December, 1993
televised live worldwide via satellite
Shortly after he returned to the US from London, where he was treated
for addiction to
prescription medications, Michael went on air to address some of the
issues that have
surrounded him in recent months. Michael's message was broadcast live
worldwide via
satellite feed that was set up at Neverland for the occasion.
Michael Jackson:
As you may already know, after my tour ended, I remained out of the
country undergoing treatment for
a dependency on pain medication. This medication was initially prescribed
to ease the excruciating pain
that I was suffering after reconstruction surgery on my scalp.
There have been many disgusting statements made recently concerning
allegations of improper conduct
on my part. These statements about me are totally false.
As I have maintained from the very beginning, I am hoping for a speedy
end to the horrifying, horrifying
experience to which I have been subjected. I shall not in this statement
talk about the false allegations
that have been made against me, since my lawyers have advised me that
this is not the proper forum in
which to do that. I will say that I am particularly upset at the handling
of this matter by the incredible,
terrible mass media. At every opportunity, the media has dissected
and manipulated these allegations to
reach their own conclusions. I ask all of you to wait to hear the truth
before you label or condemn me.
Don't treat me like a criminal, 'cause I am innocent.
I have been forced to submit to a dehumanizing and humiliating examination
by the Santa Barbara
County Sheriff's Department and the Los Angeles Police Department earlier
this week. They served a
search warrant on me, which allowed them to view and photograph my
body including my penis, my
buttocks, my lower torso, thighs, and any other area that they wanted.
They were supposed to be looking
for any discoloration, spotting, blemishes or any other evidence of
a skin disorder called Vitiligo that I
have previously spoken about.
The warrant also directed me to cooperate in any examination of my body
by deposition to determine the
condition of my skin including whether I had Vitiligo or any other
skin disorder. The warrant further
states that I had no right to refuse this examination or photographs,
and if I failed to cooperate with
them they would introduce that refusal at any trial as an indication
of my guilt.
It was the most humiliating ordeal of my life, one that no person should
ever have to suffer. Even after
experiencing the indignity of this search, the parties involved were
still not satisfied. They wanted to
take even more pictures. It was a nightmare, a horrifying nightmare,
but if this is what I have to endure
to prove my innocence, my complete innocence, so be it.
Throughout my life I have only tried to help thousands upon thousands
of children to live happy lives. I
am not guilty of these allegations, but if I am guilty of anything
it is of giving all that I have to give to
help children all over the world; it is of loving children of all ages
and races, it is of gaining sheer joy
from seeing children with their innocent and smiling faces, it is of
enjoying through them the childhood
that I missed myself. If I am guilty of anything, it is of believing
what God said about children: Suffer
little children to come unto me, and forbid them not for this is the
Kingdom of heaven.
In no way do I think that I am God but I do try to keep God's light
in my heart. I am totally innocent of
any wrongdoing and I know these terrible allegations will all be proven
false. Again, to my friends and
fans, thank you very much for all of your support. Together, we will
see this through to the very end. I
love you very much and may God bless you all. I love you. Good-bye.
