The last time I spoke to my friend Michael Jackson was about a month ago, 3 weeks before his shocking death. He had called me late one night to ask about another of my close friends who he had read about in the news. Laura Ling, a former colleague and friend, was detained originally by North Korean border guards along with her colleague Euna Lee on March 17th. Since then, they have been imprisoned, had very little contact with their families or western officials, and endured a secretive trial at which they were sentenced to twelve years hard labor. At this present moment, it is unclear where Laura and Euna are – whether they remain in a government guesthouse where they were originally held, in a hospital (due to medical problems for both of them), or moved to the infamous North Korean labor camps that many do not survive.
Michael had read some of the details regarding Laura and Euna’s predicament. As was often the case with him and global events he read about – from famine in Africa to victims of natural disasters in far off countries, to orphans created by wars – he felt a deep sense of empathy for Laura and Euna. When I shared with him that Euna had a four-year-old daughter, he was even more anguished.
He asked me whether I had had any contact with Laura. I told him I had written her a few letters and had been assured they were getting through. Outside of that, her own family had only heard from her twice – brief monitored phonecalls – in the over three months they had been imprisoned. When I told him that, Michael paused.
“Do you think,” he said hesitantly, “that the leader of North Korea could be a fan of mine?”
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- Gotham Chopra
Please Sign the Petition for Amnesty for Laura Ling and Euna Lee
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posted July 9, 2009 at 4:25 pm
It would be awesome if Kim Jong II could do that – which also means if he was reading belief-net though! Reading about Michael’s wish to help the girls got me emotional and teary.. our society has become so negative that we are just not ready to believe someone grown up could still keep their innocence.. and that’s really sad..
posted July 9, 2009 at 4:46 pm
I agree, Kavita. I think MJ was a very innocent and good soul. Like they say…only the good die young. Bless Michael’s heart.
posted July 9, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Gotham, you really should be ashamed of yourself…
posted July 9, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Michael said he had seen some pictures on the internet of the Dear Leader. “You’know, he wears jackets like mine.”
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lol this made my day, thank you.
posted July 9, 2009 at 10:16 pm
That’s beautiful. He was, without a doubt, a beautiful person.
posted July 9, 2009 at 10:48 pm
I humbly write my thoughts, very heavy hearted, as I am still deeply sorrowed by his death.
I understand the intention of the story but there is no evidence whatsoever that this story ever happened, or if it did, there isn’t any evidence if he wanted his remarks made public.
Sadly, very sadly, Mr. Michael Jackson is not here with us anymore to confirm or dismiss stories. He once said (and I quote from a video taped interview) “If you do not hear it from my lips, don’t believe it”.
I said I understand the intention of the story, but unfortunately stories like this are just feeding and creating new evil, serving tabloids on a silver plate. (check TMZ. where Mr. Jackson is being ridiculed once again). I cannot help but feel sad.
What is the point in telling stories like this, after the wonderful Memorial, if not for personal gain.
How many of his “friends” will we see cashing on blogs, books, interviews or movie deals. How many, and who will they be.
In Mr. Jackson’s case, perhaps silence, is the only proof of friendship there will ever be.
posted July 9, 2009 at 10:52 pm
and I don’t understand why Gotham should be ashamed of Himself….as Szandi seems to think…. People who have limited minds don’t accomplish anything in their lifetime. I think that anything and everything should be tought about to help 2 innocent young ladies get out of Korea and its dictature !!!
Gotham : Actions speak more than words and anything that can be done to help should be tried. What is there to lose ? You are not naïve to believe and to have hopes.
I sure hope that your visualization comes through.
posted July 9, 2009 at 11:38 pm
You call yourself a friend? A real friend would not be on all the TV shows he can get on talking trash and posting blogs like this in the wake of a true friends death. You are part of the problem.
posted July 10, 2009 at 12:00 am
The reason Gotham should be ashamed of himself is because stories like this present Micheal Jackson as not only a naive, but stupid person. Just read again what Gotham is writing here.
“Please,” Michael responded without hesitantly, “because maybe if he was a fan, I could help get those girls home.”
I explained to Michael that there were larger geo-politics involved, nuclear programs, a new administration trying to assert its foreign policy strategy (Obama), and another one in NK possibly going through some sort of transference of power.
“Yeah,” Michael said wistfully, “but if someone wants to do something good, they just can. They don’t really need to worry about all that other stuff.”
And that was really the end of that conversation.”
