Year 2004
On January 2, 2004, a special program about Michael Jackson’s new album «Number Ones» was aired on the CBS network.
The special was a look back at Michael’s career history and a review of his songs and music videos. It also featured artists such as Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Missy Elliott, Quincy Jones, Mýa, Jill Scott, and Pharrell Williams, who spoke about the impact Michael Jackson has had on their careers.
Two days later, it was announced that Michael had hired a number of members of ”Nation Of Islam“ as guards.
It had been a long time since the last time the program ”60 Minutes“ had been selected as the best weekly program on CBS. But the choice of Ed Bradley’s interview with Michael Jackson as the best weekly television program in America—by viewers aged eighteen to forty-nine on CBS—broke the spell.
The interview had attracted eighteen million and eight hundred thousand viewers.
Dick Gregory, the seventy-one-year-old artist, who had fasted for forty days in protest of Michael Jackson’s arrest and in order to support him, ended his fast on January 8.
As he put it, he was determined to do whatever he could to prove his friend’s innocence.
During the forty days, Dick Gregory ate only one gallon of water plus eight lemons dissolved in it, and a cup and a half of sugar syrup.
He had also announced that he would attend the ceremony of lighting candles and reciting prayers for Michael, which would be held in Los Angeles the following week.
He had said: ”If you believe he is innocent, join us and you will see that the truth will be made clear.”
On January 12, Michael’s financial advisers, along with members of his team of defense lawyers, discussed Michael’s financial situation in a meeting held at a hotel in Beverly Hills.
Leonard Muhammad, one of the senior members of ”Nation of Islam“, was also present in this gathering.
Donald Trump, the famous billionaire who was also visiting the hotel, told reporters in response: ”I think they’re trying to get to Michael’s money before he gets it. And that’s a disgrace.“
At 8:00 a.m. on January 16, Michael entered the Santa Maria courthouse grounds inside his limousine to take part in the first hearing session of the allegations against him. Michael’s mother and father, his brother Jermaine, and his sister Janet accompanied him.
A crowd of about one thousand five hundred people—made up of fans, photographers, reporters, and cameramen—had gathered at the courthouse grounds hours earlier.
Fans who were cheering Michael intensely formed a ring around his car. Michael raised his hand out of the window and showed the victory sign with his fingers. He got out of the car and spoke with fans along the way until he reached the courthouse’s interior grounds. Michael spent a long time among his fans, which caused him to arrive at court with a twenty-one-minute delay and angered the judge. The judge addressed Michael: ”Mr. Jackson, you have displayed inappropriate behavior here. I want to officially tell you that I will not accept such a thing. This is an insult to the court.“
A little earlier, Michael—who was walking toward the courtroom hall—had, in a moment of nerves, shouted at one of the cameramen surrounding him to move a bit away. When he entered the courtroom hall, he was still aware of his fans who had gathered outside and were calling his name. At that moment, Mark Geragos, his lawyer, was trying to direct his attention into the courtroom.
In court, six seats were reserved for Michael, his family members, and his lawyers, and sixty seats were assigned to reporters, with another sixty seats for the general public.
A series of ceremonial steps were carried out to complete the case. After reading the charges to Michael, the judge asked whether he knew himself to be innocent or guilty. Michael pleaded not guilty. He spoke in a calm yet firm voice, stared straight ahead, and no movement could be seen in his face.
After that, Michael left the courtroom to go to the restroom and did not return. And the court session ended after two hours. This made the judge even more furious.
Judge Melville also prohibited everyone involved in this case from making any comments to the mass media.
Although Michael was completely serious throughout the court proceedings, after leaving the hall, in the outdoor area of the courthouse, he went up happily onto the roof of his car, which was surrounded by the crowd, and—according to the rhythm of the music being played—he also showed some dance moves.
After that, the fans went to Neverland at Michael’s invitation to take part in a small celebration arranged from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
In a poll conducted in late January, two thousand five hundred people in the United Kingdom named ten of their most popular favorites.
According to this poll, after David Beckham, Brad Pitt, and Justin Timberlake, Michael was considered the fourth most popular person in the UK.
On the first day of March 2004, Michael opened his official website ”MJJSource.com“, which had been launched to reflect accurate and correct news about Michael.
On the morning of March 10, Michael’s newest DVD titled «The One» was released in the United States, and the release date of this DVD in the United Kingdom was promised for the 15th of that same month.
This DVD consisted of the CBS 44-minute special program, a new recording of several old songs, several music videos, live performances of «Thriller» and «Off The wall», behind-the-scenes footage of «Wanna Be Startin' Somethin» and the «History» tour, as well as talks by Dick Clark, Missy Elliott, Beyoncé, Shaggy, Carsen Daley, Pharrell Williams, Seven Glover, Wesley Jon and Quincy Jones.
In the United States, another album by the Jacksons group was also released, titled «The Essential Jacksons».
This album included fourteen songs, among which one could mention «Enjoy Yourself», «Shake Your Body», and «State of Shock». In the song «State of Shock», Mick Jagger’s voice was also used. This album also included Michael’s live performance of «Don't Stop Till You Get Enough» from the «Victory» tour in 1981.
On March 17, Gloria Allred, a Los Angeles lawyer, announced at a press conference that the Los Angeles Department of Child Support had rejected her request to obtain custody rights over Michael Jackson’s children.
Allred said she intended to ask a court in Los Angeles to begin investigations into the situation of Michael Jackson’s three children and to take responsibility for their custody and care.
The next day, Benjamin Brafman, Michael’s defense attorney, responded to Allred’s statements:
”Based on the judge’s order, I’m not allowed to comment on any matter related to Michael’s criminal case. But in response to Gloria Allred’s statements at a press conference, I can point out that this case has nothing to do with her. And people will be more at ease if Allred intervenes only in matters that are not related to this case, and from now on does not use Michael Jackson’s fame for her own promotion. Her position is irresponsible, and in my view, very unpleasant and malicious.“
On March 30, Michael met with members of the Africa Congress at their office to discuss their fight against AIDS in Africa.
Chaka Fattah, one of the members of this congress, called Michael one of the most important celebrities in the world and said that he used his fame to help people.