latest story however, has been proven untrue as Rowe’s attorney has made a statement saying that no such thing happened. From US,

“No deal has been reached between Michael Jackson’s mother and his ex-wife Debbie Rowe over the custody of the late singer’s children, a lawyer for Rowe says.
Eric George - who represents Rowe, the biological mother of Jackson’s two oldest children - is slamming a New York Post report that she has agreed to take $4 million not to challenge Katherine Jackson for custody.

“Ms. Rowe has not accepted — and will not accept — any additional financial consideration beyond the spousal support she and Michael Jackson personally agreed to several years ago,” George tells the paper in an open letter sent to Usmagazine.com.

A child custody court hearing, which had been set for this week, was delayed until next Monday at the request of lawyers for Jackson and Rowe, a court official said.”

So, is this latest statement setting the stage for Rowe to fight for custody? It sounds sort of to me like she’s making a point of saying that she doesn’t want any money, so that maybe she’ll come across as just a caring and kind mother. It really is anyone’s guess at this point. Her attorney has also made a public statement saying that Debbie Rowe has not decided whether or not she will fight for the kids.

I don’t really get the point of all this fighting over the kids. As I said before, a will is a will. What more is needed and what the heck is the point of having a will if it’s not going to be followed? I’m thinking a judge is going to say the same thing. Therefore, my prediction is that Debbie Rowe does not stand a chance at custody, if that’s a road she decides to take and that Janet might be a suitable guardian. But only if Katherine agrees to it. I don’t know, to me it all seems to be pretty cut and dry. But I suppose when there’s that much money involved, and when the deceased parent is Michael Jackson, it don’t matter if it’s black and white.

Joe Jackson Proves He’s a Schmuck

I really didn’t think about Joe Jackson, Michael’s dad, too much before Michael’s death. I think, thankfully, most of us had forgotten about him once the spotlight turned full-force on the King of Pop. But ever since Michael’s death, Joe Jackson has been front and centre. We’ve heard more from him than anybody else in the Jackson family and there was that big kerfuffle when Michael left his dad out of the will. Something Michael did that I can actually agree with. But now, it seems as though Joe has learned nothing from his tumultuous relationship with his son because he’s planning on doing the exact same thing to Michael’s kids.

We all know that Joe pressed Michael, and all his kids, to go into show business. When they didn’t perform well or weren’t ‘trying hard enough’, he would beat and belittle them. To Joe Jackson, the only thing that matters is that he’s able to live off someone else’s fame and someone else’s talent. It’s disgusting. There really is no other word for it. From Contact Music,

“Michael Jackson’s father Joe Jackson reportedly plans to take the late pop star’s children on a world tour as The Jackson Three.

Michael Jackson’s children are to tour the world as The Jackson Three.

The late pop star’s father Joe Jackson - who managed the Jackson Five, the group that launched Michael’s glittering music career - has reportedly lined up Prince Michael I, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II to perform at a series of concerts next year.

Michael’s unofficial biographer Ian Halperin said: “Joe wants the children to go on a world tour in 2010. He has already offered recording contracts to two of Michael’s kids. Now he is talking about getting them the world’s best backing band and taking them on tour as The Jackson Three.”

However, the rest of the ‘Thriller’ singer’s family are reportedly furious about the idea and claim Joe, 79, is trying to exploit the grieving youngsters.

Ian added to Britain’s The Sun newspaper: “One of the family members is livid. He is saying Joe seems intent to do this no matter what. He wants to exploit the kids the same way he did Michael.”

Yesterday (12.07.09) it was reported Michael’s mother Katherine was in secret talks with her son’s ex-wife Debbie Rowe to exclude Joe from the children’s lives.”

First, let me say something. I must applaud Katherine Jackson. I have been going back and forth on whether or not she’s a good mom and if she’s too old to take care of Michael’s kids. I realized shortly after Michael’s death that she’s certainly not too old to take care of them. I mean, any 79-year-old woman who can handle the Michael Jackson Trust and see to his affairs after his death, is certainly not a frail and weak being and she obviously knows a thing or two. I then attacked her for staying with her husband and wondered why Michael’s kids should be subjected to the same kind of home environment that Michael was. That’s where I was wrong again.

Katherine and Joe Jackson split up many years ago, although the exact date I cannot find. So obviously she realizes that the man is severely flawed. And the fact that she wants to keep the kids away from him makes me want to cheer her on even more. Someone has to stand up for these kids and fight for their right to have as normal a childhood as they’ll be able to have. No child who has just lost their parent should be thinking about going on tour. No child should be thinking about going on tour at all!

I’m amazed that Joe has the gall to show his face in public anymore. The more I hear about him, the more I hate him. And I’d bet a Buffalo nickel that I’m not the only one that feels that way.

