• not only a campaign, but an obligation, a goal, a vision •
Chronicle of fear
No human being in the world lives since his childhood in the spotlight of the public like Michael Jackson. We all know that the rumours about him will never stop telling the most bizare stories and we all know that this more and more destroys Michael image.
But Michael has something only very few artists have. The most engaged and most loyal fans in the whole world. Fans who go for him on the longest trips, spend all their money. Fans who build up campaigns together in order to support Michael wherever it is possible with all their power. He really must love his fans. And yes, he does, he tells us again and again how much he loves us. But there were and are still situations when one can’t be sure how Michael can still love them.
His Fans love him more than anything else, since he was a child. They do everything in order to see him or to touch him. If one single person wants to do that, no problem, but hundreds? It easily gets very dangerous and Michael is pulled around, attacked and hurt. Of course, he has bodyguards, who should guarantuee for his safety but is it really necessary to be saved from the own fans?
We know that, you might think now but you’ll find a little journey through Michael’s life with his fans on this page. Nobody doubts that there are also wonderful moments, for example in Michael suite. But here we want to talk about situations when one has to fear for Michael and unfortunately there are many.
1970 • Michael is 12 years old
May 2nd
The Jackson 5 performed at the Philadelphia Convention Center as a Motown-Top-Act for the first time. It was similar to a welcome for the Beatles. Only an army of security-men of the city and the airport could save the Jacksons from being rushed over. Hysterical fans pushed through the barriers at the airport. At the concert hundreds of policemen had to force the fans to step back from the stage. In three cars with a motorcycle-escort the Jackson were brought back to their hotel after the concert. Jermaine: „Michael was scared to death. He was really in panic. „I don’t know if I can stand this forever.“, he said, „Maybe some time but not forever.“
October 9th
Tour-start of the Jackson 5 at the Boston Garden.
Bob Jones remembers: „Before the end of the last song we had to bring the boys out really quickly. Although we had the securitymen and the 4 metres high stage the band was attacked by fanatic fans.“
1971 • Michael is 13 years old
At the New Yorker Madison Square Garden the show had to be stopped after only two minutes because the fans ran onto the stage. „Please go back to your seats!“, said Michael. But the band had to leave the stage and could only come back when the crowd calmed down.
Michael said: „I wish that we could finish one performance and don’t have to disapear before the end because the crowed rushes on stage.“
Lionel Richie remembers: „The only thing I can remember from the tour is the screaming crowd …“
December 28th A reporter got an interview with the Jackson 5 in their hotel suite. Soon some fans were outside the door and screamed: „Michael! Michael! Michael!“. Tito tried to go outside in order to talk to them. When he opened the door a group of girls rushed into the room. They started to touch and kiss Michael …
1972 • Michael is 14 years old
In autumn at the Emerson Junior High, which Michael visited, somebody threatened in a letter to kill him. Michaels parents were that shocked that they took the boy from the school and brought him to a private teacher.
Michael about fans: „The most important thing is that we don’t betray our fans or use them. I hate artists who don’t treat their fans in the right way. That makes me sick. I once saw when a great star had a date with a girl, only because he was a star. How can people do that?“
November The Jackson 5 perform in Europe, also in London. The crowd of the fans, who welcomed the band at the airport, got out of control. The brothers ran always in different directions in order to find their car. The noise, which was even louder than the plane, made Michael and Marlon cry. Michael lost his shoe and he got almost struggled. He had to fight his way through a crowd of screaming girls and hold one hand on his face to protect it from their fingernails. Jermaine: „He really had to be scared! They pulled on both ends of his scarf and almost sruggled him. He had to put his hand under his scarf and scream in order to be able to breathe.“ Michael: „They reached out for my hair and pulled on it, it burned like fire. You feel like you would suffocate or if you were smashed into pieces.“ The next day a nine-years-old girl threatened a quite strong hotel security man in order to get into Michael room. The Rolls Royce, which transported the band had to be repaired for 12.000 dollars, the fans almost damaged it.
1981 • Michael is 23 years old
A woman wrote a letter to Michael and said that he was the father of her child. She sent a photo of herself and the baby. Michael ignored the letter but she didn’t give up. She told Michael to come to her because she loves him more than anybody else and she is sure that he can only be happy with her. Finally she sent a box to Michael with a weapon and a letter in which she tells him on what day and at what time he should kill himself. She wrote that she’ll do the same after she has killed her baby. She decided that if they can’t be together in this life they’ll maybe be in another. Michael was just shocked. He placed the photo in the living room. “I have to know her face, if she appears here. I’ll never forget this face.” The young woman was finally send to a mental hospital.
