ELIZABETH, I LOVE YOU. Michael Jackson

Today sad news has arrived. Elizabeth Taylor who was Michael’s best friend for many years until his last day has passed away at the age of 79. Now they are reunited and holding their hands again….

Here is our small tribute to this great lady who was probably the only ray of light in Michael’s lonely and friendless life.

Let us start with May 30, 2006.

On that day Elizabeth Taylor spoke on “CNN Larry King Live” about the way she had got acquainted with Michael Jackson. Not only did she tell Larry King the story of her friendship with Michael but – same as always – she stood up for him, spoke of his innocence and said she was angry that Michael was treated like dirt in his own homeland.

I wish someone from CNN listened to what Elizabeth said to their colleague Larry King well after the 2005 trial. They definitely need to, as in their today’s report about Elizabeth Taylor’s death they made a grave factual mistake – they admitted that Elizabeth had been friends with Michael Jackson but emphasized that this was only before the 2005 trial.

This is totally wrong and the CNN people should refresh their memory of what Elizabeth Taylor said to their Larry King in 2006 or a year after the trial. Here is the transcript from the CNN official site where she not only defended Michael but revealed that in May 2006 she was still in close contact with him:

KING: Michael Jackson. The story of your friendship with him, how did that begin? 

TAYLOR: I went to a concert, and I couldn’t see a thing. I was way up in the — well, it was a stadium. And I couldn’t see a thing. And I brought 30 people, and we couldn’t even hear. So we went home to watch it on television by disc. And Michael heard that I had left halfway through, and called me the next day, and was like in tears because he had heard that I’d walked out. I hadn’t walked out. I just couldn’t see anything. 

And then we talked on the phone for about three hours, and from there on in, we talked more and more on the phone. Then we met, and spent more and more time with each other, and just became really good friends. Told each other everything. KING: Why did you like him so much? 

TAYLOR: We’re very much alike. 

KING: Are you? 

TAYLOR: Yes. We both had horrible childhoods. Well, working at the age of 9 is not a childhood. He started at 3, and that certainly isn’t a childhood. 

KING: Have you spoken to him recently? 

TAYLOR: Yes, I have. 

KING: How’s he doing? He’s in where?

TAYLOR: He sounds very happy. 

KING: Where is he?

TAYLOR: At the moment, I think he was in London. 

KING: But he was in Tokyo recently, and then London. 

TAYLOR: Yes.

KING: But he lives in Bahrain? 

TAYLOR: Right. 

KING: What did you think of the charges against him? 

TAYLOR: I’ve never been so angry in my life. 

KING: But didn’t you think, Elizabeth, Dame Elizabeth, I’m sorry, that it would look strange to people to have someone who is in his 40s spending a night with children? I mean, just on the face of it. 

TAYLOR: All right. I’ll answer that, because I’ve been there, when his nephews were there, and we all were in the bed, watching television. There was nothing abnormal about it. There was no touchy-feely going on. We laughed like children, and we watched a lot of Walt Disney. There was nothing odd about it. 

KING: So you think they were out after him? 

TAYLOR: I do. 

KING: The authorities and the like? 

TAYLOR: I think the paparazzi started — not the paparazzi, the press. Excuse me. May I blow my nose? 

KING: You may. 

TAYLOR: Thank you.

KING: It’s called human.  Even Elizabeth Taylor blows her nose. 

Is he going to come back to working? 

TAYLOR: I don’t think so. Except maybe in Europe. 

KING: You don’t think he’ll ever live in the United States again? 

TAYLOR: Well, really, why should he? He’s been treated like dirt here. 

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0605/30/lkl.01.html 

Here is the video of Elizabeth Taylor talking to Larry King on May 30, 2006 (it was rebroadcast on June 4 and Dec. 25, 2006):

It was the second time Elizabeth Taylor spoke to Larry King. The first time was on February 3, 2003 – the same day Bashir’s documentary aired in the UK or immediately after it. They didn’t speak of the scandal over the film as there was no scandal yet, but Larry King did ask Elizabeth about the “baby-dangling incident”. This is what she said in reply:

KING: First, I know Michael Jackson is a precious friend. He gets a lot of raps, takes a kid and hangs out the window with a kid.  What don’t we know about him?

TAYLOR: That was so misunderstood. 

KING: Explain it. What don’t we know about it? what should we know about him we don’t know? 

TAYLOR: All right, I’ll tell you from the very beginning. 

KING: Good. 

TAYLOR: He had such a grip on that child and if you look at it again, he’s got that child so tightly held, under the armpits. 

