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Jackson Aide: He Took Drugs in Bid to Avoid London Shows

Singer wanted trip to hospital but overdid it

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 30, 2009 10:03 PM CDT

(Newser) – A confidante of Michael Jackson says the singer may have inadvertently triggered his own death by purposely taking an overdose of prescription drugs so he'd end up in the hospital and be excused from some of his London tour dates, reports Gerald Posner of the Daily Beast. “Like a child who doesn’t want to go to school, Michael thought he could get away from his obligations if he had a ‘note from the doctor,'" says the anonymous confidante.

The scheme may be why Jackson asked his doctor to stay overnight—to help him if something went wrong. Jackson had been angry that he had to perform 50 shows, a number necessitated by his disastrous finances, though he seemed to have trouble grasping just how bad they were. He thought he could get the number of shows reduced through a "medical escape clause," writes Posner, but he "wound up accidentally overdosing instead."

Michael Jackson, in 2005.
Michael Jackson, in 2005.   (AP Photo/Michael A. Mariant, file)
Fans sing and dance to the music of Michael Jackson during a tribute at Harlem's Apollo Theatre Tuesday.
Fans sing and dance to the music of Michael Jackson during a tribute at Harlem's Apollo Theatre Tuesday.   (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Film director Spike Lee, left, speaks as Rev. Al Sharpton looks on during a tribute to Michael Jackson at Harlem's Apollo Theatre Tuesday.
Film director Spike Lee, left, speaks as Rev. Al Sharpton looks on during a tribute to Michael Jackson at Harlem's Apollo Theatre Tuesday.   (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
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It’s also clear, based on a half-dozen sources in Jackson’s business and financial entourage, that Jackson desperately wanted out of the commitment to 50 concerts, which were to be held at London’s O2 Arena. - Gerald Posner, Daily Beast

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
Cat-Lover
Jul 1, 2009 10:31 AM CDT
Sounds like a nice way to go........ If one's looking for one.
Jojo
Jul 1, 2009 9:43 AM CDT
Also, since Perez was being blasted world wide for what he wrote, for you to say "oh I'm just repeating what Perez "REPORTED" - well if the world blasted him for saying, surely you can see why others would wonder what the hell you are doing?
Jojo
Jul 1, 2009 9:41 AM CDT
Laugh you are missing the point - Perez will NEVER be right for what he said. Perez is so conceited, immature, bitter, and ignorant - that when someone begins reporting the situation with Michael is "very serious" (as TMZ was reporting) Perez decided to announce to the world - HAHA THIS IS PROBABLY FAKE. He has absolutely no class, no common sense, and no tact. He reported (and claimed it was FACT) that Castro had died. He posts one day and says that someone's new song is "horrible" - then the very next day he posts and says he loves it. He has more mental issues as well as appearing to have wild mood swings. He has (more than once) making pedo-type comments on his site. I think unless you are a 15 year old emo girl, or someone just totally blind to the real world, Perez has become bad news. Mentioning him just sets people off. The end.

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