1982 • Michael is 24 years old
1982 Michael wrote his hit ‘Billie Jean’ about this happening.
He decided later not to publish this story in his biography ‘Moonwalk’ because he was afraid that some people could do the same. Michael: „Being followed hurts… Not mentally but physically. You think you are a noodle which ten people pull at the same time. They don’t recognize it. They love you so much that they want to have a piece of you. There are really fans who have hairs from me! I could go to England now and they show it to me and say: „That are your hairs from three years ago.“
Michael after the ‘Triumph’-Tour: “This is my last tour. I don’t want to do one more. Never.”
1983 • Michael is 25 years old
Katherine, Michaels mother: „There are so many of them and you never know what’s going on in their minds. This is why it’s very difficult for my son to find a girlfriend.“ Michael talks to the reporter Dave Nussbaum: „I love my fans but I’m afraid of them. Some of them try everything in order to get to me. They don’t know that what they do can really hurt you.“
Sandy Brown, Michael’s neighbour in Encino: „There are people who actually live in front of his house. They sit in the trees for two or three days. That’s dangerous because some of these people are really crazy. You never know who your children meet in the streets. There is the rumour that Michael moves to Malibu. I hope it is true.“
source: J.R. Taraborelli
1988 • Michael is 30 years old
July 8th
Michael performed in Munich during the BAD-tour. A fan remembers: „I was 16 years then and I just went there without thinking about it. The concert was fantastic. Some people there told me that they’ll go to Michael’s hotel. I decided to come with them. I never saw something like that. The people screamed into my ears, pressed me at the barriers, fainted. Some climbed at the cars or the busses just to be nearer at Michael’s window. When Michael came out everybody ran towards him. You could hear sirens and the noise of the ambulances everywhere. The people screamed around, the flashes of the cameras gave it an even more threatened touch. Everybody ran towards Michael’s car, they just pushed me with them. And then I saw Michael. He smiled and waved to his fans. Since that day I admire him even more.“
1996 • Michael is 38 years old
When Michael was in Sydney, he arrived at his hotel. I had a great position which I’d held since 9 a.m. and I’d been travelling since 4 a.m. (it was around 5.30 to 6 p.m. by the time Michael arrived). This girl who looked around 20 and was of a larger build, kept trying to push her way infront of me or push me completely out of the way. I held firm though and she eventually gave up, but just to spite her, there were these two nicer girls who were spupposed to be doing their HSC but had truented to see Michael that I let in front of me. They were shorter than me, so I could still see and I still got Michael’s autograph.
Then, on Friday night, Michael premiered his ‘Ghosts’ movie. I’d seen Michael before (in 1987 and also a few days previously at his hotel as he arrived). As the movie ended the place went crazy. Michael was with some kids behind a barrier, and as I stood there Michael’s fans were trying to jump the barrier. Some fans succeeded, and landed on some of the kids, some kids were kicked in the face by these morons. I have to admit that I was about to jump too until I saw that the kids were being hurt.
I screamed at the people trying to jump the barrier to stop, that there were kids there and they were hurting them. I’d forgotten about Michael for a second as I was more worried about these little kids. A larger man, who looked to be around 50 seemed to be in Michael’s enterage, started yelling at fans to stop jumping the barriers. I held back a couple of fans and stopped them jumping the barriers. I received scratches to my face and bruises from kicks and punches. I screamed numerous times for them to wake up to themselves. I looked over at Michael and he smiled at me, giving me the thumbs up.
Eventually the kids got out, and Michael got out. I did follow Michael out into the foyer, but no longer was I screaming and yelling, and no longer was I chasing Michael. I stood off, watching the people mob this man who had given so much as if he was a prize that they all wanted a piece of.
I saw Michael after that on the following Saturday night in concert and then the next day at the Sydney Opera House. I could have chased him then as I was very close… But I didn’t. The Friday night of the premiere had opened my eyes. It put things into perspective for me.
I hope all of Michael’s fans somehow learn the same lesson.
