Year: 2009

{xtypo_dropcap}D{/xtypo_dropcap}espite the way their own network has participated in adding dubious allegations into the mix, a panel on Larry King Live last night criticized the media coverage surrounding Michael Jackson’s passing.

Those who complain about the amount of coverage given to Jackson’s death are missing the point. It is not the amount of coverage but rather the type of coverage which is drawing the ire of fan and non-fan alike.

Much of the story right now is unknown. The only fact we know for sure is that 50 year old Michael Jackson is no longer walking the earth. Everything else is total conjecture laced with rumors wrapped in unfounded nonsense.

And why is the tv coverage saturated with shrill harpies, hangers-on, and those who want to jumpstart their careers by entering into the fray with a bunch of hateful accusations seemingly pulled directly out of their arse?  I know that last description sounds like Gerald Posner but stay with me for a minute.

Attorney Mark Geragos who represented Michael Jackson for about 18 months after Jackson was falsely accused of molestation in 2003 told CNN’s Larry King he saw no evidence of prescription pill abuse.

Geragos appeared on Larry King Live July 10 calling Jackson “always engaged in his defense.”

“I didn’t see any evidence of what’s almost become I think a way a caricature of who he was,” Geragos said.

Geragos called a lot of the Jackson banter “speculation” saying, “I think a lot of it is speculation and I’m not so sure that a lot of the people who are out there saying certain things are actually telling the truth as they know it.”

Michael Jackson’s former publicist Raymone Bain appeared on Access Hollywood July 9 to speak to some of the false and unsubstantiated rumors floating around about the singer’s death.

Bain said she saw nothing amiss with Jackson when she was around him.

“No. Absolutely not. Nothing. Absolutely not. And if we had, we would have sought some kind of assistance or/and we would have immediately contacted his family about that,” Bain told AH’s Billy Bush.

LA Police Chief Bill Bratton has not ruled out homicide in the death of Michael Jackson.

In an interview Thursday the chief said, “Are we dealing with homicide? Are we dealing with an accidental overdose?  What are we dealing with?  So as we are standing here speaking, I can tell you, I don’t have that information.”

At this late date, the fact that they haven’t ruled out homicide may be quite telling. At this point, anything can happen. If toxicology reports are contradictory to the rumors and speculation about why Jackson died, the police would be stupid to rule anything out at this point.

Dr. Arnold Klein, the dermatologist treating Michael Jackson,  has confirmed that Jackson not only had vitiligo but he also had a difficult disorder called Lupus.

Klein appeared on ABC and later Larry King Live to discuss a number of issues. He flat-out slapped down the rumor that Jackson was bleaching his skin and even laid a bombshell about former Jackson “friend” Uri Geller’s connection to Martin Bashir. More on that one in the days to come.

The doctor’s revelations come after he became the target of tabloids (glorified tabloids and otherwise)  looking for reasons (real or not) to fuel speculation about Jackson’s death.

Among other things, Klein told King he diagnosed Jackson with Lupus after a friend of Jackson’s recommended him.

“I said ‘you have Lupus erythematosus’, ” Klein said. “Lupus yet. He had a butterfly rash and he also had severe crusting on the anterior portion of his scalp.”