LONDON, Dec. 22, 2008

Michael Jackson Fighting For His Life?

Biographer Tells British Tabloid Michael Jackson Suffering From Rare Lung Ailment

    • Pop star Michael Jackson poses on the red carpet during the RainbowPUSH Coalition Los Angeles 10th annual awards Nov. 8, 2007, in Los Angeles. Photo

      Pop star Michael Jackson poses on the red carpet during the RainbowPUSH Coalition Los Angeles 10th annual awards Nov. 8, 2007, in Los Angeles.  (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok, file)

    • Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa arrives at the High Court in London, Tuesday Nov. 18, 2008. Photo

      Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa arrives at the High Court in London, Tuesday Nov. 18, 2008.  (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

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(CBS)  As one journalist recently put it, "rumors are all anyone hears about Michael Jackson these days," and the current claim comes from a writer working on a Jackson biography. CBS News correspondent Richard Roth has the report.

Quoted in Britain's Daily Express, the writer says Jackson may now be fighting for his life - ill with a rare lung condition, in need of a transplant, but too weak to undergo surgery.

There's no public comment from Jackson's official spokeswoman. The singer's brother has simply said it's not a good time, and that Jackson's not doing so well.

Twenty-six years after the release of "Thriller," it's still the best-selling record of all time. But Jackson long ago lost his stature as the King of Pop.

"He's the ultimate showman - or was," says show business commentator Neil Sean. "I think we're talking in the league of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley; he will go down as one of those people, but there's a sad sort of tinge because what people remember are the court cases, the ill-advised publicity deals."

...And the oddities. The facemask was always one hint he was worried about his health. The current claim is that his lung condition has left him so weak he can barely speak.

Acquitted at his trial three years ago of accusations of child abuse, Jackson's never shaken whispered charges of drug or alcohol abuse.

Money problems forced him out of his private "Neverland" theme park, where he used to play with a chimpanzee named Bubbles.

But ill health was said to be the reason he avoided a recent court date in a big money lawsuit. Now, the claim is that excuse was legitimate.

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Add a Comment See all 120 Comments
by wl7bzh December 22, 2008 6:47 AM PST
And should he die, the merchandisers will wait for what amounts as a respectable time to make a fortune off of his glory days-the time when he was young and popular.

Anyone actually remember the final years of Elvis Pressley? Nope, you just see the glory days advertised.
Reply to this comment
by barbaraf4 December 22, 2008 6:57 AM PST
He had it all and now he is nothing but a footnote. I worry about his children.
Reply to this comment
by akili6 December 22, 2008 7:17 AM PST
Michael Jackson is, and always will be, the greatest singer of all time!

Sinatra and Elvis come in at a distant second...