1997 • Michael is 39 years old
Berlin, August 1th
August 1st Pearl K (a fan): „At the day after the History-concert in Berlin Michael visited the zoo there. The fans were well informed and so we had the chance to see Michael. But one girl couldn’t stop herself. She ran to Michael from his backside and jumped at him. The bodyguard reacted in a second but this girl hang on his neck. She didn‘t stop and so struggled him. But although she was brought away quite soon. We talked to her later and asked why she did that. She just said that Michael likes that and that she would do it again. Later this girl got to Michael when he visited the „Apes-house“ . She came back with an autograph on her HIStory-CD and complained that she couldn’t take a photo with Michael!“
Bremen
Lisa H., fan of Michael tells about the really terrible scenes at Michael’s hotel in Bremen/Germany: „From the first day on the scene was a spectacle, all around the clock his fans stayed at the hotel and cheered loudly when he appeared. Michael himself first was very relaxed and spent much time with his fans when he played his little games at the window, came out, met fans and every time he drove to the city he stopped for a while. Unfortunately on one afternoon there was a terrible event. A young crazy man jumped over the barriers and ran towards Michael. He hold him that tight that some bodyguard had to push him away from Michael who had no chance to move. Of course this event caused chaos. Many tried the same, others cried for help for Michael and all everybody could see was a crowd of people who argued. The young man was brought away and Michael was „free“ again. He went away and back stayed hundreds of confused fans, who were also shocked by what they had just experienced.“
After all, there are some things I’m sad about. Why was it that this young man had to flip around like that, hurting Michael and to cock up the coming days for all fans? If he hadn’t attacked him, a lot of stress and angst could have been saved! We would have been able to remain standing behind the barriers — assumed that no other person would try to attack Michael – the platoon would have been smaller and Michael and his team wouldn’t went through all this horrifying stress because of the fans. If everyone had acted in an appropriate manner, then Michael would have been able to come out more often and even if he wouldn’t have done this — at least he wouldn’t became that scary. It must be a horrifying experience to be overwhelmed as brutal as that and certainly nobody understands that as a love prove. I don’t understand how to come to the idea to storm at Michael, or even to have any evil purposes like that! No one wants to be treated like that. If you call yourself a (true) fan, at least you should have been informed so far that you recognize Michael Jackson as a human being with feelings, and that he should been treated exactly like that!
The Park-Hotel in Bremen has a slightly rounded forecourt and if that one is circled and congested by people, than this simply is similar to a predator-cage. I don’t want to go outside there, because I would have been afraid alone because of the loudness which is caused all the time, I would be scared enough and if I also had to count with being attacked and if I had the knowledge that everyone is observing me, maybe I would prefer to stay inside. I don’t want to mention that it is principally wrong to wait outside Michael’s hotel, because certainly Michael also enjoys that for some matters, but must it always been connected to hysteria and chaos? Perhaps Michael sometimes simply wishes to go outside just for fun? Without needing several bodyguards to his protection, without being scared and with the opportunity to face his fans in a very normal way?”
1999 • Michael is 40 years old
München Miri L., fan of Michael remembers: “And the next second we saw…Michael!!! Oh wow, he looked soooooo good!!! He just wore sunglasses but no mask and no fedora. He hold an umbrella. He walked right up to a little stage which they had built for him. He stood there and waved. Then he started to greet the fans. He started at the opposite side and we couldn’t see anything. But we thought it was okay ’coz he promised to come to our side, too. But there were some idiots who jumped the barriers and ran to Michael. And we all screamed: ‘Go back! Leave him alone!!!’ and stuff but they wouldn’t listen. The police had no chance. As Michael saw the many people in front of the barrier he turned around and disappeared inside the hotel. We were soooooo angry. I really can’t express that in words. How could they do that?”
2000 • Michael is 41 years old
Monaco, May 11th
A whole week Michael was in Monaco because of the World Music Awards. Fans of all countries arrived there, too in order to see him. From time to time the scenes at the hotel were frightening. It was so hard that Michael always left and entered the hotel through a little side-entrance. It’s even said that one time he came out of the hotel in the middle of the night with Prince and his Bodyguard Wayne to get a bit fresh air! At night there were hardly any people. … But besides this there had also been something special!
