Janet Jackson: Dr. Conrad Murray "Is Responsible" for Michael's Death

Celebrity News November 16, 2009 AT 12:08PM
Janet Jackson: Dr. Conrad Murray "Is Responsible" for Michael's Death Credit: GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images; -/AFP/Getty Images

Janet Jackson is speaking out about her brother Michael's death, blaming Dr. Conrad Murray, whom she says should no longer be allowed to practice medicine.

"He was the one that was administering," she tells Robin Roberts in an ABC News special, In the Spotlight, airing Wednesday. "I think he is responsible."

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Dr. Conrad Murray, who served as Michael's personal physician, remains at the center of a manslaughter investigation into the King of Pop's June 25 death. Jackson died at the age of 50 of lethal levels of propofol, court documents show. Murray has admitted to administering the anesthetic propofol, but has denied giving Michael anything that should have killed him. "Please don't worry," he tells supporters in a YouTube message this past August. "I will be fine. I have done all I could do. I told the truth"

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In her ABC News interview, Janet, 43, says "it's been a tough year. You have your days where it's just really -- it's hard to believe. And a day doesn't go by that I don't think about him."

She recalls to Roberts the day she was told her brother had suffered cardiac arrest.

"I was at my house in New York. You know, another day. Another morning. And I get a call ... [my assistant] said, 'Your brother's been taken to the hospital. It's on CNN right now,'" she says. "I called everyone's. There's a line busy or -- someone wasn't picking up. I spoke to mother. I spoke to [brother] Tito. I spoke to my nephew Austin. I spoke to my sister La Toya."

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"I told them to call me when they got to the hospital," she goes on. "And I remember thinking nobody's calling me back, so I tried calling again, and that's how I found out that he was no longer ... I couldn't believe it."

When she learned that he had passed, "it just didn't ring true to me. It felt like a dream."

Says Janet, "It's still so difficult for me to believe. It's, you know, you have to accept what is. But it's hard. You have to move on with your life. You have to accept what is and I understand that."

The last time she saw Michael was two days before her 43rd birthday this past May.

"We had a lot of fun, laughing. ...I was being silly, acting silly," she says. "And he was sitting in front of me and just cracking up, laughing at me. I was being loud. And he thought it was so funny. I was just being stupid, acting silly."

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She says his July memorial at the Staples Center in Los Angeles has helped her come to terms with her brother's death.

"My brother's favorite song is 'Smile.' And I thought Jermaine sang it beautifully, beautifully," she says. "And that's his favorite song as well. ...There being some sort of a closure, I suppose, at that time...."

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  • June 24, 2010 - 4:04pm dominique nicole jones

    i hate mr. murry cause he killed michael jackson

  • May 29, 2010 - 2:49pm debra

    That doctor went against the code of ethnics to the fullest. he should be stripped of his liscense and never be able to practice medicine any place. and any of these doctors to the stars that violate that code.

  • May 29, 2010 - 2:47pm debra

    I also agree with jANET jACKSON THAT DOCTOR IS RESPONSIBLE. "all"medical personal take that CODE OF ETHNICS. NO MATTER WHAT HE VIOLATED THAT CODE TO THE UP MOST. THAT MAN SHOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO TOUCH A DOCTOR BAG ANY PLACE EVER.AND SHOOULD GO TO PRISON ON THAT ALONE.

  • February 16, 2010 - 4:49am Kat

    MURRAY IS A CROOK!!!!!!!

  • February 10, 2010 - 10:08pm John

    Conrad Murray's lawyer told the media that Murray is as inspiring as MJ was...someone who went from a humble beginning to success. Not quite so fast, Mr. Slick Attorney. Conrad Murray was already in deep debt, stiffing companies he did business with (not such a success); he was not paying the child support he owed (MJ took good care of his kids); Murray was behind on his mortgage by a few months (not such a success after all). Most doctors aren't in the red like this. Conrad Murray gave a dumb photo op at Forest Lawn where he did everything but sing God Bless America and Man in The Mirror. A bad actor and a lousy doctor. Not inspiring.

  • February 05, 2010 - 10:15pm Leroy Stone

    no one could say nothing nice to him while he was a live but now they are because he has died he has made mistake in his life but who hasn"t made it. he was a good man and a father he love his family. people need to leave him and his family alone

  • January 27, 2010 - 4:56am CFB

    Forget the exquisite performer MJ was. The world lost a wonderful man and MJs family lost a huge part of their hearts when Conrad Murray killed MJ. Regardless of whether MJ asked for the medication or not, Conrad Murray had the responsibility as a doctor to say no. There is no reason that MJ should not have been able to trust that his DOCTOR would have the common sense and medical ethics to NOT give him something that could kill him. I doubt seriously that he would have laid down and let the medication drip into his vein if he had known the outcome. He didn't want to die. He wanted to live and live life to the fullest. He just wanted to sleep for awhile and should have been able to trust the doctor not to make it a forever sleep. Conrad Murray should pay for his actions and stupidity with the loss of his medical license and with jail time. Wonder how still he could sit in a chair if he was hooked up to an IV and getting the same medications at the same dosages and the same intervals as what he gave to Michael? Maybe someone should do that and see how nervous he gets. If he thinks the dosages were ok, then it should be a problem for him to test the theory out. Go far, far, far south CM.

