Michael’s Former Bodyguards: He Was an Amazing Father

According to three of Michael Jackson’s former bodyguards, he enjoyed spending time with his children, touring around in Vegas, and ordering food from passing restaurants. The King of Pop had made those three his confidants—his life, his children, and his secrets. But these men describe Michael’s life as separate, lonely, and full of stress, security suspicion, and suffering. Mike Garcia, Bill Whitfield, and J. W. “BJ” Beard, in an exclusive interview with Good Morning America, called some moments of Michael’s life “sad.” They first met Michael in 2007. "He had a medical mask on his face and said, ‘Hi BJ. I’ve heard a lot about you. Please, sit down.’" Garcia: "We worked for Michael Jackson as a real person, not as a showman." The bandages and masks Michael wore in public were not due to cosmetic surgeries. In fact, he used them as a way to change his appearance. "This was his way of being the face of someone who had been burned." Although they were curious, they never asked Michael anything about the masks. Beard says: "He comes with the kids, and we can’t say, ‘Oh, wow, what happened?’ How could you ask him such a question?" They also say Michael didn’t enjoy living in a rented house in Las Vegas, where he stayed before coming to Los Angeles. Whitfield says: "For us and for you, it’s a great house. But for MJ and his kids and for security... it’s a disaster." They say Michael was always doubtful about the level of security. They consider Michael an “amazing” father who loved spending time with his children and taking them to passing restaurants. Often, he insisted on ordering the food himself. Garcia says: "The kids would say things like ‘I love you, Dad.’ They (Michael and his children) were like four friends." Whitfield says that despite having special privileges, the kids were very polite and well-behaved. A note from Paris to Whitfield, full of requests and thanks about asking for tuna for her cat, is full of pleas. In fact, they believe protecting the children was the easiest part of their duties. They remember with longing the moments when the kids tried to trick their way into getting a snack. "Sometimes they’d say little things like, ‘Bill, Dad wants to buy us a little food.’" Source: eMJey / ABC