A fan remembers: I always have to think of the scene were Michael drove in this sweet little ‘Smart’-car which was a present from the WMAs. Apparantly he wanted that we could see him so he took this little car without darkened panes. I think that he soon wished he hadn’t done so, because within seconds the car was heavily mobbed by fans. They literally lay on it and screamed so loudly that my stomach turned around. The ‘Smart’ was not able to drive. I really prayed that there would come the time when they let the car go and that the panes wouldn’t break — otherwise that would have ended badly for Michael and many others! But we also did something very special and good! At the end of Michael’s stay all the fans got together and wrote Michael a letter. A FttF-team member proposed that to us. We promised to stay calmer when he’d leave. We knew that he had his children with him and we were sure that he didn’t want them to see such a chaos! At least for his children Michael wants peace. And it worked!! (at least almost :-) )! We all were very proud of us, and for the first time we felt like a real family. That I will never forget!
2001 • Michael is 42 years old
February, Carnegie Hall
At the Carnegie Hall thing I went there and saw Michael get mobbed. I didn’t think that much of it, cause I don’t know… I just didn’t. A few days later I was talking to a fan outside ‘Four Seaons’ where Michael had been that morning. She told me what she had seen. She had been a part of the group, and Michael had left the hotel in an SUV. Like everyone else, she had surrounded the car, but ended up in front of it, rather than on the side. People were banging on the windows and the car was rocking. All of a sudden she catches a glimpse of Michael in the car. He is sitting way in the middle, cradling a little girl — his daughter Paris. My friend could hear the little girl scream at the top of her lungs, and Michael was holding her close. Kissing her forehead, seemingly trying to comfort the little girl. My friend caught Michael’s eyes and she said it was like being punched in the stomach: She said that Michael looked like a deer caught in the headlights of a car, totally terrified. He was trying to comfort a little girl who was probably scared to death, at the same time as he seemed terrified himself. When she told me, I felt like I was punched in the stomach.
I’ve since then travelled to see Michael, yes, but I made a vow: I will never go see Michael unless it is a public event. I will not travel to see him on vacations etc. I’ll go to the gates of Neverland, but not chase the car. I will never chase Michael’s car, bang on the windows or in any way mob him. If I’m somewhere that Michael is, I’mma be calm and just there. I hope that one day, Michael will never have to feel like he seemingly did that day… And I pray that his children will never have to go through it again either…
by Minnie
March, Oxford-Universität
Michael was in London in order to present his ‘Heal-the-Kids’-Foundation. He also hold a speech at the Oxford university. But again the situation which Michael had to face were simply terrible. Miri L., fan of Michael was there:
“Towards 5 p.m., agitation occurs. Bodyguards gather around the vans, banners get hang up, cameras get prepared, and to be on the safe side there are screams every time the backdoor moves. Finally the waiting has an end, because a little, red-dressed man with surgical mask hobbling on crutches appears between the vans. There he withstands the ear-splitting uproar for a few moments, waves, points at some banners and then escapes inside the van. The barriers get open up at one location for that Michael’s convoy can make its way to Oxford. But for the time being the cars are not able to leave because some fans gather around the van and start hammering violently at the darkened panes. Stagnancy and noisy honking at the nearby street just call the attention on this event in an excellent way.
…Towards 8 p.m. police-car hooters resound and Michael’s convoy turns into. Immediately fans storm towards the car and a pure chaos results. When the van stops and Michael’s door gets open because he wants to greet his fans, the onrush is much too big – without being able to leave the car, Michael now is navigated directly to the front door.
… Nobody reckons on it that Michael, injured after an exhausted day and around 2 a.m. would reveal himself to the fans once more, but everything comes different. Although again ten fans stand inside the barrier, Michael hobbles towards our friends. Then he remains and looks around. Suddenly his view sticks to one of their banners. He looks surprised and points at the special banner which is carried to him immediately. With the banner in his hands he is already about his way back when he recognizes a man in a wheelchair and heads up to him. Because this man is right in front of us, Michael remains for several moments ready to hand. He doesn’t seem to bother to be that near to his fans because from this corner he hasn’t to fear screaming or grabbing hands. Finally, Michael definitely withdraws and leaves some very happy fans. An exciting day finds its end with a crowning finish.
… Immediately about twenty fans gather around the van and follow its way literally sticking at the panes. Somehow the bodyguards manage it to drive the van into the backyard on a way, that only one fan slips through the barrier.