Custody Case of MJ’s Kids Postponed

I’m not really too sure what’s going on with the custody case of Michael Jackson’s kids. I’m not too sure anyone is. Last I had heard, Michael Jackson’s mother, Katherine Jackson, was given temporary custody and it was to remain that way until another hearing in August, when a more permanent decision would be made. Maybe when Michael Jackson’s will was found, and in it he deemed his mother as the guardian of the children another hearing was scheduled to make that legally permanent. I’m not sure what happened really but apparently, there was going to be a hearing on Monday, July 13, and that has now been postponed to the following Monday, July 20. When the July 13 date came into play is where I get confused.

What confuses me even more is that there’s conflicting stories on the side of Debbie Rowe, two of the children’s biological mother. While it looked at first that she was going to fight for ‘her kids’, her attorney has also come out with statements that she remains undecided as to whether or not she wants to pursue it. Add to that the fact that Rowe has told a close friend - a close, named friend - that she does want the kids, and who knows what’s going on or what’s going to happen! See if you can sort it out for yourself. From People,

“A custody hearing for temporary guardianship of Michael Jackson’s children scheduled for Monday has been rescheduled for July 20 at the request of Katherine Jackson and Debbie Rowe, according to court officials.

“All prior orders remain in full force and effect, with Katherine Jackson as temporary guardian of the children,” according to a Los Angeles Superior Court statement released Friday afternoon.

Michael Jackson’s kids – Prince Michael I, 12, Paris, 11, and Prince Michael II (Blanket), 7 – have been living with their grandmother, Katherine, and staying at her Encino, Calif., home since the death of the pop icon on June 25.

Rowe, who is the biological mother of Prince and Paris, has not filed a petition for temporary guardianship, says a courthouse spokesperson. Blanket’s mother has never been identified.

Last week, Rowe’s attorney Eric George, said, “The truth is that Debbie has not reached a final decision concerning the pending custody proceedings.”

This came on the heels of Rowe telling her former attorney and close friend Iris Finsilver that she intended to pursue custody. “Frankly, she won’t have to fight for them, ” Finsilver told PEOPLE. “She is the children’s biological mother. She loves her children.”

But Jackson’s mother, Katherine, was named the guardian of his three children in his will, which was revealed last week. A source close to the family says of the Jacksons: “They will fight.”

There are many problems with this. The fact that anyone considers Debbie Rowe a fit mother for those children disturbs me. People who make good mothers don’t sell their children for millions of dollars, which is what she did when she signed away her maternal rights for a lump sum. The fact that anyone would think that Debbie Rowe actually loves these children also disturbs me. How can you love children that you don’t even know and have had no contact with over the past 10 years?

Another disturbing thought that I’m just throwing out there - Katherine Jackson will most likely be made the permanent and legal guardian of these children. Debbie has no case and it was in Michael’s will, which seems to seal the deal for me. But what no one seems to be questioning is whether or not Katherine will make a good guardian. Every time I hear about it, I can’t help but think that this was the same woman who allowed her own children, Michael especially, to be abused by his father - her husband. She never left him and obviously, she allowed these things to happen.

There really is no good answer. Unfortunately, I think that these kids will be screwed up for a very, very long time.

Britney’s Family Fun and Warning from MJ

Britney Spears is still busy in Europe killing crowds with her new Circus tour but she took a break this past weekend to spend some time with her boys at the good old fashioned tourist attraction, the Eiffel Tower. I have to say that in this picture, I’m not really loving Britney’s look but then again, I don’t always look in top form when I’m racing my kids around either. It is nice to see though that Brit is taking some family time away from her work and just hanging out with her kids for some good family fun. It’s recently come out that, according to Michael Jackson, this is exactly what Britney should be doing. From Contact Music,

“Michael Jackson reportedly advised Britney Spears to retire from the music industry to focus on life with her family.

Michael Jackson warned Britney Spears not to “end up” like him.

The late ‘Thriller’ star - who died of a suspected cardiac arrest on June 25 - reportedly telephoned the 27-year-old singer a few weeks before his death and told her to retire from the music industry and focus on family life.

A friend of Britney’s said: “Michael told her, ‘Don’t end up like me.’ His warning was eerie, like he was trying to tell Britney he was going to die.”

The pair had remained friends since they famously performed ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’ together at Michael’s 30th anniversary celebration concert in New York’s Madison Square Garden in 2001.

The source added to Britain’s Look magazine: “I think Michael’s warning sent shivers down Britney’s spine. He was emphatic in warning her she should leave showbusiness in order to maintain her sanity. He thought she should retire after the ‘Circus’ tour so she could focus on the things that mattered - her sons and family. Britney must have taken Michael’s words to heart as she promised him she would at least take a long break after she finished the tour.”

