It is with a sad heart today that I write this blog. My brother, Gotham Chopra, and my father, Deepak Chopra, have both written beautiful articles remembering our friend, Michael Jackson. I debated writing something or not, and in the end decided to write for my own healing process.
My brother and I had a magical childhood, and much of this was because of Michael. For us, Michael let us visit Neverland like it was our own – from movies to playing video games to bumper car rides to playing with the chimps to eating amazing chocolate chip cookies, we were able to take our cousins and friends to this magical place and just have pure fun. Eating meals with Michael in those days – almost 20 years ago now – was always an experience. He would start humming a tune and then excuse himself. When he came back, he would giggle with delight, explaining how music just came to him and he had to record it to save what came, he always said, came from some place else. Every moment we were with Michael, I would be utterly comfortable and utterly in awe at the same time.
My relationship with Michael was very different from that of my father and brothers. Michael and I shared an absolute love for children, and his heart cried about the pain children around the world faced. One day, while chatting with him about his upcoming Super Bowl performance, Michael was brainstorming how he could use the worldwide exposure for a greater cause, and the Heal The World Foundation was born. My first job, after graduating from college, was to launch the foundation with a small team. I was so proud of the work we did in that short time, only to find that our good intentions came to a halt when Michael was accused the first time of child molestation. Over night, understandably so, non-profits backed away from our efforts and we quietly closed shop. My family always maintained our belief that Michael was innocent in both cases – for those that were close to Michael, all would admit he was quirky and had bad judgment at times. But to think Michael could abuse a child was unfathomable in my mind.
Over the last decade, my relationship with Michael continued to be focused on kids, but now our own. (We remained connected through my best friend, Grace, who served as their nanny for many years.) It was amazing for me to witness in those early years how enamored Michael was with his children. He changed their diapers through the night, sang and played with them, rocked them to sleep, bathed them and had to change his own outfits when they threw up on him – the same routine that all parents know and love. In the few times we spoke, he would always reflect on the miracle of being a parent. He also protected them in a way that reflected his own lost childhood, and his paranoia about being taken advantage of. Paris, Prince and Blanket are three beautiful children. With Michael gone, I truly pray that they will find some peace and be spared the heart wrenching pain that their father faced time and time again in his life.
I write this blog in London after having a very surreal encounter with the kind of people that Michael was always paranoid about. I will spare the details, but in those few hours, where I felt my kids were in a vulnerable situation, I had just the tiniest insight into why Michael became so paranoid in his life. So sad that such a trusting soul had to become so distrustful. Because truly he was a loving, trusting soul.
Here in London, like in much of the world, every television channel paid tribute to Michael Jackson. As I watched some clips with my two young daughters (7 and 5), I found I had so much to explain to them. Why did he have white skin (he had a skin disease)? Why did he look so different from when he was a kid? (A fascinating discussion about plastic surgery followed). Why did he look so weird? Why did he hide all the time? What’s going to happen to Prince, Paris and Blanket? I patiently answered their questions, focusing on being a mom that needs to help her children understand a confusing world. The reality is that Michael’s life and story brings up painful questions about how we see the world and treat others.
And, as we were watching, the Heal the World video came on. And finally after holding back all morning, my tears streamed down freely, as my two daughters held me. Hearing that song, in which Micheal sang about healing the world…
Michael truly had a gift to heal – his music and his sweet soul touched billions – and for that, I hope he will be remembered.
Mallika Chopra is the founder of Intent.com, a site focused on personal, social and global wellness
posted June 27, 2009 at 10:41 am
I can’t help but thank you, along with your father and your brother, for sharing these personal perspectives. It must have been wonderful growing up with Michael. Your words have helped me process this untimely loss of our dear friend, the kind soul that was Michael Jackson.
posted June 27, 2009 at 7:23 pm
I thank you too, Mallika. So many emotional memories from my childhood, have cropped up in response to his passing. Of course I didn’t know him personally, but because I loved him honestly and innocently as a child I see him, and his music was so inspiring and filled with love, I grieve him as though he was a personal friend. I never believed he harmed anyone deliberately, and to hear you speak of him assures me. He is a beautiful man; his kindness and love was apparent in his speech and his music. May God continue to bless you and your family.
posted June 27, 2009 at 11:38 pm
I found your article to be so beautiful, well spoken!! I think it is a sad time here. Such a great man has lefted us. I think too many times we assume things about someone. Judge someone on how they look on the outside versus the inside. Often when we have never even personally met someone too. We take rumours to be 100% true. One thing that I strongly believe is that many of the nasty things that the gossip magazines pritned about Micheal wasn’t true. I had a wonderful conservation with my Australian penpal Jim & he had told me a story about a young Aussie boy who was a big fan of Micheal & always would get tickets to whereever Micheal was playing in AUstralia. Micheal heard about it & invited him & his sister to Neverland. They spent six weeks there. Micheal was a class act & perfect gentleman. They didn’t see anything strange or weird going on there either. This was in the late 80s or early 90s by the way.