Several seconds later, Michael climbs off the car and starts his way towards the barriers. Unfortunately he has to stop soon, because right at the first corner chaos emerged when a whole bunch of fans climb over the barriers, while one fan inside the barrier tries to embrace Michael from behind. You can only see Michael, with raised arms to his protection and anxiously wide-opened eyes, hiding into the hotel - wouldn’t it have been a bigger success for everyone if these fans would have changed their behaviour?!”
2002 • Michael is 43 years old
London, Paddington Station, June 14th
Michael was in London. At this day he went to Exceter by train. Reporters, photographers, other people and of course fans rushed at Michael when he arrived.
The Swiss Michael Jackson-Fanclub tells: „The situation was just chaos and from time to time totally out of control. Everybody who experienced that has to say that being famous must be even worst than „being in a cage“, like Michael has told in an interview. It’s not only being like in a cage, it’s cruel. Often it looked like Michael would never reach his car without getting hurt and suddenly it happened. A German fan girl got crazy and jumped at Michael, his bodyguard had no chance. Michael fell to the ground and stayed there for half a minute, holding his stomach, on his knees. Some more police was called to the station in order to protect the King of Pop and Reuters said that the situation was similar to the Beatles mania in the sixties.“ An accompanist about the events at Paddington Station: „I really thought he would faint. Then he suddenly looked at me and said: „I love these people!“ and I said: „Are you okay?“ He said: „I am okay!“ and kept waving to his fans.“
After some time Michael got up again and ran on with a sheet of paper over his head. Some time before he entered the train the fans started to shout: "Stop Filthy Press". Michael joined them! Behind him the media... At least he moved his mouth, still very scared. When he entered he was hold back at the hand by somebody but he came free and then sat down in his waggon. He waved a few times but mainly he just sat completly exhausted in his seat. When a few fans via Uri Geller said sorry for that event to Michael he left his seat and stepped at the corridor. Michael looked in the crowd, made signs to his fans and gave flying kisses. He stayed at the open window for some time and showed a reporter teh bad finger. Michael sould even have beaten a reporter, at least some fans told so. However, the reporter lost something very special what we can confirm. But in this (horrible) situation we didn't see if it was really Michael who beat him.
During Michael’s whole London visit the hysteria of the fans was completely out of control. The iron-gate of Michael’s hotel was almost damaged by the sheere force of the bodies. Again and again fans laid at, under, beside Michael’s car and crabbed inside. Many fans and even a member of Michael’s security was injured. The king of pop himself sat in his car and saved his face with his hands.
A fan tells: „When Michael’s car came around the corner Sunday night and stopped, a crowd of people ran towards it I just thought: „Drive on, save yourself Michael, they’ll kill you one day!“ And I started to cry and hoped that he can’t see me. In this moments I was so ashamed for being a fan.“
Berlin, November
When Michael is in Germany because of the Bambi-awards awful mob-scenes occure as he tries to visit the zoo of Germany's capital. Fans and press found out about his plans and follow him. In the zoo melees araouse again and again. Michael and his family can only shortly visit the monkeys, then they flee the mass. Later he confrims in an interview that his son Prince even was hurt in the tumult by an umbrella.
Vigorous welcome for Michael Jackson
By Markus Falkner
Yesterday afternoon Michael Jackson arrived in Berlin, where the pop star will receive the “Bambi” - award for his lifework on Thursday. Jackson has reached his Hotel “Adlon” around 14 o’clock after the landing of his private jet at Tempelhof - Berlin. Approximately 100 fans were waiting despite the fact of drizzle and coldness.
A tumult started while the convoy reached the hotel and Jackson got off his darkened and black minibus. Fans stormed the barriers. Flower buckets got broken.