KING: Showing it now. He has got him pretty tight under his arm. 

TAYLOR: And he goes back in and gets something to cover the baby’s face for obvious reasons. Thank you. 

KING: Your hand was over the mike. But what don’t we know about him? Why do you to like him so much? Why do you love him? You love him.

TAYLOR: I love him. 

KING: Why? 

TAYLOR: Well, we have such similar backgrounds. 

KING: Similar backgrounds? 

TAYLOR: We were both child actors. Neither one of us had a childhood. We both supported our families. We — neither of us had mates our own age. Nobody to go out and play with, no football games to go to, no proms to attend, no growing up things. 

KING: You had to be old when young? 

TAYLOR: Oh, we were so old before our time. And we were — we did what we were told to do. And if you didn’t do what you were told to do, you were put on suspension. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0302/03/lkl.00.html

Yes, it was both before and after 2003 that Elizabeth Taylor expressed her love and support for Michael and never did she go back on her words of trust and respect for him! The CNN people should do their homework better before they voice their opinion, otherwise it looks like sheer slander..

Many years before that it was also Elizabeth Taylor who crowned Michael Jackson King of Pop, Rock and Soul, so those who allege that he self-proclaimed himself King please shut up – Dame Elizabeth Taylor knows better:

In fact Elizabeth Taylor wasn’t even the first to name Michael that way. The media people themselves – as David Edwards found out – called Michael the New King of Pop well before Elizabeth first said it, as early as 1984,  so she only just put into words what was already buzzing in the air.

The headline of this 1984 article calls Michael the New King Of Pop

Lisa Campbell in her “King of Pop’s Darkest Hour” book tells the marvellous story of friendship between Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson:

“During the “Michael Jackson talks to Oprah” show in February 1993 Elizabeth Taylor, who was with Michael at the time of the interview, came on camera and described Michael as 

• “the least weird man I’ve ever known… He is highly intelligent, shrewd, intuitive, understanding, sympathetic, generous, to almost a fault, of himself. If he has any eccentricities, it’s that he is like larger than life and some people just cannot accept that or face it or understand it.”

Here is that part of the interview where Elizabeth joined Michael and said she called him King of Pop, Rock and Soul as nobody could ever come near him – which is completely true:

She also said that Michael was funny – even wildly funny! Their life was similar as both were child stars who were old before their time, both missed their childhood, and both liked to get a little bit of it back when they became grown ups. Same as Michel Elizabeth evidently had a playful nature too and a great sense of humor as her big –  really big and highly unusual – birthday gift to Michael shows it:

When the allegations broke out in 1993 L.Campbell says that Elizabeth Taylor was about to begin an eight city tour to promote her new line of fragrances.  However she immediately “canceled her scheduled appearance at Sotheby’s in New York to fly to Singapore to be at Michael’s side. Mike Watkiss, a story hustler for A Current Affair, tagged along on Taylor’s flight with a cameraman. She granted him a brief interview in which she fervently defended Michael:

• I believe totally that Michael will be vindicated. I believe in Michael’s integrity, his love and respect of children. 1 know it will all come out alright. He’s here all alone. He’s going through a terrible time and I just wanted to be with him.

To the Newsweek magazine she said:

• “I believe 100 percent in Michael’s integrity. He’d rather cut his own wrist than harm a child. He worships children.”

On Friday, September 3, several other Jackson family members arrived in Taipei, Taiwan, the Dangerous tour’s next stop. Joseph and Katherine, Rebbie, Jackie, Tito and Jermaine all joined Michael.  Just after the arrival of his family, Elizabeth Taylor and Larry Fortensky left Taiwan”.

Here is a video where Michael speaks of his friendship with Elizabeth:

Lisa Campbell tells us more of the way the events developed in 1993:

“When a copyright infringement case was opened against Michael (along with Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton, and Joe Jackson) for allegedly stealing “The Girl is Mine”, “Thriller”, and “We Are the World” from two former neighbors of the Jacksons in Gary, Indiana – Reynaud Jones and Robert Smith – Michael was deposed for seven hours on November 8 and November 10. Michael’s testimony was videotaped for use in the court case.

Elizabeth Taylor and Larry Fortensky flew to Mexico on November 9th to again be by Michael’s side. Michael reportedly called Taylor and was feeling very distressed.

After Michael’s performance in Mexico on Thursday, November 11, Michael, Elizabeth and Larry never returned to the El Presidente Hotel. They boarded Elizabeth’s charted plane and left Mexico.”

