Janet Jackson Opens Up About Losing Michael
Credit: Ron Galella/WireImage.com
In her first interview since her brother Michael's June 25 death, Janet Jackson says she been unable to watch television.
"It will drive you crazy," she tells October's Harper's Bazaar. "People can have rhinoceros skin, but there's a point when something's going to hurt you. Not everyone is stone, stone. I haven't watched the news in weeks. I had to ask my chef, 'How's Obama doing?' I haven't read a newspaper. On top of that, [we've lost] a family member."
See photos from Michael Jackson's funeral
At times during the interview, Janet - who will perform a tribute to her late brother at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards - was at a loss for words.
"My brother is, I mean was..." she stammers when talking about Michael's style. Shifting on the couch and staring at the floor, she adds, "You have to forgive me, because it's really hard to believe he's passed."
Michael was laid to rest last week in a mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, Calif. His death, caused by "acute propofol intoxication," has been ruled a homicide; several doctors are under investigation.
Though she did not discuss her brother's prescription drug history, Janet says he seemed in good spirits the last time she saw him: May 14 at a family gathering two days before her 43rd birthday.
"We had so much fun that day," she says, noting that ate Thai food and tormented each other. "We kept calling each other after and saying how great it was."
See Michael Jackson's most unforgettable moments
So how is she coping?
Recently spending three days on a beach helped, she says.
"It was the first time I had to myself since Michael passed, the first time I could get away since all of that," says the singer.
She also has been throwing herself into work (she was on set in Atlanta shooting a Tyler Perry movie when she got the call that Michael had died).
"I've been doing okay," she says. "Work helps focus all of that energy on something that is of value to you."
See how Michael Jackson's appearance changed over the years
Looking back at his death, she says she has learned a lot.
She says she was touched after Michael's daughter Paris, 11, spoke at her father's public memorial. Fighting back tears, Paris told the crowd, "Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine."
Says Janet, "I was really proud. People said to me that Michael's daughter speaking really gave them a sense of how he was as a father, in her words. Paris is incredibly smart; they are all so smart. She's a sweet girl. The kids are doing well. They're with all their cousins; that family love will keep them going."
She's also learned she has her mother Katherine's "strength."
"Now at least I know that I can step up to the plate and not crumble when I'm needed," says Janet. "When it comes to something like this that is so, so serious, so painful, so traumatic, I can handle it."
See touching photos from Michael Jackson's memorial
Janet also confirms Us Weekly's exclusive report that she's split from beau of seven years, music producer Jermaine Dupri.
The singer - who's been married twice (as a teen to James DeBarge and to choreographer Rene Elizondo) - tells the magazine, "I don't know if I'll get married again. I'll put it like this: If God wants me to, then I will."
As for kids, "I'd adopt," Janet says. "And I think that if I'm really supposed to have kids, it will happen, if that's God's plan for me."
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33i have been a big fan of michael and janet music for so many years and its so sad to lose one of my biggest person of all times no body will ever be michael jackson. u take care janet. god bless you all even the children. love and prayers your bigest fan ever.
It was with a growing sense of astonishment that I watched the Oprah Winfrey show on Michael Jackson - her sole public comment on his death so far. Whilst replaying her seminal 1993 interview, Oprah proceeded to tell her viewers how she had felt at various points during it. Topics included her hair, her feelings of nervousness, what she was wearing and other similar reflections. Strangely, no air-time was used to discuss the ambivalence of the legacy Michael's children have been left with, and it had apparently been deemed unnecessary by Oprah to probe into the debate over the allegations Michael had faced during his life. Throughout the interview Oprah displayed such a palpable air of disinterest in her subject, it was unclear as to precisely what her reasons for airing the show in the first place actually were. It's difficult to believe that a woman whose personal wealth was built on a reputation for journalistic truth and justice, can really be unaware of the profoundly substantial questions hanging over the authenticity of allegations of molestation made by Evan Chandler on behalf of his son Jordan. Unbelieveable, because Oprah has the same (and perhaps more) access to information that everyone on this post has. There is an enormous amount of evidence out there to support the view that Michael Jackson was completely innocent of the charges alleged him in 1993 and again in 2005, and that he was in fact the victim of an elaborate and bold extortion attempt that proved - in the end, to be very successful. The award winning 1994 article written by Mary A. Fischer -'Was Michael Jackson Framed' - details not only the lack of evidence behind the Chandler's claims, but also the full extent of the non-credibilty of Evan Chandler, the man who drove the allegations forward and pushed for a civil settlement. Jordan only accused Michael after a hypnotic drug was administered - his father Evan authorized its use after Jordan's allegedly was reluctant to say he was abused. What is perhaps less well known, but again is well documented by authors such as Aphrodite Jones in her book 'The Michael Jackson Conspiracy' and numerous other authors and witnesses to the events of 1993 and 2005, including Thomas Mesereau and Brian Oxman - is the level of complicit involvement between Chandler's lawyer, Tom Sneddon's department and key players in the media like Maureen Orth, Diane Dimond and the Smoking