Reply to this comment
by pirmin3 December 22, 2008 7:39 AM PST
A laying on of hands is required to save this pervert.
Reply to this comment
by gowens1 December 22, 2008 7:56 AM PST
he''ll soon be with Ala, with his 76 virgin little boys
Reply to this comment
by ofbyfor3 December 22, 2008 7:57 AM PST
ummm...who cares?
Reply to this comment
by bobgee_1999 December 22, 2008 8:10 AM PST
Jackson was never a singer, he was a hype artist, a (somewhat) male Madonna. People who liked him bought the hype, they didn''t care how talented (or not) he was. They were "fans" in the true sense of the word: fanatics -- the same kind of dorks who bought in to KISS, and listen to hip-hop today.
Reply to this comment
by Tebit Kwenti December 22, 2008 8:19 AM PST
Micheal WILL NOT DIE, haters go to hell he is the king of pop and nothing less.There is no ailment above God.It is just the matter of time and he will be fine.
Reply to this comment
by gowens1 December 22, 2008 8:31 AM PST
no the king is ELvis, Jackson is a pedofile thats all he''ll ever be and he''ll pay for that
Reply to this comment
by claytonantho December 22, 2008 8:31 AM PST
Who cares??? Great when he was younger and was somewhat still normal. Great music. But since the early 1990s this alien looking has-been acts and looks like he has come from Mars.
Reply to this comment
by hitoyou11 December 22, 2008 8:32 AM PST
He is not, and never will be remanber as one of the Frank Sinatra or Elvis Presley. Michael Jackson could not even stand in the same building as these two. I see not only is Neil Sean a idiot so is someone poating on here. Jackson is not even in the top 50.
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by hitoyou11 December 22, 2008 8:33 AM PST
Akili6: seeing how you kmnow nothing about any thing, Would you please not talk any move. It makes you look like a real "IDIOT"
Reply to this comment
by annette3332 December 22, 2008 8:54 AM PST
Those people who write biography about people think they know it all? where do they get their information from? and people buys the book and believed the trash. They dont have anything better to do than to trash down a star.
Reply to this comment
by kristin1228 December 22, 2008 9:09 AM PST
God''s way of punishing child molesters since the screwed up justice system in this country obviously doesn''t work. Poor michael...yeah right, rot in hell!
Reply to this comment
by thisandthat1 December 22, 2008 9:10 AM PST
Fighting for his life? YEAH, right! He loves his status as the head drama queen and he loves the sympathy ... the guy is nuts!
Reply to this comment
by aerodog December 22, 2008 9:20 AM PST
He''s got to be the most pathetic being ever. Weird, mentally ill, child molestor/pedofile - and at one time very, very talented. I liked him better when he was a black man. He''s just pathetic and I''m not the least bit surprised that this is the manner of his exit.
Reply to this comment
by hunterdon6 December 22, 2008 9:24 AM PST
There are millions of people around the world that are sick. Mike Jackson is nothing more than one of these people. His sickness, whatever it is, shouldn''t make the news headlines.
Reply to this comment
by gatshk December 22, 2008 9:35 AM PST
Hityou11; you have got to be kidding. Calling other posters morons when your slaughter of the english language is laughable. Try to read a book or buy a dictionary, then maybe you won''t be the biggest MORON on this site.
Reply to this comment
by aerodog December 22, 2008 9:37 AM PST
thedarkgod2: Man, you''re darker than you think. What''s with the 904s, 804s and 704s? Michael was good in his short day, but he''ll never compare to Elvis. At least Elvis never had an ugly past in court where children are concerned. Are you kidding me?? You''d idolize someone that has a history of ''messing'' with little children over Elvis the Pelvis? If so, you and Michael are in the same sick category.
Reply to this comment
by wl7bzh December 22, 2008 9:50 AM PST
White cowards, the only people who STEAL works from people and claim it was theirs. No other group does that. WEAK B.A.S.T.A.R.D.S!

Posted by thedarkgod2 at 09:32 AM : Dec 22, 2008

I see we have another honor graduate of the Jessie Jackson/Al Sharpton school of charm.
Reply to this comment
by December 22, 2008 9:51 AM PST
I''ve always liked this synopsis of Michaels life and career: "Only in America could poor black boy grow up to be an rich white woman." Hey, the guy had talent but what he became as a result of his millions is very, very weird. Heard his nose fell off from too many surgery''s and it just rotted away....wouldn''t doubt that one at all....just how weird can you possibly get? and a pedophile to boot.
Reply to this comment
by fredflinsto2 December 22, 2008 9:52 AM PST
He (she) is fighting desperately for her life, like a kiiten fighting for some cat-nip. Hope she loses the kitten-fight
Reply to this comment
by trapbreaking December 22, 2008 9:56 AM PST
Jackson, O.J. Packman, Bond, Vick, all just folks that couldn''t handle success and wealth.
Reply to this comment
by wl7bzh December 22, 2008 9:57 AM PST
Is Mike strange, yes, but so would you if ALL YOUR LIFE you were forced to be a man as a child! Remember, forget what the whites say on T.V., remember, here is a kid (3yrs old) who grow up in a supremely racist society and has seen some grusome things while being shipped from hotel to hotel to work! No school yard friends and after school hangouts for this one! Don4t let your experience, perhaps growing up in the 804s compare growing up in the South and West in the 604s blind you!

