
The 'King of Pop' is gone but certainly not forgotten. Michael Jackson's three body guards--Mike Garcia, Bill Whitfield and Javon "B.J." Beard, who were much more than just mere "watch dogs," have decided to come forth and set the record straight about their beloved employer/friend Michael Jackson. The men were at Jackson's beck and call, 24/7. The trio came together to discuss the "real" Michael Jackson that they knew and to also dispel some myths about the singer.
The men were interviewed exclusively by ABC-TV Good Morning America's correspondent Ashley Banfield, who spent three days with them. Do the men have monetary ulterior motives? Well, GMA did not pay them a cent for the interview. The confidants do claim, however, that they plan on writing a book together to dispel any myths or nasty rumors about a man whom they grew to respect and love.
Here is a small inside peek in to MJ's world as they knew it:
* Even though Jackson was charged in 2005 with child molestation but was later acquitted, all three men adamantly state that Jackson was not a pedophile.
* Jackson was not gay! "Being a man...men know men...and we [were] around him long enough to know...he was a man," Whitfield said. Garcia said, Jackson had "desires of women like we do. He had lovers." The men claim that Jackson had at least two girlfriends. Whitfield said, "In the cars that we had, we had a curtain that covered the back seat...you couldn't see in the back seat. They talked back there...they didn't do nothing out of bounds...you can hear the kissing."
* A voracious reader? An understatement! Jackson loved reading history books and the Wall Street Journal.
* Walmart is America's shopping place and Jackson longed to stroll down its isles.
* Jackson was an "awesome" dad, the guards all agreed emphatically. He loved spending time with his kids. Going to fast food drive-ins was what he loved doing with them. They would order Big Macs or fried chicken. Jackson loved ordering the food himself and would get a kick at the thought, "If only they knew who was placing the order."
* The Jackson kids adored their father and would constantly tell him, "I love you, Daddy." The body guards stated that the children were so very polite, well-mannered, and that they, in fact, were the easiest part of their job.
* Jackson would try to hide the negative tabloid headlines about himself from his children. "Sometimes he would see [the tabloids] and would make them turn around, so the kids wouldn't see them," Whitfield said.
* The entertainer's life was constantly full of stress, and he would on occasion freak out. Whitfield said, "He got so frustrated he threw my cell phone out the window, through the window and broke the glass. And he looked at me and said, "'Bill, you're going to need a new phone."'
* Prior to his death, it had been two years since Jackson had seen his family. According to Whitfield, "They didn't come around much, and when they did, they came unexpected. And we'd say, 'Mr. Jackson, one of your family members is at the gate [and] would like to see you,' and he'd ask, 'Do they have an appointment?'" If Jackson was "being creative" no family member was allowed on the premises.
* There was a family drug intervention for the performer back in 2007. Jackson agreed to only meet with his brothers, according to the bodyguards. But instead of allowing them in to the house, they said Jackson met his brothers outside in the security trailer. Beard and Whitfield said, Jackson seemed "fine" afterward and simply left the trailer and went back to the house.
* The bodyguards were asked if Jackson appeared to be on drugs. "He was intoxicated in some way, but I wouldn't say a problem, no," Garcia said. "Certainly there were times where he gave the appearance that he was probably high on something," Whitfield said. All three men said this would happen "once or twice a month." * Whitfield, who handled all of Jackson's e-mails and phone calls, claims that the singer was in serious astronomical debt. He primarily owed lawyers millions of dollars. Jackson had declined credit cards. Hotels would evict them. "We were asked to leave hotels, because the credit card on file was denied," Whitfield said.


Comments: (26)
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By: Shopkins0220 on 3/11/2010 9:44AM
Thank you guys for coming forth with the truth. I'm glad someone has defended MJ rather than trash him. He is and will always be missed. How I wish he was still here with us.
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By: James on 3/10/2010 1:18PM
I wish this would have came out while he was still alive. The poor guy was under surveilance by the FBI for a decade and they couldn't find anything. Only after his death did this knowledge go public. Too little,too late.
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By: irene on 3/10/2010 2:23PM
You're right, James.
Or lets put it differently: there WAS information about MJ good character all along - a LOT of it. But the press never payed attention to it. Only trashed him.
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By: ALLSTARJAY4 on 3/10/2010 2:45PM
Oh so true. May he rest in peace!
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By: railgun101 on 3/11/2010 6:44AM
you want to know why I cry because so many people are so sick and evil! whom ever Judge You shall be Judge ! and that is in the case of MJ anyone pure in heart could see that if this mans mind was full of only 1 quintillion of what people have said about him . could have never produce the kind of music and Love He showed. only people who are cold and destine to hatred would believe people who kill in there heart and murder in there spirit would believe all the evil others have said about MJ and even JC check yourself because God is watching and your time will be up real soon. very soon in a matter of days maybe in a few years . then " what are you going to do when its to late say Im sorry??????????????????. that will not save you !so make your choices now while you have the chance. do good now or forever hold your peace !
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By: MS PEGGY on 3/10/2010 7:01PM
I'll never forget Michael's interview with Bashir. He said he'd never been able to do things like go to the grocery store, etc.. He came across as being a very sincere person who was entrapped by fame. He was nationally and world renown so it would have been impossible for him to live a normal life even if he gave up all the glamour and fortune. He was MICHAEL JACKSON! even after he changed his face surgically; he still had a distinctive voice and mannerisms that would give him away if he tried to go out incognito. Like his brother Marlon said at his funeral, if you know someone, you know them, period. If Michael had put on a dress and heels he would still have been recognizable. Any man who loves his mother like Michael did his is alright in my book.
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By: GERI on 3/10/2010 7:01PM
I love me sum MJ....may he rest in peace!!!
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By: stare k on 3/10/2010 8:52PM
When the media finish with twisting / turning their story ,blowing it up, turning it around it will come much different. Watch and see.
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By: Rasool on 3/11/2010 11:07AM
Thank you brothers for setting the story straight. No matter what the offical cause of death says, I'll always believe that Michael Jackson died of a broken heart, betrayed & killed by the media.
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By: star on 3/11/2010 9:27PM
You are so right.. I couldnt say it any better. May he rest in peace. and hopefully we will see him when life on earth is over and tell him how much he means to sooo many. The best thing to do.. well that I try and do is continue to spread his word of love and peace for all. Especially the children.
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