Securities had to get rough to defend the forty-four-year old megastar and his way into the hotel. A nineteen-year-old Jackson fan hurtled with another seventy-three-year-old man, who had visited a neighboring boutique when the bodyguard had tried to force the Jackson fan back. The seventy-three-year-old man suffered a laceration at his head and was taken to a hospital. Due to details released by the police the security company made a complaint for trespass. www.morgenpost.de
2005 • Michael is 47 years old
Santa Ynez, Neverland Valley, May 11th
A day after my birthday. I originally left my home in Canada to go and heal myself in California. I wanted to do nothing for my birthday but be praying for Michael uring the fake trial in Santa Maria. This day in court was a good one for Michael. He had waved at us when his entourage left the court and I saw fans bolt in different directions. I walked peacefully up to a fan that was doing an interview and waited until she was done to ask about Neverland. She and her son (nice people) took me. I was able to have the solitude I needed to pray for Michael as he faced the worst bullying I have ever seen. As I looked around at the people who gathered at the gate, I felt uneasy. I felt like I was going to be seen as a stalker so I stepped back. As a deaf person, I looked around at everyone wishing that I had friends there. I was alone. I only hoped to see one glimpse of Michael. I had heard a fan tell about how Michael had walked among the fans and talked to everyone of them the week before. We were hoping the Ranch to let us in. I couldn’t imagine why the gates would be opened, but Michael had a tendency to do unexpected things. I heard loud screaming and then the fans rushed to where I was standing. I gladly moved to the back and looked as people pushed their friends through. There were books, slips of papers, and pens in the air. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
As the car approached the gate remember when I saw Michael’s car approaching his gate. All the fans rushed to the car and wouldn’t let it pass. Thank God that it was a good day in court for him! He rolled down the window to wave at everyone and suddenly a fan grabbed his hand and at the same time bumped his father Joe in the head. The fan kept Michael’s hand and ran alongside the car with others in tow. I felt so sorry for even being at the gate after that. If it was not for the fact that I had gone to Neverland to pray, I would not have been on his property. It is great that there was an outpouring of Love. But fans who go to this extreme ruin bigger opportunities. When fans behave this way, nothing comes of it but distance. There is enough of Michael the eye candy for everyone to enjoy. Fans should love him, but let him be. A rule I always prize myself on is to give people quiet recognition and do to them as I would like others to do to me. The Golden Rule.
by PrincessBeverley
London, October
Already in october after his aquittal Michael visits London. Of course he's welcomed by a mass of cheering fans who all want to celebrate his vindication.
Courageous! Michael really dares to go out without security. He wants to visit a recording studio. But in an underground garage it’s getting dangerous when a crowed of fans rush into the garage and push on him. Michael saves his skin in climbing onto a roof where not that many people can following him. He tries to keep his smile but on some pictures (taken by all the fans) you can see his discomfort – or fear? – clearly as he tries to protect himself against all the hands grabbing at him. The next day his security arrives and Michael won’t be seen anywhere on his own again.
2006 • Michael is 48 years old
London, November 12th - 17th
Discussion of fans:
- The fans behaved disgracefully and ruined it for themselves. It seems to be getting worse each time he comes here.
- HOW IS IT THAT WE ARE FANS OF A MAN WHO IS SO LOVING & SO GENTLE YET WE ACT IN THE EXACT OPPOSITE WAY? I love to see Michael. But I’m kinda glad it’s all over in a way, what I was seeing was shocking. I remember the time when I used to think “all Michael Jackson fans are lovely sweet people”. I’ve never met such a selfish bunch in all my life. They’re actually scary.
- And don’t go there with the - - well, Michael wants it! He does not. Do you understand? He does not want his children or himself endangered Some of you people are out of control.
- […]What kind of people we are? What drives a normal everyday person to become a horrible monster that would kill for a closer spot just to see Michael Jackson. […] Michael is a human being. The world treats him like he is something different. Wouldn’t it be nice if his own fans treated Michael with respect by showing him at least we treat other members of his fan family with respect too? […]
- Someone is going to get killed at some point. There simply is NO excuse for this type of behaviour – none! I don’t care that it is your first time seeing Michael, or that you’ve seen him a million times… I pray EVERYONE is going to examine their own behaviour, and ANYONE who has EVER pushed someone to the side, or anyone who has ever hit, pulled or in any way tried to hurt someone else to get close to Michael need to take a damn good look in the mirror, ‘cause there is NO excuse!
- With fans like them, who needs enemies? […]
- Michael himself was hurt so many times, I saw him so many times falling because of how some of his fans act, so everybody should learn to behave. Mike doesn’t have to be scared of us like that – it’s a shame…
In March, after holding a fan-event in Japan, Michael travels to London. Noone knows if that’s a private visit or if Michael wants to have his fans coming to London. The only thing that is sure is that in the following days many sad things happen in England’s beautiful capital.