posted June 29, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Thank you so much for sharing. I’ve been a fan for years and have always believed this about Michael. So many said it was a front but that just seemed too hard to believe. Thanks for sharing your perspective with those of us who never had the honor of knowing him personally. RIP MJJ. He was so much more than the King of Pop. That title limits his greatness as a human being. To me that was equally amazing. Best may we all heal in time.
posted June 29, 2009 at 5:43 pm
This is very heartwarming to read. While I believed a lot of what was written about Michael over the years, I now want to believe that he was truly misunderstood…and I think that is probably the case. I have had many emotions since hearing of Michael’s passing as well. I grew up with him in another way, through his music…we are almost the same age. It’s sad to see what some people are saying about him, people that never knew him, but feel qualified to judge. I hope his children are safe and well-cared for and don’t have to live through what he did…I hope they can somehow have a semblance of a ‘normal’ life. He was a brilliant musician and childlike soul, it’s so unfortunate that he seemed tormented despite his wealth and fame.
posted June 29, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Your words and that of your families will help to change the sterotype of Michael. I’m so glad you are all sharing your touching experiences with him. It is a new beginning. Thank you
posted June 29, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Thank you for this article. Michael Jackson didn’t have a normal childhood, however, he made sure that through his music, humanitarian actions, millions and millions of people all around the world would have one. I don’t think he ever realized how strong of an impact he had in the lives of so many. He was truly a misunderstood soul and because he was always willing to perceive everything from a positive perspective, his heart was broken when those allegation came out.
I truly don’t want to be in the shoes of those people who brought out those false accusations. If they have even the slightest sense of decency or if some sense have come into their minds since then, they will regret their actions till the end of their lives.
He will always be remembered not only as the King of Pop but the Man who touched so many through his soul and good intentions.
R.I.P Michael
posted June 30, 2009 at 2:16 am
nicely written. touching!
posted June 30, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Thank-you for for your beautiful statement on Michael Jackson. I’m still in shock that he is gone from this earth. Having lost my own son my prayers go out to his mother and children but also to everyone of us that was touched by his music. I almost feel as though a part of myself has gone with Michael. It’s hard for me to explain but the pain is very real. It’s so sad that we can’t appreciate someone while they are still here with us. My heart breaks when I think of the pain he went through I only hope now he can really Rest in Peace and we can know that we have lost a truly exceptional person. I feel blessed having grown up being able to enjoy his talent from the beginning.
Thank-you again
posted July 1, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Thank you for this wonderful post.. It has been almost a week since Michael has passed and I still find myself crying, or choking up at a story like this. I never knew him but from the positive I have heard we was a great person and you knew when he entered the room.
We all have made poor decisions or exercised poor judgement in our lives but when its a celebrity its everyones business and everyone and all stories start coming out of the woodwork.
I have a strong faith and truly believe that Michael is at peace now which is something I believe he always wanted.. Was to be left alone by the media and let him do his thing.
I find myself thinking more and more about him since his passing. I listened to his music and was a fan but wasnt one of those obesessive or never went to a concert. Just watched him on TV and if he was anything like on stage I cant imagine what a wonderful person he was.
Thanks again
posted July 2, 2009 at 12:14 am
I saw Sieda Garrett singing “Man In The Mirror” at a church service tribute to Michael on the 30th on T.V. and I started to cry. Thank you for sharing your memories of Michael with us Millika. He seemed like he was such a joy to be around, which I figured he would be. I just wish I had gotten a chance to meet him or even see him. I not only listened to his music but I loved to hear him talk and tried to catch every program pertaining to him, there was something about his voice that captivated me everytime I heard it. He was such a beautiful person to me. I miss him a lot. May God bless and watch over his family and his children, and may he rest in peace.
posted July 14, 2009 at 5:33 pm
here’s my thought on Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson always claimed he was “peter pan”. the anesthesia Propofol is used for knocking people out for surgery. when i had surgery i had a ” o.b.e ” ” out of body experience ” it felt and looked like this photo. i was in the Conner high up on the ceiling looking at the doctors work on my body. then i was sucked back into my body. Michael Jackson learned about this probably on some of the surgeries he had had. he wasn’t using it to get ” high ” so to speak, but to have ” o.b.e,’s ” and be like peter pan. Michael Jackson would have ” o.b.e ‘s ” from taking Propofol and would fly around the room and probably to other places until it was time to come back to his body. just as i have, and many who have been under the anesthesia Propofol. but this time no one was there to revive him, and now hes caught between worlds. he is forever peter pan and now his ghost will be seen walking the land.
jeff woolwine
petroglyphsinthesky