Posted by thedarkgod2 at 09:52 AM : Dec 22, 2008

You appear to be over reacting-It is Michael Jackson''s actions that you''re defending isn''t it cupcake?
Reply to this comment
by k9sr4me-2009 December 22, 2008 10:04 AM PST
thedarkgod2

you''re getting darker and darker - i can hardly see you - which is a good thing. you''re super weird like your idol michael (i love sleeping with children) jackson.
Reply to this comment
by wl7bzh December 22, 2008 10:06 AM PST


Next thing you will say is that every black person on Death Row killed someone or deserves to be there, am I right? Even if DNA says otherwise.

Posted by thedarkgod2 at 10:01 AM : Dec 22, 2008

No, I''m afraid you''re the only person on this blog taking this thing seriously. If you could see yourself as the rest of the world sees you-ROTFLMAO

Bye-Bye Nutjob

Reply to this comment
by matrixrx2003 December 22, 2008 10:07 AM PST
Even with all the drama that Michael Jackson has gone thru he is an IDIOT.

I know a lot of people would not see him but a lot of people would like to see him in concert if he put on a great show. Michael Jackson could be selling out Las Vegas 3 times a week and making millions, but he is wasting his life away and threw everyting away he had back in the 80s and early 90s, he had everything !
Reply to this comment
by ohplease6 December 22, 2008 10:11 AM PST
darkgod2, who is the racist? i have lived througn the civil rights movement. i walked the walk, not just talked the talk. the focus of the movement was to bring people together, not tear them apart. michal jackson has his own problems. your hate doesn''t help. get over it. give peace a chance. we shall overcome hate.
Reply to this comment
by mytoosense December 22, 2008 10:12 AM PST
Michael Jackson is the modern Frankenstein Monster.

He is a failed medical experiment based on the notion that you can create a white man out of the body parts of a black man.

He is not to be trusted with children regardless of whether there is a well near by.

He is constantly chased by crowds of poperotsy with cameras instead of tourches.

Did I miss anything?

Reply to this comment
by smithtyler2 December 22, 2008 10:19 AM PST
thedarkgod2 - Why can''t you see you''re just as sick as MJ?? All these comments pointing to negativity against you can''t all be wrong. Wake up and smell. . . .something, anything man - you''re pathetic and your reasoning for any of your posts is wacko, like Jacko.
Reply to this comment
by briannorwood December 22, 2008 10:20 AM PST
I can''t help but feel sorry for the tragedy that is Michael Jackson. Clearly, the man is severely mentally ill. And despite all his success, his life must be a living hell.
Reply to this comment
by tscc2 December 22, 2008 10:26 AM PST
thedarkgod2 You are wrong, most molesters get away with it. Extortion is wrong but molestation is way worse. Typical blame the victim mentality.
Reply to this comment
by smithtyler2 December 22, 2008 10:31 AM PST
thedarkgod2 - uh oh, time to take your happy pill - you''re getting a case of the @ss. You have my sympathy NUTJOB NUTJOB NUTJOB NUTJOB. And wow, you''re so very easy to get riled up!! Don''t you see we are all enjoying the h.ell outta this? And you''re falling for it - hook, line and sinker!!! LMFAO!!
Reply to this comment
by MIpapaof4 December 22, 2008 10:33 AM PST
I have only one question and it is, who really cares? He''s a waste of good space as well as bad.
Reply to this comment
by wl7bzh December 22, 2008 10:35 AM PST
DG appears to have a fixation with child molestation.

It may have something to do with his momma.
Reply to this comment
by aerodog December 22, 2008 10:38 AM PST
thedarkgod2: THE HOOK IN YOUR MOUTH IS SHOWING - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA - WHAT AN IDIOT YOU ARE.
Reply to this comment
by mswolfestock December 22, 2008 10:44 AM PST
Jacko is Whacko,

And he''s hideously deformed, no better than some kind of side show freak. I''ll never understand why he had problems with his looks . . . .. . such problems that he''s become a freak.

It''s just really, really sad. Fame and fortune ruined him. And he''s got no cred, no respect.
Reply to this comment
by trapbreaking December 22, 2008 10:48 AM PST
Posted by thedarkgod2

You saying that Michael Jackson is black? Have you looked at the picture above?

