Mother of Jackson’s 12-year-old friend speaks out

[b]Mother of Jackson’s 12-year-old friend speaks out[/b] By Karin Goodwin [color=red][b]Feb 9 2003 [/b][/color] The mother of G—- Arvizo, the 12-year-old who sparked controversy by revealing he shares a bedroom with Michael Jackson, has spoken out in support of the beleaguered star. Janet Arvizo said she is not worried and is happy leaving her children in Jackson’s care. She added: All of my kids have stayed over with Michael. I am comfortable with that. They are happy with him and are hoping to travel the world with him. He is their angel. Surviving on benefits, single mother Arvizo brought up her three children D——, 16, G—-, 12, and S—, 11, in a run-down district of Los Angeles before Jackson lifted the family out of poverty. But it was Jamie Masada, who runs a summer camp for under privileged children which the Arvizos attended, who brought the family and Jackson together. “They were living in a stable with the hay and the horses for a long time,” Masada said. When G—- was diagnosed with cancer his spleen and one of his kidneys were removed and he was given just two weeks to live. Masada then asked him for a wish list of celebrities that he’d most like to meet. Although Jackson came third on the list, after comedians Adam Sandler and Chris Tucker, Masada contacted Quincy Jones who spoke to the singer and arranged a two-day visit for the family to the Neverland ranch. The Arvizos now live in a comfortable flat and own a car paid for by Jackson and G—- refers to the singer as his father, telling his mother: “I am living for my daddy, Michael.” Masada said: “No matter what people may say about Michael Jackson, he came in and has helped this boy survive.” “G—- said they had fun and played games. G—- is not a naive kid. He would have said if something bad had happened.” In last week’s documentary, Living With Michael Jackson, Jackson revealed that G—- and S— had shared his bed while he slept in a sleeping bag on the floor. He said he had also had child star Macaulay Culkin and his brothers and sisters to stay overnight, but said he believed he was doing nothing wrong. “Why can’t you share your bed? The most loving thing to do is to share your bed with someone,” he said in the show. Yet in light of sexual allegations made against Jackson in 1993, when a 13-year-old boy accused him of abuse, many find his revelations worrying. The singer reached a multi-million-dollar out-of-court settlement with the boy’s family and the case remains “open but inactive”, according to Santa Barbara County district attorney Thomas Sneddon. Although Sneddon said last week it was not an offence in California to sleep in the same bed as a minor, the charity Prevent Child Abuse in California is seeking further investigations . President Gloria Gruber said: “In light of the fact that 10 years ago there was a prosecution, which was then dropped, leads us to further concern. “We did actually request the district attorney to launch an investigation and to interview children, as well as parents of children, who do allow Michael to sleep over .” But there has been a rush to support the star. Debbie Rowe, the mother of his first two children, described him as a “wonderful, loving, caring man” who had been misrepresented. British mother Gaynor Morgan, the daughter of former Scotland and Manchester United footballer Willie Morgan, said Jackson had been condemned too quickly. To show her faith in him she plans to visit Neverland later this year with her 10-year-old son . Sales of Michael Jackson’s Greatest Hits have soared by 1000% from last week, according to music experts, suggesting the public are still supporting the singer. Jackson has complained to TV watchdogs about his portrayal in the film and a statement released on his behalf said: “Michael Jackson has never, and would never, treat a child inappropriately or expose them to any harm, and totally refutes any suggestions to the contrary.” 09 February 2003 :nav Source: [url=http://www.sundayherald.com/31284]http://www.sundayherald.com/31284[/url]