This is what she said about his condition and her concern for him at that moment:

• I travelled to Mexico City, where I saw for myself that Michael was in desperate need of specialized medical attention. I have suffered and dealt with the same kind of medical problems now affecting my friend, Michael Jackson. Because of that and because of our friendship, when Michael’s doctor called to ask if I would help, I was glad to intervene. Because of my own experience with addiction to prescription medicines, I was able to make a number of calls in search of the best and most appropriate treatment for Michael, and he is now undergoing such treatment in Europe.

The 2011 ABC News article says about why Elizabeth knew how to help Michael at the time:

When Jackson turned to prescription drugs to deal with the ensuing criminal investigation and lawsuit, Taylor made him seek treatment. Having gone to the Betty Ford Center in 1988, she felt she was in a unique position to help.

• “He wasn’t aware of what was happening,” she told ABC News’ Diane Sawyer in 1995. “He was dulling his pain, but it really frightened me, because I have been there and I know how easy it is to get there when you’re in mental or physical pain.”

She refused to say where Michael was receiving treatment, and said only that he was in Europe:

• Because of my regard for him and my concern for his health, I will continue to be silent on these matters. 

She also refused to comment on the molestation allegations:

• As this is a matter now in the hands of lawyers it would inappropriate for me to comment on it and I will not do so. I will only repeat that I am a friend of Michael Jackson’s and I love him like a son, and I support him with all my heart.

The feeling was a mutual one and lasted for many years until Michael’s dying day. He dedicated a song to his dearest friend Elizabeth and sang it at a celebration of her 65th birthday in February 1997:

ELIZABETH, I LOVE YOU

At the Jackson Family Honors which took place on February 19, 1994 and which among other videos started, appropriately enough, with Michael’s “Leave me alone”, Michael Jackson took the stage to present the night’s honor to Elizabeth:

Today we honor Elizabeth Taylor for who she is as much as what she does. For me, Elizabeth Taylor is the ultimate humanitarian because she is the embodiment of love, compassion, faith, and integrity and she has been that ideal for hundreds and millions of fans over the five decades of her illustrious career. Elizabeth began her career when she was nine years old and since then, has starred in some of the greatest of all American films. She has been, and she continues to be, one of the most celebrated women of the twentieth century.

I know, from having the honor of being a friend of Elizabeth Taylor’s, that she’s in no need of another trophy or plaque to recognize her humanitarian work on behalf of the fight against AIDS. And I also know Elizabeth is here tonight not for any ego gratification but because this gives her another chance to get the all important message out to the public. The message of AIDS awareness and the need for compassion and the efforts to find a cure. To the formation of AMFAR in 1986 and her own Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, no one has done more to fight this dreaded disease. But in knowing Elizabeth, I know her reward comes from the work itself, from the small battles won in the all out war, from the gains she’s been responsible for by eliminating the problem for the world to see and from the unspoken things of the victims who’s lives she has enhanced during their times on earth. 

In the midst of my recent trials and tribulations, Elizabeth stood by my side with unwavering strength and support. Elizabeth stands for truth. She’s immune to criticism and unfearful to any challenge and places the highest truth in the wisdom of her own heart and the direct knowledge of her own intuition. She is not swayed by public opinion because she knows in the end truth always triumphs.

Elizabeth, I love you and we honor you not only for what you stand for, but also for the magnificence of who you are. The world is a better place because of your existence. Because Elizabeth is so unselfish in her devotions to humanity it is doubly fitting that she be the recipient of the Jackson Family Honors a ward. Ladies and gentlemen, Elizabeth Taylor.

Here is Michael making his speech and Elizabeth Taylor taking the stage after him:

Elizabeth Taylor’s reply is unforgettable and should probably become a hymn or a manifesto of all Michael’s present and future supporters.

Lisa Campbell says about it:

“She spoke out against the tabloids, asking the public to stop buying the pieces of shi…. garbage. Her damning of the tabloids brought cheers from the crowd with Michael joining in, giving them a thumbs down”. Here is the transcript of what Elizabeth said:

Thank you. I’m honored to be here with the amazing Jackson family and my beloved friend Michael who’s kindness, generosity and caring for the world inspires millions. Michael is a remarkable human being with talent beyond comprehension, compassion beyond bounds and commitment to others beyond compare.

Michael, we who know you more intimately than others acknowledge the suffering you have endured because we have suffered with you. But in the midst of our deepest anguish, we have known that you would prevail through this dark hour, that you would emerge stronger but still innocent, childlike, trusting bruised but still magically untouched by the tongues and opinions of the world. Hurt, but still gloriously loving and benevolent despite the slings and arrows of those who know better.

