Serena Williams Meets Michael Jackson in Neverland

After Michael’s death in June 2009, tennis star Serena Williams spoke about him:

“I had the honor of meeting him. I think anyone famous who met Michael Jackson would be completely overwhelmed with awe and wonder—I know I was. All the time I kept thinking, ‘My God, is it him? Is it really him?’ To me, he was the most famous person among famous people.”

This tennis champion invited by her representative, Raymone Bain, to a surprising trip to Neverland in 2002—where she met Michael Jackson.

Raymone Bain was Michael’s spokesperson and general manager from 2003 to 2008. In a September 2009 interview with Sister 2 Sister magazine, she recalled her trip to Neverland like this:

- Serena’s mother and Venus, the two famous tennis sisters, had said that their children were interested in meeting Michael Jackson.

I contacted Michael’s executive assistant, Evvy Tavasci, and said: “Venus and Serena Williams want to meet Michael, and I want to do something special for them. Can I bring them (to Neverland) so they can meet Michael? I want to surprise them.”

Tavasci said: “Michael would be happy to meet them. Both of them admire him a great deal.”

I told the two sisters that I had a special surprise planned for them. Of course, I informed their mother and father, Oracine and Richard, as well as their three other sisters—Aisha, Linderia, and Yitanda.

Aisha, Yitanda, and Linderia set off with their children. During the trip, Venus and Serena—who were unaware—kept asking me what was going on and where we were going. All the time we were driving, and Serena was complaining that she was tired and threatened that either we would tell her where we were going, or she would turn back.

I said: “I know you two wanted to meet Michael Jackson.”

Serena said: “What! Please don’t tell me we’re going to meet Michael Jackson!”

On the way we stopped somewhere and bought a Michael Jackson CD. On the drive to Los Angeles, they were singing Michael’s songs. When we arrived at Neverland, Michael appeared. Serena almost had to lean on my shoulder.

Michael greeted us, but I don’t think anyone else answered him besides me. I pinched Serena so that she would finally say hello. Michael then personally took us on a tour of Neverland. He had also arranged a wonderful dinner for us.

At Neverland, Yitanda’s children played with Prince and Paris—Michael’s children. Blanket was only about 4 or 5 months old at the time. We also met Grace, Michael’s nanny, who was a well-mannered and respectful woman.

When Michael took us around, he talked and everyone else was quiet. But since Serena and I are very talkative, we managed to overcome our embarrassment and started talking. After that, it was only Serena and me talking, while the rest stayed silent.

At one point Serena said: “But I don’t see any coats and gloves around here.” I said: “Me neither.” Then she said: “Is it okay if you ask him?” I said: “No, I don’t think so. Ask him.” Serena said: “No, you ask.”… Everyone was silent, and they didn’t even think we were busy plotting. Serena and I whispered to each other and laughed.

Finally, Michael said: “What’s going on? Is there a problem?”

Serena answered: “We can’t see your awards, your coats, or your gloves around here. Why haven’t you put them here?”

Michael explained: “Because I don’t want my children to see them and find out who I am and what I do.”

Those words hit me immediately and I thought how wonderful that was. His children were legendary.

Then he asked: “What did you want to see?”

We wanted to see his flashy coats, his white sequined gloves, his shoes, his hats, and his awards. He took us to his bedroom and opened a closet for us. Serena and I tried on every coat that was in there.

We kept saying: “Michael, is it okay?” He would say: “No, please—go ahead.”

He was so amazing and kind that Serena whispered to me: “Let’s tell him to give us one of these?”

I said: “No, that would be too much.”

But the clothes were very heavy. Each coat might weigh 30 pounds. We asked how he could perform on stage in such heavy outfits. He laughed and said he practices and is used to it.

Then he invited us to take a tour around the ranch in his blue Rolls-Royce. Serena and I weren’t sure he knew how to drive, and besides, it was very dark outside. He laughed and said he knew how to drive. It was 3:00 a.m., and he invited us to stay there until morning.

In the morning Serena called me and said the TV was showing Michael. He had a court hearing, and his image was being broadcast as he went to that place. We couldn’t believe he had kept him awake all night, and he hadn’t said a word about the fact that tomorrow morning he had to go to court.

Serena looked at the TV and said: “I can’t believe this is Michael Jackson. The man I saw last night was better looking.”

I think his biggest legacy is his children. Michael told me about Blanket—how independent he is—and I told him that he would eventually become a politician, and that Paris would be a model. Michael didn’t respond.

Once, Michael told Blanket to get ready because they were going to Japan, but Blanket wasn’t interested in that trip. A little later I asked where Blanket was. He said he had hidden in a closet because he didn’t want to go on the trip.

Source: eMJey.com / Raymone Bain, Sister 2 Sister Magazine