I agree with Kareen. After reading stories like this, Michael Jackson will be ridiculed again. Very sad.
He was way too often made fun of, his comments were taken out of context and interviews were edited to make him look ignorant, stupid, and weird. Just think about the famous Bashir documentary, or of the many other interviews, stories, etc…
Just the other day I came across an interview with Geraldo made in 2005, where the first time (or maybe only time) I saw him as he really was. A smart, kind and really talented human being. Check it out, it is on you-tube.
posted July 10, 2009 at 12:10 am
I agree, I think this was written in a way to make Jackson appear to be totally naive. What purpose does it serve? Do you hope Kim Jong reads this perhaps? I think Jackson’s so called friends and hangers on need to take a cold hard look at themselves. A friend would never write about them in the way you have.
Let him rest in peace and just remember everything that is written about him will be googled by his children.
posted July 10, 2009 at 1:12 am
People…”but if someone wants to do something good, they just can. They don’t really need to worry about all that other stuff” is a profoundly wise comment coming from a very capable individual that understood extremely well the power of celebrity. Not naive at all! And Chopra’s choice to use this particular conversation with his friend to try to gain influence to free his other friend(s) from certain pain is both honorable and would be what M.J. would want him to do. I’d bet KJII was a fan of M.J. and Michael knew it! Brilliant! KJII should honor this appeal from Chopra and do it in honor of M.J.’s legacy!
posted July 11, 2009 at 12:56 am
The image of him dangling his child out that third story building just keeps popping up in my mind…….
What level headed parent does that?
He was a great artist and we can’t take that away from him. Although its been over twenty years I think since he did any new stuff.
But his actions were reckless and he was an extremely odd person.
Now after his death we are trying to find someone to blame, his family, friends, doctors…..what about Jackson? Did he play any part of his own demise?
posted July 11, 2009 at 9:26 am
This is tabloid-like info, now appearing on CNN
Wow CNN, what have you become?
featuring a friend that profits from his association to Michael
How shameful
What a horrible example of behavior, this is not frienship Gotham, and I say this with an open mind.
posted July 11, 2009 at 9:56 am
This is tabloid-like info, now appearing on CNN
Wow CNN, what have you become?
featuring a friend that profits from his association to Michael
How shameful
What a horrible example of behavior, this is not friendship Gotham, and I say this with an open mind.
posted July 11, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Please go away Gotham. Your never-ending stories regarding MJ are disturbing. How can such a so called friend continue to air such memories and “stories” to the public. You should be ashamed of yourself. If MJ was such a good friend to you, keep the memories dear and near to yourself and his family. Your 15 minutes of fame are up.
posted July 16, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Hey!Deepak i would like to know howare you now,i now this is so hard,i so sad cause Michael is death,but how are you now?cause i’m so depressive
posted August 4, 2009 at 8:09 pm
churchmouse it would be in your best interest to be quiet.
posted August 9, 2009 at 9:05 am
Actually Kim Jong is in fact a BIG MICHAEL JACKSON fan. Many articles about Kim Jong have attested to this. But then again, WHO IN THE WORLD ISN’T A MICHAEL JACKSON FAN anyway??? Even those who say they aren’t would probably get so overwhelmed anyway if Michael Jackson was in front of them!
The article is actually endearing, Michael knew his fans very well to know who is and who isnt loving his music. Michael is a great person that the world has lost because of all the hatred people threw at him just because he was pure, unconventional and different in his views and ways. Its a tragedy, not really for Michael but for us, the world has lost such a great artist and humanitarian. As Maya Angelou put it, we had him and we let him slip away like this.
The negative sensationalism that the media did to him and are still doing to him and his family should be written off as a HEINOUS CRIME to the world.
Peace be with Michael. He deserves it so much-
posted August 12, 2009 at 5:11 am
THANK YOU GOTHAM!!!!!!!!!!! Finally we hear human beings like you and your father and Stevie Wonder who bring Michael Jackson’s humanity, and his good intentions to our attention. All the attacks and disrespect against him are just a reflection of the world we live in. I really enjoyed the sweet offer from Michael to help the reporters – there is a purity in his wanting to help that way. I also enjoyed your father mentioning that Michael used to read Sufi poetry and Rabindranath Tagore, this last poet two weeks before he left us. May we all learn to accept and embrace differences, to be compassionate when somebody hurts like Michael, not to label others like they labeled him. We can learn from this. And I hope others discover the subtlety and beauty and mystery and wonderment in Michael’s work as I did.