Enough of tabloid media! Enough of tabloid television! You know only you, the public, can accomplish this simply by not buying their garbage. Only you can put them out of business. Only you, and wouldn’t that be great?!

Michael, we know your recent torture isn’t going to alter or change your compassion and love for children. There is beauty and truth in your being. You are the brightest star in the universe. Don’t let anything dim your leading light. Neither crisis nor circumstances can ever take it away from you. And surely, Michael you still are ‘The King of Pop’ without a doubt.

I love you so much Michael. Anyway, thank you all for honoring me for merely doing what I must do. Goodnight. 

No wonder that the Los Angeles Times wrote on September 2, 1993:

• Perhaps it is time for the dictionary to redefine the word friend to simply read: noun . . . Elizabeth Taylor.

REISS J. DuPLESSIS
http://articles.latimes.com/1993-09-02/local/me-30708_1_black-boy-elizabeth-taylor-heroes

Here is another video of Michael’s song dedicated to Elizabeth, only this time it is accompanied by some great pictures of Lyz Taylor and Michael Jackson together. This honorable and courageous woman did show the world what a true friend should be really like. And the world now gives her back the deep love and respect all of us share for her too….

Rest in peace, dear Elizabeth

 

Updated March 24, 2011

Here are some more reviews from the press:

As a guest on Fox News for the first time since leaving CNN, former talk show host Larry King talked about Dame Elizabeth Taylor, who tragically passed away of congestive heart failure on Wednesday at the age of 79.

King was a guest on ‘Hannity’ where host Sean Hannity first thanked the legendary interviewer for his impact on the industry. After some pleasant banter, Hannity asked King about Taylor, who King had previously interviewed many times and had been friends with.

King said,

“She [Taylor] was special. It’s pouring rain here in Southern California; it’s almost like the skies are weeping.”

When Hannity asked what made Taylor special, King replied,

• “She didn’t have a line cut between brain and mouth. You asked her a question; she answered it. She was not fearful of what public opinion thought of her. She fought the battle for AIDS before Rock Hudson had AIDS … She stood up for Michael Jackson in his worst days. It didn’t matter if you agreed with her or not, it was her ability to be so forceful for so many things and loyalty … If she was your friend, Sean, she was your friend. You can’t buy loyalty.” King also mentioned that Taylor was a very positive person.

Elizabeth Taylor Dead At Age 79, The Greatest Celebrity of All

March 23 2011
Roger Friedman

Her other best pal, Michael Jackson, sadly preceded her in death.

And what people don’t know is that two years ago, on Easter, Jackson and his kids were with Taylor even as he was rehearsing for his London shows. Their friendship endured just about everything.

Tito Jackson Remembers Elizabeth Taylor’s “Loyalty” to Michael Jackson
March 23rd, 2011 1:29 pm / Author: Nicole Eggenberger

Like many stars who knew Elizabeth well, Tito was very appreciative of the humanitarian work the legendary actress did. But he also appreciated Elizabeth for being a good friend to his late brother.

“Most memorable is her steadfast loyalty and unwavering friendship to my late brother Michael Jackson,” he added. “Liz provided a sense of relief and comfort to my brother at various difficult times in his life, and I appreciate that, may she rest in peace.”

65th birthday of Elizabeth Taylor, Pantages Theatre LA,CA.2-16-97

@tjjackson (Michael’s nephew) on twitter

RIP, Elizabeth, I’ll never forget the love and support you gave my Uncle and our family. Your heart was gold. God Bless you and your family. 9:13 PM Mar 23rd via web

Karen Faye
“She was such a beautiful light in this world…especially in Michael’s world. I will never forget how much she made him laugh. They were such a joy to be around. Elizabeth was a person Michael could always rely on for support, honesty and being annoyed by her little white dog.”

Michael Jackson considered Dame Elizabeth Taylor as “royalty”

Friday, March 25, 2011

Their mutual friend David Gest said:

• “I recall the time we were having dinner at La Scala restaurant in Beverly Hills. People flocked around her – it was funny because for once Michael wasn’t the centre of attention. “I remember he leaned over and whispered to me, ‘Now that’s what you call royalty.’

1986, Los Angeles

Some say that Elizabeth Taylor withdrew her support for Michael Jackson in the later years of her life. Nothing can be further from the truth as the following articles prove it:

Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson Bonded Over Lack of Childhood, Substance Abuse

By SHEILA MARIKAR
March 25, 2011

•  “He has been hurt by so many people,” Elizabeth Taylor told ABC News’ Barbara Walters in 2002. “I think I’m the only person in his life that has not betrayed him.”