  • January 05, 2010 - 10:08pm meme

    Dr Conrad Murray is responsible!!! When you become a doctor you pledge your career in helping people and keeping them in good health. Many say Michael was an addict (which i don't believe) but if indeed he were what addict do you know that actually thinks about overdosing??? I know of none! That's why they're called addicts!!!! Dr. Conrad Murray shouldn't have given Michael the drugs point blank!! It doesn't matter if he asked for it or not when you are a doctor and you are aware of someone's drug addiction why would you sit there and slowly let them kill themselves, HE'S A DOCTOR IF NOBODY KNEW BETTER IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HIM!!!! I don't blame MJ, look at what he had to deal with, constantly being taken advantage of, being talked about like he's less than human, basically being disrespected for nothing. That takes a toll on your mind and body! Put yourself in his shoes, being labeled a child molestor to the world when you know in your heart you didn't do anything wrong, that hurts!!!! He dedicated his entire life to helping people and alot of people didn't even appreciate it!!! One of the most wonderfulll people that ever stepped foot on this earth......and now he's gone forever :(

  • November 19, 2009 - 12:40pm JOHN_C

    I am very sad to see that somebody with a position like a doctor killed a very talented singer i will never understand why ...

  • November 17, 2009 - 3:06pm Me

    the doctor should have never given the drugs out, BUT in the end, MICHAEL is the one who was determined to get high and spend his days in a drug-induced haze. if it hadn't been this doctor, it would have been another, or even a dealer. So, in the end, MICHAEL is responsible for his death, not the dr.

  • November 17, 2009 - 11:41am mrs jones

    Murray was set up, Mj had been doing this drug since the HIStory tour--it was only a matter of time. All the doctors before Murray were also responsible. Stopping the drugs he was taking for years could have killed him, too. MJ needed years to resolve his drug issues...insomnia and anxiety is what really killed him.

  • November 17, 2009 - 5:16am jen

    murray killed michael. he makes a mockery to doctors...he should be in jail

  • November 16, 2009 - 4:12pm Marg

    To be a doctor brings many responsibilites - the first of which is to care for your patient. Not only did he administer the powerful drug in the first place, which was an illegal act, he then underligned his own incompetency as a so-called doctor by leaving Michael alone and unmonitored. MJ didn't stand a chance with this "quack" (look it up if you don't know what this means). A truly responsible doctor would not do these things. In my opinion he fully deserves to be struck off. I sincerely hope justice is properly served.

  • November 16, 2009 - 3:51pm CJ

    I've been tired of hearing about this. Most stars do drugs and it isn't a doctorâ??s job to keep them from over dosing. There is no set medical balance for how high is just high enough not to die. Stars get special treatment. Youâ??ll never here a normal person griping about how their friends doctor let them OD on drugs when they were supposed to be keeping an eye out.

  • November 16, 2009 - 3:39pm Laura

    I am so sorry for Janet's loss (and for the rest of Michael's family) Michael was a true gift to the entertainment world and also as a humanitarian. He taught us valuable lessons about life if we are to examine his life carefully and honestly...I pray that Michael is now at peace and that Janet & the rest of the Jackson family can find closure and peace...God bless them all.

  • November 16, 2009 - 3:37pm mike

    Oh come on Micheal took it so he killed himself!!!!

  • November 16, 2009 - 3:19pm Carlos Cooper

    I agree with flowerbomb... I am sure Michael put alot pressure on the Dr to give all kinds of drugs (Michael just couldn't sleep!) Now everyone try to put the blame only on the Dr. He's not alone! why didn't Janet try to help him when he was alive! Huh? The whole family knew what was going on!!!

  • November 16, 2009 - 2:58pm Flowerbomb

    Kim, I am a MJ fan and saw a premiere of This Is It the night before it official opening. Let's be serious for a minute though, MJ did not look healthy, his voice was strong and he could still dance, but not like he used to. Yes, I realize part of that is age, but to me it was overwhelmingly obvious that he was a functioning drug addict. MJ played russian roulette with his life, Dr. Murray just enabled him. We cannot make MJ a martyr now. Let's just call it what it is, a sad waste and be thankful MJ is finally at peace.

  • November 16, 2009 - 2:19pm Flowerbomb

    Does Dr. Murray bear a big part of the resposibility for Michael's death? Of course he does, so does Michael for insisting that he be given those drugs. His family also bears some of the responisbility. They knew Michael was a functioning drug addict for years and even tried to stage an intervention. As long as Michael was paying the bills no one was willing to stand up to him. Janet, Jermaine, Joe and the rest of the clan need to stop going around talking about how shocking this was and pointing the finger of blame while all trying to position themselves to cash in as much as possible. At least Michael is finally at peace and will never have to endure all the vultures and vampires that claimed to care about him. Now if only there was a way to get his beautiful children away from those people. God Bless them.

  • November 16, 2009 - 2:12pm THE DR IS A KILLER

    YES HE KILLED HIM----WHAT DR LEAVES SOMEONE ON A BED TO RESUSCITATE ???????? HE LET HIM DIE---HE WATCHED HIM DIE------THE DR BELONGS IN PRISON!!!!

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