Hopefully, Britney will take this advice, whether Michael really gave it to her or not (although I don’t know why a source would lie about it at this point.) I’ve always thought that Britney jumped back into her comeback too quickly but she’s proven so far that she seems to be handling it just fine. Hopefully though she will take a long break after this and free herself up for some more time like this with her boys!

Michael Jackson’s Memorial Service

Well, I have to be honest, I didn’t watch Michael Jackson’s memorial service today. I was planning on it but my satellite conked out during the afternoon and so, I missed it. I actually took it as a good sign. Now, I could just read about it and not feel bad that I missed watching an event that the world would never forget. I really didn’t want to watch it because I’m not a big fan of Michael Jackson’s and I never was. And I’ve never been a big fan of memorial services either so, the whole thing was sounding pretty bad to me.

I also figured that the whole entire thing was going to be just two hours of very sad entertainment and again, I thought I might want to pass on it. It turns out that my thoughts ended up pretty much being right. Many, many stars came out to pay tribute to the late King of Pop and they all had very sad and kind words to say about Michael, or they sang, or, in Corey Feldman’s case, they dressed up as Michael to pay their respects. I’ve read enough that I am glad that I didn’t watch it but there did seem to be especially touching moments.

Jennifer Hudson came out to sing Will You Be There and I’ve heard mixed reviews of that, between ‘beautiful’ and ’schmaltzy.’ I can see Hudson being schmaltzy. She always does everything so over-the-top and seems to be overacting on stage. What I did miss that I’m kicking myself for is Jennifer’s baby bump, which is the first time she’s shown it since her pregnancy was announced. I did though still manage to find this picture of her and Usher, who also performed at the service, and Jennifer’s bump.

Brooke Shields, who I love, love, looove, was also there to talk about her ex-boyfriend. Brooke and Michael dated during the 80s when Brooke was just growing into being America’s sweetheart and Michael was teaching the world the moonwalk. At the service today, Brooke talked about howMichael’s favorite song was Smile by Charlie Chaplin and how that’s what everyone needed to do now. The two hadn’t seen each other in almost 2 decades but, as Brooke explains in the newest Rolling Stone, the two would always have each other.  From US,

“Brooke Shields says she “instantly became friends” with Michael Jackson after meeting him when she was 13.

“Nothing was jaded about him. I just was so impressed by his sweetness,” Shields tells Rolling Stone’s special commemorative issue on the King of Pop, on stands Friday.

“He was thoughtful, sensitive, sweet, and had a funny sense of humor,” she goes on. “If you got to talk to him about music or about the future of technology, his voice would get deeper, he would start talking, and it was as if he was this genius.”

Sexuality didn’t play a role in their relationship, she explains.

“As he grew older and the more he started to change physically, the more asexual he became to me,” Shields says. “It was easy for him to be a friend to me, because I was the most celebrated virgin ever; it’s ridiculous, but I was America’s virgin.

“There were times when he would ask me to marry him, and I would say, ‘You have me for the rest of your life, you don’t need to marry me, I’m going to go on and do my own life and have my own marriage and my own kids, and you’ll always have me.’ I think it made him relax. He didn’t want to lose things that meant something to him,” she adds.

She last saw Jackson at Elizabeth Taylor’s 1991 wedding.

“He seemed like his own funny self,” she says. “We snuck in and took pictures of ourselves next to her dress. We always seemed to revert to being little kids. It was a sanctuary for him, because he knew I never wanted anything from him but his happiness.”

But the saddest moment of Michael’s memorial service today was when his daughter, Paris Katherine Jackson, stood up at the end to speak. I think, no matter who you are, and no matter what you think of Michael Jackson, reading about it and watching it on all the thousands of links that are now available from the service, everything was forgotten when Katherine spoke. Even though there was a ridiculous spotlight on her father’s casket and the whole entire thing was done up just a little bit ‘too’ much, when Katherine took to the microphone, it was like everything and everyone just shut up. The world wanted to hear what she had to say and all she wanted us to know was that Michael was a good dad. Say what you will, but the heartbreak in that little girl’s words and that little girl’s eyes tells us all that Michael wasn’t all bad, even if you’re not a fan. Here’s what Katherine said, from sawfnews,

“The most poignant moment of the Michael Jackson Memorial came at the end, when his 11-year-old daughter, Paris Katherine Jackson, bravely came up to the microphone to pay her tearful tribute to her father.

“Ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine and I just want to say I love him so much,” Paris said as a single spotlight shone on Michael Jackson’s gold casket inside the Staples Center.”

Before the public service today there was a private service yesterday for the family and close friends to pay their respects privately. The family then also joined this morning so that they could have some last time with Michael and each other before the day’s craziness began. It is sad but I really am hoping that we can all get past this and move on. It’s what the family needs now and more importantly, I think it’s in the best interest of his kids.