Anti-Semitism
Photo: Reuters
Apparently not very fond of Jews. Jackson Photo: Reuters
Michael Jackson: Jews are like leeches
King of Pop allegedly blasts Jews on message recorded on former adviser's voice mail; Anti-Defamation League: He has anti-Semitic streak
Ynet
Michael Jackson may be fond of children, but he is apparently not very fond of Jews, according to an audiotape aired Tuesday on ABC's "Good Morning America" show.
The audiotape contains a message allegedly recorded by Jackson two years ago on the voice mail of his former adviser Dieter Wiesner.
Referring to Jews, Jackson is heard saying that "they're like leeches…I'm so tired of it…They start out the most popular person in the world, make a lot of money, big house, cars and everything. End up penniless. It is a conspiracy. The Jews do it on purpose."
According to the New York Post, one day before the audiotape was published Wiesner filed a USD 64 million lawsuit against Jackson for breaching a contract and fraud.
This is allegedly not Jackson's first anti-Semitic remark. His song "They don’t care about us" includes the words "Jew me/Sue me/Everybody do me/Kick me/Kike me."
The ABC network reported that it did not verify with certainty that the voice heard on the tape is in fact Jackson's. His lawyers refused to respond.
The Anti-Defamation League's National Director Abraham H. Foxman said in response that "Michael Jackson has an anti-Semitic streak, and hasn't learned from his past mistakes, including the use of anti-Semitic epithets in a 1995 song he wrote."
"It seems every time he has a problem in his life, he blames it on Jews. It is sad that Jackson is infected with classically stereotypical ideas of Jews as all-powerful, money-grubbing and manipulative," Foxman said in a statement.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340 ... 56,00.html
Michael Jackson going Muslim?
American pop icon announces intention to convert to Islam, according to sources in Bahrain
Roee Nahmias
Does this explain the anti-Semitic comments? American pop star Michael Jackson has officially announced that he has been following the five tenets of Islam and intends to convert to Islam, according to a report on the website of Arab-Israeli newspaper Panorama.
According to the report, Jackson’s announcement noted he is moving to Bahrain and has purchased some real-estate on an artificial island there. The singer said he decided to convert to Islam because he is convinced it is the closest religion to his personal beliefs.
Jackson also noted he intends to soon move all his assets and his studio from the U.S. to Bahrain, and expressed his hope to be rid of various legal troubles and enjoy the kind of freedom he says he does not have in America.
Notably, if the reports are correct Jackson would not be the first member of his family to make the move to Islam. His brother, Jermaine, who moved to the Gulf nation of Dubai, is also a convert.
According to the sources, Jermaine was the one to provide his famous brother with books about Islam and encouraged him to convert. The report says the pop star read the books and even added his comments on some pages.
Jackson was the center of recent controversy after it was reported that he referred to Jews as “leechesâ€Â