Joe Jackson, Alleged Abuse and Michael

A Look at Strained Relationship Between King of Pop and His Father

(CBS)  One of the few members of the Jackson family heard from since Michael's death is his father, Joe.

Joe was the one who brought Michael into show business, but it came at a price. Allegations of mistreatment of the pop star as a child hounded Joe, leading to a strained relationship between the two men. Yet, Joe's been doing most of the talking since Michael died.

In 1968, Michael Jackson debuted as a member of "The Jackson 5" -- and his father was the driving force behind his kids' overwhelming success.

CBS News consultant and Jackson biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli told CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy on "The Early Show" Tuesday, "There were times when Michael was a kid, and Joseph was a bully, and (it's) safe to say it was probably abusive."

But Joe denies the claim.

"I never beat him," Joe is quoted as saying. "I whipped him with a stick and a belt. I never beat him. You beat someone with a stick."

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The allegations, Tracy reported, are part of a bizarre and tense relationship between the two men.

But Michael's star rose far beyond his father's arm with albums such as "Off the Wall" and "Thriller."

And, Tracy said, Michael pushed his father further away. But when Michael was accused of child molestation, Joe showed up with him in court in 2005.

Perhaps a sign the two had made amends?

People who knew Jackson, Tracy reported, say Michael turned a corner with Joe, when Michael himself became a father of three.

"I think Michael began to realize that, even though Joe did many of the wrong things," Taraborrelli said, "perhaps he did them for the right reasons."

But even in death, Tracy said, their strange bond was on display yet again. Joe promoted a new music company during a news conference on his son's death, and Michael excluded his father from his estate in what's thought to be his final will.

[Teena65]

"I never beat him," Joe is quoted as saying. "I whipped him with a stick and a belt. I never beat him. You beat someone with a stick."

Really Joe? He might as well have said "I didn't beat him; I TORTURED him."

I had heard when he was on trial in 2005, Michael Jackson was using the bathroom; his father had to stand in line and wait with a crowd of other people because he was not permitted to be anywhere near MJ. But, no issues there....

[webspinners]

I feel sorry for Mr. Joe Jackson Sr. I am a parent myself. I know it is a hard challenge to discipline very energetic kids like his. If he had to spank them or ruff them up a bit from time to time so what? THAT'S HIS RESPONSIBILITY AS THE MALE PARENT! Abuse is NEVER acceptable, but that he ever WAS abusive is questionable, and a matter of personal bias. To me, he seem to have raise them all quite BRILLIANTLY!!! He's is not given enough credit or RESPECT for his outstanding family leadership or guidance.

[gshae]

You know there is more than one type of abuse and you feel sorry for Joe? Amazing! He was a man that didn't have a job and children who were talented; so he became the stage father who pushed, corpal punishment and words to control his children. You can get used to the belt and the stick; but it's always the words that hurt the most and for some it's hard to get past and you always remember. So you admire a man that abused his children more than one way and has been shown to be a cheater to a wife that has stuck by him? He is a father who lost a child and son and he is morning so much he is promoting a record label? Wow! I call that real love! Sorry to disagree with your opion on this; but Joe was a womanizer and an abuser and all his children have suffered at his hands and words.

[citizenusa-2009]

MJ's father has ALWAYS shown the characteristics of a sadistic, jealous and selfish individual. I?m sure he is as hideous on the inside as he is on the outside.

Poor Michael! I'd have plastic surgery too, if my father looked like Joe Jackson. Good Lord, can you imagine looking into that face while being beaten and wondering if you are going to look like him when you grow up????