Michael Jackson Tapes Released By Rabbi Shmuley Boteach at The Insider

Rabbi Shmuley who consulted with Michael Jackson has releases a series of private conversations he had with the King of Pop. The Rabbi claims the conversations were recorded with Michael Jackson’s consent.In the tapes the superstar who liked to protect his image is portrayed as a vulnerable unhappy reclusive in the conversations.

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As the investigation into the death of Michael Jackson continues, for the first time, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach releases recordings of conversations he had with the late King of Pop in which Jackson claims he didn’t want to grow old.

Jackson fans will have the opportunity to hear these never-before-released recordings of the Gloved One in his own words on Friday, Sept. 25 on “Dateline,” when Rabbi Shmuley sits down with Meredith Vieira in an exclusive interview, prior to the release of his book: The Michael Jackson Tapes: A Tragic Icon Reveals His Soul in Intimate Conversation.

The rabbi recorded these conversations — with Jackson’s permission — between 1999 and 2001. In them, Jackson reveals himself to be a lonely man, despite his celebrity.

Here are a few excerpts:

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF DISAPPEARING:

Jackson: Yeah, I would like to some kind of way to disappear where people don’t see me anymore at some–at some point, and just do my things for children but not be visual. To disappear is very important.

IF IT WEREN’T FOR CHILDREN:

Jackson: If it weren’t for children, I would choose death. I mean it with all my heart.

ON WHAT HE’S BEEN THROUGH:

Jackson: Anybody else would probably be dead by now, or a junkie, with what I’ve been through, Shmuley.

ON HEALING POWER:

Rabbi Shmuley: You feel that God gave you a certain healing power?

Jackson: Yes …and I’ve seen children just shower all over me with love. They want to just touch me and hug me and completely just hold on and cry and not let go…and mothers pick their babies and put them into my arms. “Touch my baby, and hold them, touch my baby, touch my baby.”

ON GETTING OLD:

Jackson: …when the body breaks down, and you start to wrinkle, I think it’s so bad…

Rabbi Shmuley: So you would die before that happens?

Jackson: I don’t want to grow old. [source]