After he came back, a fans precisely and shortly describes what he had seen:
“I just came back from London. It was horrible. People were so calm when Michael wasn't here and as soon as he appeared, everybody went crazy. One of the security people told me that he considered all the fans as insane. They were outside, it was freezing and some of them waited all the night. The guy told me that they should go back home and deal with their own life instead of bothering Michael. I came back because it was obviously a private visit. Michael was here for business (some people in the hotel said he wanted to open a shop in London) and didn't want to be disturbed. Many fans said he was showing himself at the window but honestly there's no way to know if it was him or not.“
* eye witness account from a fan with a message from either Michael's security or hotel security. Michael did not leave the hotel for security reasons
* someone noted that Michael was saying ‘he is hurting me’ - and he was referring to a girl
* when he came back Michael was ruggedly pushed against a wall by one of the fans who followed him everywhere. Other eye witnesses talk of three fans. After this he didn’t show himself to the fans for quite a while.
* Confirmed: Michael was pushed rather forcefully inside the hotel where his head was pushed up against a wall. 3 fans did it.
* That’s getting horrible! A German fan was beaten up and now lies in hospital. And that just because she met Michael.
* Just spoke to a friend who was there. He got mobbed pretty bad again and people were jumping on the car. The decoy car blocked the road so that noone could follow in their cars/cabs.
* Last night my friend's friends were in a taxi following Michael and another car (dont know if it was fans car or taxi with fans) almost caused Michaels car to crash.
* My friend has footage of the worst mobbing that’s not been posted online yet but he wont be able to upload it until Wednesday when he leaves London. Says Michael got pulled in different directions by fans.
Future (hypothetical) Here three possible alternatives -> — what would YOU prefer????
Variant a: “Oh it was like it always is! Of course, I’ve seen Michael and there’s nothing that would me make happier! But I also have a lot of bruises and a friend of mine broke her arm. My dad forbids me to go to such an event again. He says that it’s too dangerous. He even watched it on TV, the ‘chaos about Jacko’ - this is what he told me! All my classmates have seen it as well, and meanwhile they say that I’m really nutty. They think we are all like that! And this time it’s really true what the press says: each time Michael showed up somewhere the hell break loose. It’s been really, really bad - the fans would trample you! And Michael as well… I think he knows that because every time he hid in the hotel as soon as possible. The shops were locked for him and only a few people could get autographes. Just the ones who literally put their hands into the panes of the car! It’s really gone too far! I’m fed up with it. I would love to see Michael - just seeing him! - but how?? I’ll never be able to get through to him.”
Jeanny, 16
Variant b:
A fan tells: “It’s been incredible! We were waiting for hours but this we are used to! Michael’s always too late ;-). But when he finally arrived the atmosphere was like never before! Everybody clapped their hands and called Michael’s name, but nobody jumped the barriers! Instead of driving straight into the garage, his van suddenly stopped right in front of us! Michael seemed to be surprised and opened the car’s pane. And when he saw that everything was under control he made a sign to his security. They got out first and he followed carefully. He waved and then started to go around slowly. He gave autographs and shook hands. It’s been so incredible!!! At least two minutes he stood right in front of me and about fifteen minutes I could see him really good. I followed every of his moves… I’ll never forget this day! Afterwards nearly everybody cried out of joy and happiness. Michael showed us that he really loves us and we treated him with respect! He also seemed to be in a really good mood! Later he called some fans up into his suite (unfortunately I’ve not been among them :-( ), and in the evening he showed up at the hotel-window. He waved to us and talked some words to us — he told us how much he loves us. And he thanked us for our love and support. I so much wish that all this will happen again one day!”
Variant c:
USA-Today: Worry about Michael Jackson! This time the eccentric mega-star seemed to have paid for his shy and reclusive behaviour.
His fans waited in front of his hotel for hours without success. The ‘King of Pop’ didn’t show up. Then the crowd obviously had enough. When Michael Jackson finally tried to sneak out of the hotel through a back-door to go shopping, hundreds of people followed his car. At the shopping-centre the situation got out of control. ‘Jacko’ tried to disappear in a CD-shop but his fans made a run on the store. Panes broke, and the store’s stock was destroyed. Jackson’s security had no chance to protect the star. Jackson fell, got trampled down and injured. Finally the bodyguards could bring him out through a back door. Since in all the chaos even the ambulance couldn’t get through fast enough, the singer was brought to a nearby hospital with his own car. At the time there’s no official information about the seriousness of his injuries. It’s said that he suffers from contusions, broken ribs and a concussion. During the turmoil also five fans of the singer were injured. One of them, a sixteen year old girl from Australia who flow to America just to see her idol for the first time, is in danger of her life.
