6 February 2003 - Reaction to the programme 'Living with Michael Jackson'

In response to the broadcast of the programme ”Living with Michael Jackson“, Michael has issued the following statement today via MJJ Productions:

”Martin Bashir has betrayed me and I feel that the British television programme `Living with Michael Jackson`, presented by Martin Bashir and broadcast in the UK on 14 February 2003, has completely betrayed me. I consider this programme a blatant distortion of the truth and a disgusting attempt to portray my life and my abilities as a father in a false light. In many important respects, Michael believes that Martin Bashir and the television Granada have broken the trust that I placed in them. In particular, I felt that their assurances were obtained on the basis that nothing would be done to prepare my children for broadcast in the programme. Michael repeatedly asked Bashir to stop filming his children and he promised that in the final edit the images of my children would be removed, and he said that the filming should not be stopped because `stopping the filming would ruin the continuity.`

I am deeply upset that the programme has, in a rather clever way, taken two or three pieces of footage and put them together to produce a completely distorted picture of my behaviour as a father. I feel completely let down by the way Martin Bashir has treated me, the person who allowed him to enter the Jackson family home on numerous occasions over the course of eight months. Michael believes that what was ultimately shown was a nasty programme designed to attract more viewers and to flatter Martin Bashir in a way that is different from the impact it had on me personally, on my family, and on my close friends.

Originally, I allowed Bashir extensive access to Neverland Valley Ranch (my private home), my family and myself, because I wanted to give people around the world an honest picture of the truth of my life. Michael believes that the programme Bashir produced is an obvious distortion of the truth.

If I had known how Bashir intended to portray me, I would never have agreed to cooperate with this film. Michael believes the programme was deliberately put together and edited with a particular, sharp, biting angle.

I am deeply angry that this programme may lead viewers to the decision that I harm my children in any way. I have never treated any child inappropriately and I will never do so, and I will never put them in harm's way—anything to the contrary is false. I never betray the trust that a child or their parents place in me.“

Michael has today personally released the following statement:

”I trusted Martin Bashir to come into my life and my family because I wanted the truth to be told. Martin Bashir convinced me to trust him and that his programme would show an honest and fair picture of my life. He told me that he was a man with a fixation ]Princess[ Diana and that he turned it into something else. I am heartbroken that someone I treated like a friend could do something so low. Today, perhaps more than ever, I feel betrayed, because the person who had the opportunity to get to know my children, my spirit, and myself—the person I placed in my heart and told the truth to—has sacrificed the trust I gave him in order to produce such worthless and unfair programming.

If anyone truly believes that I harm my children or put them in danger, my heart breaks: they are the most valuable thing in my life.

Anyone who knows me will know the truth—that in my life, my children come first above all, and I never hurt any child.

I also want to thank my fans around the world for the countless messages of support I have received—especially in the UK, where people have sent me emails telling me how much they disliked Bashir's film. Their love and support have moved me deeply.“

According to the statement from MJJ Productions, the programme ”Living with Michael Jackson“ was first seen by Michael on the night of Wednesday, 16 February.