Gun online tabloid site. This complicitness would keep a ratings-driven media motivated to supplying ever-increasingly horrifying stories about Michael to a baying public, and would later convince Michael's legal team that going to trial to refute the claims would be too risky. In a gesture of compliance with the police investigation Michael agreed to a humiliating physical examination of his body to clear his name. Jordan had asserted Michael had been circumcised - he had not, he also claimed Michael had discolourations on his genitalia - again, Michael did not. It is perhaps the level of media viciousness however that remains in most people's minds. The sheer amount of stories, comedy shows, talks shows, television programmes, newspaper articles and general comment by panels of 'so-called' experts about the allegations would reach unprecedented levels of coverage and hostility. Michael Jackson was to all intents and purposes presumed guilty. It is interesting to note just how many people - now that Michael is dead - have said it was the homogenity of the media's stance that made them believe Michael was guilty. I believe Tom Sneddon, Diane Dimond, Maureen Orth, Evan Chandler (I do not include Jordan as he was a child) and Jordan's lawyers - Barry Rothman and Feldman, to be the key protagonists of the sustained media and legal attacks Michael would face from 1993 onwards. These attacks would erode and degrade Michael's spirit from 1993 onwards and profoundly damage his once stratospheric career. It is against this background of a lack of answers and the grief of millions of people that Oprah's choice not to explore the possibilty that the truth about Michael has for 15 years been distorted and manipulated into something vastly different from what we have been led to believe; can be seen as truly extraordinary. There is no room here to cover the scandalous claims of the mother of the alleged victim in 2005, who admitted on oath that she she had made her son lie to support her claim that she had been sexually abused by staff in JC Penny's. What I will say is this: So many are grieving not only for a life tragically ended, but also for the damage done to Michael's name and legacy. And yet Oprah decided we would rather hear about how excited she felt when she first saw the fun rides at Neverland. No-one said her show had to be a glowing tribute, but it didn't have to amount to little more than a slideshow either. For a woman famed for asking the difficult questions, Oprah asked precious little. Michael Jackson, perhaps the greatest entertainer of all time, who gave a black woman in the early 1990's the career break of a lifetime - deserved better.
THERE ARE ALOT OF MOTHERS OUT THERE WHO DON'T PROPERLY TAKE CARE OF THEIR KIDS. THIS ARTICLE WAS ABOUT A SISTER LOSING A BROTHER. PEOPLE SHOULD THINK BEFORE THEY THINK OR TYPE IGNORANT INSENSITIVE COMMENTS.
@ Annie Comment.....Janet didn't even take care of her child so why would u want her to get the kids they r fine with grandmom and I can say she is classy and so are the other 2sisters
may we all keep the jackson family in our prayers. pray for their spiritual strength and understanding. in Jesus name.
janet i am so sorry for your lost this whole thing is tragic. Michael was a great person, i fill so so sorry for you the pain you and your family are goeng through is so unsaid
i love janet and she's strong for finally being able to talk..but yall remeber this is the same sight that posted the video of MJs hair on fire..so disgusting I never watched it b/c i have a bad burn on my arm and that feeling isnt good.
September 10, 2009 - 7:33am Laura Says: I am so sorry that Janet has to go through this pain...She's a wonderful lady and I can see why Michael was closest to her out of all his siblings. Michael was a good man, and I pray that he is now at peace. I also hope his Mother, children, and the rest of the Jackson family find comfort in knowing how much Michael was loved by his fans...Rest in peace, Gentle One. ***************************************************** My sentiments exactly! Janet has a lot to deal with and I have been praying for her and the rest of her family. I pray Michael is finally at peace. His memory will live on forever.
I am so sorry that Janet has to go through this pain...She's a wonderful lady and I can see why Michael was closest to her out of all his siblings. Michael was a good man, and I pray that he is now at peace. I also hope his Mother, children, and the rest of the Jackson family find comfort in knowing how much Michael was loved by his fans...Rest in peace, Gentle One.
Its sad that Micheal Jackson died without touching Zambia, where his forefather was before the slave trade.There is a family with the face features of the jackson. When I look at Chewe i see MJ. May janet visit Zambia and confirm this.
Its sad that Micheal Jackson died without touching Zambia, where his forefather was before the slave trade.There is a family with the face features of the jackson. When I look at Chewe i see MJ. May janet visit Zambia and confirm this.
ONE WORD: say hi to tweet Paris.
God, I wish the kids would live with her. She is hands down, the classiest of the bunch.
I've been drinking alot lately. If I buy a couple beer..... I drink them. If I buy 24 beer I drink them. What do you think is causing this; and why do they make beer. Wish I knew.
janet jackson is one of the best hands down. i know she is still hurting but in time she will heal. i am soo angry about michael's death i heard that he could have been saved so why didnt anybody help him?
Love Janet! As for Us, Janet's breakup was not your exclusive story. It was on mediatakeout.com a month before you reported it and before Michael died.
oh Janet, I love you too !!!!!!!!!!!
Love you, Janet!
It is very sad no one could help Michael. I am angry about his death it is too sad for words. It is such a waste. I will never get over his death. What an unhappy life Michael must of had with so much private pain he couldn't even tell his own sister how much he was hurting and how worried and scared he was. Janet is so strong amazing. I don't have Janet's strength.
Good for you Janet! Thank God your are ok.! We love you!