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American Morning

Jackson's Parents Talk

Aired December 16, 2003 - 08:36   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Michael Jackson will be formally charged later this week, nearly a month after his arrest for child molestation. The Santa Barbara district attorney will provide more detail in a news conference tomorrow. Within 48 hours of Jackson's arrest, journalist Daphne Barak had an exclusive interview with the pop star parents for a TV documentary, "Our Son, Michael Jackson." Daphne Barak is here to tell us what Michael's mom and dad have to say about the accusations against them.
Thanks for being with us this morning.

DAPHNE BARAK, "OUR SON, MICHAEL JACKSON": Good morning.

COOPER: Let's listen to a clip from what Mrs. Jackson said about the moment she heard. I guess she was on her way to a Bible study class, so she says, when she heard the news. Let's take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATHERINE JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON'S MOTHER: Someone said, turn the TV on. And I turned on the TV, and there people were make these accusations about Michael. I just couldn't go. And I just sat down and say, not again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Throughout this interview -- and I've watched lot of it, she kept talking about they, as if there was a conspiracy against Michael Jackson. Does she believe that?

BARAK: Yes, she and her husband are bouncing it back and forth, with attorneys, of course. But I think the main thing she and her husband absolutely confident their son has done nothing wrong. I mean, it's not a facade, it wasn't for my television documentary, just absolutely 100 percent sure. So of course for her -- and every mother would feel that way, it's we and they.

COOPER: Let's listen to what she said about the people making allegations -- or what she says are the people making allegations against Michael Jackson.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACKSON: Whoever is a parent if someone came and molested your son, would you ask them for money? Would you? You can't answer me?

(END VIDEO CLIP) COOPER: You don't hear much from her very often in the media. You do hear more from Joe Jackson. What were your impressions of Mr. Jackson?

BARAK: Of Mr. Or Mrs.?

COOPER: Mr.

BARAK: I think there's a misconcept about him. I mean, you and I have heard the same stories. Also, like, relationship with Michael. What I've witnessed -- we have been doing the -- we have been spending time with them since end of July. The relationship between the father and the son is not as it's portrayed. I mean, when the son was about to release a single just few days before they arrest, Joe was on the phone, constantly helping him with the promotions.

Michael himself called me a few days before things turned around. And it was just a concern about how much he cares about both his father and mother. He was with his father when he called me. So I think there's a misconcept. And I think if let's say things have been true in the past, Joe Jackson has changed. He's a very caring father today.

COOPER: He beat Michael Jackson as a child. He's admitted he used a switch and a belt against Michael Jackson.

BARAK: And what he explained actually, that basically, he brought up his nine kids in a very bad neighborhood with no money, there was lots of danger outside, and he felt he had to be very strict with them to make sure that they're out of danger. And, you know...

COOPER: Let's listen to what he said about raising Michael Jackson as a kid.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARAK: They're talk right now that there will be an attempt to take his kids from him.

JOE JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON'S FATHER: I'm never going to let nobody take those kids. They Michael's kids. They have no right to try to take those kids. It's going to be a big mess over that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: You've been working in cooperation with the Michael Jackson family. How much does Michael Jackson pay his parents, do you know?

BARAK: I don't think he's paying as much as people think. I happen to know. It was told to me privately. But basically, it's just really maintaining the house. It's not more than -- and of course presents and everything. And of course -- but it's not really -- and of course, you know, that would be quite a concern in the future.

COOPER: Does he pay all the members of his family, do you know? Is there a financial relationship between him and his brothers?

BARAK: As far as I know, he's not paying his people -- I cannot say more. But he's definitely not paying -- not because they don't have a good relationship. It's just, that's the way it is.

COOPER: OK. Daphne Barak. It's a fascinating look at the Jackson family. Thanks very much.

BARAK: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired December 16, 2003 - 08:36   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Michael Jackson will be formally charged later this week, nearly a month after his arrest for child molestation. The Santa Barbara district attorney will provide more detail in a news conference tomorrow. Within 48 hours of Jackson's arrest, journalist Daphne Barak had an exclusive interview with the pop star parents for a TV documentary, "Our Son, Michael Jackson." Daphne Barak is here to tell us what Michael's mom and dad have to say about the accusations against them.
Thanks for being with us this morning.

DAPHNE BARAK, "OUR SON, MICHAEL JACKSON": Good morning.

COOPER: Let's listen to a clip from what Mrs. Jackson said about the moment she heard. I guess she was on her way to a Bible study class, so she says, when she heard the news. Let's take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATHERINE JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON'S MOTHER: Someone said, turn the TV on. And I turned on the TV, and there people were make these accusations about Michael. I just couldn't go. And I just sat down and say, not again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Throughout this interview -- and I've watched lot of it, she kept talking about they, as if there was a conspiracy against Michael Jackson. Does she believe that?

BARAK: Yes, she and her husband are bouncing it back and forth, with attorneys, of course. But I think the main thing she and her husband absolutely confident their son has done nothing wrong. I mean, it's not a facade, it wasn't for my television documentary, just absolutely 100 percent sure. So of course for her -- and every mother would feel that way, it's we and they.

COOPER: Let's listen to what she said about the people making allegations -- or what she says are the people making allegations against Michael Jackson.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACKSON: Whoever is a parent if someone came and molested your son, would you ask them for money? Would you? You can't answer me?

(END VIDEO CLIP) COOPER: You don't hear much from her very often in the media. You do hear more from Joe Jackson. What were your impressions of Mr. Jackson?

BARAK: Of Mr. Or Mrs.?

COOPER: Mr.

BARAK: I think there's a misconcept about him. I mean, you and I have heard the same stories. Also, like, relationship with Michael. What I've witnessed -- we have been doing the -- we have been spending time with them since end of July. The relationship between the father and the son is not as it's portrayed. I mean, when the son was about to release a single just few days before they arrest, Joe was on the phone, constantly helping him with the promotions.

Michael himself called me a few days before things turned around. And it was just a concern about how much he cares about both his father and mother. He was with his father when he called me. So I think there's a misconcept. And I think if let's say things have been true in the past, Joe Jackson has changed. He's a very caring father today.

COOPER: He beat Michael Jackson as a child. He's admitted he used a switch and a belt against Michael Jackson.

BARAK: And what he explained actually, that basically, he brought up his nine kids in a very bad neighborhood with no money, there was lots of danger outside, and he felt he had to be very strict with them to make sure that they're out of danger. And, you know...

COOPER: Let's listen to what he said about raising Michael Jackson as a kid.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARAK: They're talk right now that there will be an attempt to take his kids from him.

JOE JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON'S FATHER: I'm never going to let nobody take those kids. They Michael's kids. They have no right to try to take those kids. It's going to be a big mess over that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: You've been working in cooperation with the Michael Jackson family. How much does Michael Jackson pay his parents, do you know?

BARAK: I don't think he's paying as much as people think. I happen to know. It was told to me privately. But basically, it's just really maintaining the house. It's not more than -- and of course presents and everything. And of course -- but it's not really -- and of course, you know, that would be quite a concern in the future.

COOPER: Does he pay all the members of his family, do you know? Is there a financial relationship between him and his brothers?

BARAK: As far as I know, he's not paying his people -- I cannot say more. But he's definitely not paying -- not because they don't have a good relationship. It's just, that's the way it is.

COOPER: OK. Daphne Barak. It's a fascinating look at the Jackson family. Thanks very much.

BARAK: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com