.
Reply to this comment
by ofbyfor3 December 22, 2008 10:50 AM PST
LIKE MMA/UFC, JUST KEEP THEM COMING AND I WILL JUST KEEP KNOCKING THEM THE F... OUT!

Posted by thedarkgod2 at 10:42 AM : Dec 22, 2008

Oh, for heaven''s sake! Stop taking the criticism of ONE man (who happens to be black--or used to be, anyway) as if it were intended to be an indictment of ALL black people. It''s not meant that way and if you could get that chip off your shoulder, you''d see that.
Reply to this comment
by ofbyfor3 December 22, 2008 10:56 AM PST
WHY? FEEL GUILTY ABOUT SOMETHING...WHATS THAT I HEAR TINGLING....

Posted by thedarkgod2 at 10:53 AM : Dec 22, 2008

No, I don''t. Nice try. Next time, try being reasonable and coming up with at least an attempt at an intelligent response.

What you hear is the echo of the empty space between your ears, not to mention your seething hatred.
Reply to this comment
by ofbyfor3 December 22, 2008 11:13 AM PST
Typical white trash c.r.a.p. Angry, not at all. How could I be when it is 5:05 in the afternoon, it is nice out and I am having a nice cold beer in the center of Madrid, Spain? No, love I am chilling.

But then again I guess you are in a cultural city learning something new?


Posted by thedarkgod2 at 11:06 AM : Dec 22, 2008

All I said was stop taking criticism of ONE black man so personally as an indictment of all blacks because it''s not meant that way. All you could do is respond with rudeness. And then you want to call me names as well.

I''ll pit my education against yours any day. And yes, I AM in a cultural city that happens to be the home to one of the best Universities in the world.

Stop being so defensive; people might actually be willing to listen to what you have to say if you knocked that chip off your shoulder.
Reply to this comment
by wl7bzh December 22, 2008 11:31 AM PST
Hey gang,

it''s gotten obvious what DG wants-the white man''s attention. Let''s just not respond to his comments.
Reply to this comment
by rf35 December 22, 2008 11:34 AM PST
DON''T FEED THE TROLL!
Reply to this comment
by trapbreaking December 22, 2008 11:49 AM PST
Maybe the world will be a little safer for young boys this Christmas now that Michael is invalid.

I don''t know what all this black talk is about. Michael has been trying to become white for 20 years, and now looks like the Joker - Kind of a reverse mistrial man.
Reply to this comment
by wl7bzh December 22, 2008 11:51 AM PST
Posted by trapbreaking at 11:49 AM : Dec 22, 2008

Good observation-Just don''t feed the troll.
Reply to this comment
by mytoosense December 22, 2008 11:53 AM PST
Michael Jackson is a living (barely) example of what a person will do to get out of Gary, Indiana.
Reply to this comment
by qbeeluv December 22, 2008 12:14 PM PST
Michael Jackson is truly one of the most talented loving, generous men to ever grace this planet and all your ISH posted here clearly shows your ignorance and hate - Michael is still above it all - I doubt these rumors are true but if they are _ I send my prayers and well wishes to Michael and his children _ You people show lack of compassion and stupidity with your hate and bashing - God bless Michael Jackson and forgive you all _ MERRY CHRISTMAS
Reply to this comment
by ofbyfor3 December 22, 2008 12:19 PM PST
YES EVERYONE.....BE VERY AFRAID....VERY AFRAID....

OR HE MAY EVEN GET YOU IN YOUR SLEEP..YOUR NIGHTMARES!

AHHHHHH....DO I HEAR SCREAMING??????????????????

Posted by thedarkgod2 at 11:55 AM : Dec 22, 2008

Ironic that someone who is writing in all caps accuses others of screaming.
Reply to this comment
by a_witness-2009 December 22, 2008 12:19 PM PST
Let the man go in peace. He made some bad choices, but who hasn''t. Here is a stone.
Reply to this comment
by easeup-2009 December 22, 2008 12:20 PM PST
What do Michael Jackson & K-Mart have in common?





They both have boys underwear half off.
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