Skip to main content.
Religion News Blog is a non-profit service providing academics, religion professionals and other researchers with religion & cult news
ReligionNewsBlog

Religion news articles about religious cults, sects, world religions, and related issues

Navigation:
Web religionnewsblog.com
Home | Site Menu | About RNB | RNB Store | Cult FAQ | Cult Experts | Apologetics Index | Cult Information Search Engine
A Random Image
Michael Jackson:

Jackson, Nation of Islam no role

CNN, USA
Jan. 4, 2003
www.cnn.com

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 5521 • Posted: Tuesday January 6, 2004  

Click here... More articles on this topic: Michael Jackson

Jackson’s lawyer said the singer was in “full control” of his affairs.

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) — Michael Jackson’s attorney denied reports that the Nation of Islam was taking control of the singer’s business, saying that Jackson was in “full control” of his affairs.

“The idea that there is some takeover by the Nation of Islam — someone is spinning you,” lawyer Mark Geragos said in a statement posted Sunday on Jackson’s Web site.

Jackson, 45, is free on $3 million bail after prosecutors in Santa Barbara County, California, charged him with child molestation in December. He faces seven counts of child molestation involving a boy under 14 and two counts of administering “an intoxicating agent” to a minor in the same case.

Sources close to the situation told CNN last week that the Nation of Islam, a Chicago-based African-American Muslim separatist group, was playing a significant and critical role in Jackson’s affairs. The sources said Leonard Muhammad, the chief of staff and son-in-law of the Nation of Islam’s founder, Louis Farrakhan, set up Jackson’s recent interview on the CBS 60 Minutes program and was working out of Geragos’ office.

In addition, Muhammad could be seen standing behind Geragos at a news conference the attorney called to respond to the charges. But the Nation of Islam has said it has “no official business or professional relationship” with Jackson.

Spokesman quits over ’strategic differences’

Another statement from Jackson’s camp Sunday disputed the explanation issued by former Jackson spokesman Stuart Backerman for his resignation last week.

Backerman said he quit because of “strategic differences” with Jackson’s advisers.

“I resigned and in no way was I fired,” Backerman said. “I resigned because I lost confidence in the way things were going. However, my resignation has not changed my tremendous support and love for Michael Jackson. I believe he is innocent of these molestation charges and that will be proved.”

But current Jackson publicist Kevin McLin said Backerman was dismissed after making an unauthorized statement to reporters outside a December 20 party for family and friends at Jackson’s Neverland ranch.

“Both Mr. Backerman and I agreed not to make any statements to the press without authorization by Mr. Geragos,” said McLin, who was present at the time Backerman made those comments. “Mr. Backerman spoke to the press without that authorization and was terminated for refusing to acknowledge that agreement.”

CNN Correspondent Miguel Marquez contributed to this report.



Religion News Blog RSS feed Subscribe: Religion News Blog RSS feed  |  Religion News Blog RSS feed Subscribe by topic: Michael Jackson
more cult news articlemore religion news More articles about Michael Jackson

Like this story?

Today's Most Popular Articles

Share this

To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:




Article and Site Tools

» PermaLink to: Jackson, Nation of Islam no role
   Need a shorter link? You can remove everything after the final /
» More news articles + news archive on Michael Jackson
» More religion and cult news

Subscribe (RSS / Email) [What is RSS?]
» RSS News Feed - All Topics: Religion News Blog RSS Feed
» RSS News Feed - Single Topic: Michael Jackson
» Headlines by Email: Daily Religion News Blog Headlines

More Article Tools
• Bookmark / Tag: Del.icio.us
• Bookmark / Tag: Furl
Save this article
Email this article
Print this article [Temporarily out of order]

More Information
Books about Michael Jackson
Relevant books (and other goodies)

more religion news aboutmore Religion News Blog articles about

About Religion News Blog
Religion News Blog (RNB), published by Apologetics Index, highlights news items and other resources on world religions, cults, religious sects, alternative religions and related issues. RNB's non-profit news clipping service is used by - among others - Christian apologists, countercult professionals, anticult organizations, cult experts, teachers, religion professionals, reporters and other researchers.

Home
Latest Headlines
RSS news feed [?]
Headlines by Email
News Trackers
Free content for your site
About RNB
Privacy Policy
Contact RNB
Link to RNB
Advertise on RNB
Apologetics Index
Cult FAQ
Apologetics Search Engine
CounterCult Search Engine