While Taylor and Jackson occasionally made appearances together in public — at the movies, at AIDS benefits, at the 1993 American Music Awards — much of their relationship remained private. But she vocally supported him when he was accused of child molestation in 1993 and 2005. She flew to Singapore in ’93 to help him cope with the first case; in 2003, after Jackson was arrested on child abuse charges, she defended him and blasted the press.

• “I believe Michael is absolutely innocent and that he will be vindicated,” she said in statement. “[The media’s] whole reaction is that he is guilty. I thought the law was ‘innocent until proven guilty.’ I know he is innocent and I hope they all eat crow.”

In 2003, she stood by his side when he was arrested and charged with child molestation and intoxicating a minor. Even after Jackson was acquitted on all counts at his 2005 trial, Taylor continued to push back at the public perception of Jackson as a pervert.

Jackson’s 2009 death floored Taylor. She took to Twitter to mourn.

• “My heart…my mind…are broken,” she wrote the day after he died. “I loved Michael with all my soul and I can’t imagine life without him. I don’t think anyone knew how much we loved each other. The purest most giving love I’ve ever known. Oh god! I’m going to miss him.”

She absented herself from Jackson’s star-studded, media-thronged funeral, tweeting, and

• “I just don’t believe that Michael would want me to share my grief with millions of others. How I feel is between us. Not a public event. I cannot be part of the public hoopla. And I cannot guarantee that I would be coherent to say a word.”

After his death, Taylor continued to stick up for Jackson, though not as publicly as she had in the past. (To be fair, she wasn’t much of a public personality in her final years.) Last May, she went on Twitter to chastise Dr. Arnold Klein for talking to the press about Jackson. (Taylor, like Jackson, was a patient of the Beverly Hills dermatologist.)

• “I thought doctors, like priests took an oath of confidentiality,” Taylor tweeted. “May God have mercy on his soul.”

That devotion followed her to her grave. On Thursday, Taylor was buried at Glendale, Calif.’s Forest Lawn Cemetery, the same cemetery where Jackson is entombed.

Elizabeth Taylor took Michael’s death so hard that it surely did worsen her own health condition. The Times of India says about it:

Liz Taylor-Jackson, the bond that was!
Renuka Vyavahare, TNN | Mar 24, 2011

One of Michael Jackson’s closest and oldest friends, Taylor had to be rushed to the hospital two years back. Her condition had worsened after she learned her close friend had died.

Taylor had issued a statement on the passing of her fellow legend and dear friend Michael Jackson.

• “My heart … my mind are broken. I loved Michael with all my soul and I can’t imagine life without him. We had so much in common. He will live in my heart forever but it’s not enough. My life feels so empty. I don’t think anyone knew how much we loved each other. The purest most giving love I’ve ever known. I keep looking at the photo he gave me of himself, which says, ‘To my true love Elizabeth, I love you forever.’ And, I will love HIM forever.”

The actress did not attend Michael’s memorial service as she didn’t want to be a part of the hoopla surrounding the event.

In a message to fans via Twitter, the actress wrote,

• “I’ve been asked to speak at the Staples Center. I cannot be part of the public whoopla (sic). And I cannot guarantee that I would be coherent to say a word. I just don’t believe that Michael would want me to share my grief with millions of others. How I feel is between us. Not a public event. My love goes out to Katherine and Michael’s beloved children. I said I wouldn’t go to the Staples Center and I certainly don’t want to become a part of it. I love him too much.”

Taylor had even defended Michael and trashed the molestation charges against him by saying, she too had spent nights with him at his Neverland ranch, without anything untoward happening.

• “There was nothing abnormal about it. There was no touchy-feely going on. We laughed like children, and we watched a lot of Walt Disney. There was nothing odd about it,” Taylor said, according to Fox News.

Beverly Hills dermatologist Dr. Arnold Klein, a longtime friend and physician to Jackson who also treated Taylor, had come forward with explosive claims that his office manager, Jason Pfeiffer, carried on a clandestine two-month romance with the King of Pop. Taylor had slammed his claims too.

• “And then to say he did not betray Michael’s confidence. No wonder he has death threats. “I thought doctors, like priests took an oath of confidentiality. May God have mercy on his soul,” the screen legend added.

Despite their 27-year age gap the pair was inseparable. They were together at AIDS charity events which Taylor organized, and on red carpets in Hollywood and around the world.

The two legendary stars are now reunited in heaven.

RIP King of Pop Michael Jackson and the most gorgeous Cleopatra Elizabeth Taylor.