After the semi-disaster that Joe Jackson had prior to last night’s BET Awards, he and the Reverend Al Sharpton held a press conference today to clear up some issues.
Below are some excerpts:
“Michael was a superstar all over the world,” Joe said. “He was loved in countries all over the United States.” Asked about Michael’s children, over whom Michael’s mother was just granted temporary custody, Joe said, “They’re happy with the kids that they’re around, cause we have kids back there that are small just like they are. They was never around other kids, they’re happy.” Last night, when Joe Jackson used a question about his son from a CNN reporter to plug a Blu-Ray disc he’s selling, for which he was roundly criticized, he was actually indicating the Jackson family’s intentions to persevere: “He wanted to send a signal to the world that the Jackson family’s gonna continue doing what Michael did…give music and love to the world across all boundaries,” explained Sharpton. The Rev also said, “People are planning a museum in Gary,” Indiana, Michael Jackson’s birthplace. Joe Jackson began his portion of the conference by saying, “I wish that Michael could be here to see all this.” He went on to say that Michael will be remembered for his charity work. “Sometimes he would go and cry about it because he felt sorry for the people he was helping,” Joe said. Asked if there will be a private funeral, Joe said, “I’ve never heard of a private funeral.”
link: Michael Jackson Press Conference Features Reverend Al Sharpton, Father Joe Jackson – Speakeasy – WSJ
