Michael Jackson criticizes treatment of minority artists

Bond · 07-11-2002, 12:43 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Musi....ap/index.html

Quote:

"The recording companies really, really do conspire against the artists -- they steal, they cheat, they do everything they can," Jackson said in a rare public appearance. "(Especially) against the black artists."

Jackson, 43, who began his recording career as a child, spoke at the Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network in Harlem. Sharpton and attorney Johnnie Cochran Jr. recently formed a coalition to investigate whether artists are being financially exploited by record labels.

He also singled out Sony Music chairman Tommy Mottola, saying he was "mean, he's a racist, and he's very, very, very devilish." Jackson also accused Mottola of using "the n-word" when speaking about an unidentified black Sony artist.

Sony Music issued a statement calling Jackson's comments "ludicrous, spiteful and hurtful. It seems particularly bizarre that he has chosen to launch an unwarranted and ugly attack on an executive who has championed his career ... for many, many years."

Sony produced Jackson's last album, "Invincible," which has had disappointing sales despite an estimated $25 million in promotion. The singer's fans say Sony didn't do enough to launch the album. Others in the industry say sagging sales were indicative of Jackson's declining appeal.

Jackson mentioned several black artists as victims of the industry, including James Brown, Mariah Carey and Sammy Davis Jr. Jackson alleged that Davis died penniless, although Davis' attorney said in 1990 that the "Rat Pack" member left an estate worth more than $6 million when he died.

"If you fight for me, you're fighting for all black people, dead and alive," Jackson said, adding: "We have to put a stop to this incredible injustice."

Outside Sony's Manhattan headquarters, about 150 fans gathered later Saturday, hoisting signs reading "Please Sony, stop killing the music," "Terminate Tommy Mottola," and "Invincible is Unbreakable."

Jackson arrived at the Midtown building on a double-decker city tour bus that twice circled the block. He stood in the open top deck and, raising his fists, joined the crowd in chanting "Down with Tommy Mottola!"

Jackson held up a poster with three boxes marked "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" -- with an image of himself in the "The Good" box and Mottola's face with devilish horns in "The Bad" box, while Mottola's real image adorned "The Ugly" box.

God help me, it's Michael Jackson and Al Sharpton in the same picture.

Look! Idiots with nothing else better to do.

Joeiss · 07-11-2002, 01:37 PM

I lost track. Does Micheal Jackson think he is white or black now?

I classify him as one ****ed up mother ****er.

DeathsHand · 07-11-2002, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joeiss
I lost track. Does Micheal Jackson think he is white or black now?

I classify him as one ****ed up mother ****er.

He's not even human anymore is he?

I don't get why this popped up all of a sudden... it just seems like Jackson is mad his record sales were dissapointing

Joeiss · 07-11-2002, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeathsHand

He's not even human anymore is he?

I don't get why this popped up all of a sudden... it just seems like Jackson is mad his record sales were dissapointing

Yeah. I think he wanted to make a lot of money with that recent record of his, because he spent all of this other money on presents for little kids.

Andromida_ · 07-11-2002, 02:07 PM

Michael Jackson has really big "ISSUES"! That's all I have to say about this subject.
I think everything that he has said has been totally BS. That's just my opinion, but hey I hate his music (or what he calls music) and even if they didn't promote his album good for them.

Shadow_Link · 07-11-2002, 02:11 PM

He's more plastic than P. Anderson...

Geez, he's more plastic than the barbie doll itself

.

GameKinG · 07-11-2002, 03:20 PM

He cant deal with low sales so he has to call people, "very, very devilish."

Angrist · 07-11-2002, 04:28 PM

I used to be a fan of him!

I still like his music... but I'm not a fan. Far from it.

I think he's right though...

Jonbo298 · 07-11-2002, 05:37 PM

Here is my take on the whole mess.(it may offend, but I let my views go) Black people here in the US are realllly taking the whole equal rights thing waayyyy too frigging far! Come on, just because your black and your record sales are not too great doesn't mean you have to say that your manager or whoever is racist! I can understand saying sales were low because it wasn't marketed well. Also, with the recent police officer hitting the 16 year old black kid. The first thing any black person probably said was racist, RACIST! I mean nowadays, you can't even give a black person a mean look if he does something to you otherwise your ass will get sued for everything in court because he says your racist! I wonder how many cases were filed here in the US where a black police officer hit a white man and the white man filed a lawsuit or whatever saying t hat the black officer was racist. This is what pisses me off about America soo much, black people taking civil rights too far. I personally am not racist against any color/religion/whatever, but it just makes me mad to always keep hearing things like this.

*In that pic with the dude in the black shirt, it looks like he is doing the Nazi "salute" or whatever its called

*

Bond · 07-11-2002, 06:13 PM

Jessie Jackson, Al Sharpton, Michael Jackson, they are all idiots with no clue. Just my take on the situation.

Jason1 · 07-11-2002, 06:35 PM

I think the younger Michael Jackson summed it up really well when he talked to the old Michael Jackson...

''Hey cool nose!"

...heh heh...

Happydude · 07-11-2002, 06:45 PM

what do you guys have against michael?

he has good songs...

*sees people looking at him like

*

*runs away*

GameMaster · 07-11-2002, 06:54 PM

Didn't Michael Jackson recently make a guest star apperance in Men in Black 2? That's what I read somewhere. I haven't seen the movie and I'm curious to see the character he portrays.

Bond · 07-11-2002, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GameMaster
Didn't Michael Jackson recently make a guest star apperance in Men in Black 2? That's what I read somewhere. I haven't seen the movie and I'm curious to see the character he portrays.

Yes, it was hilarious. He was begging to be Agent 'M.' But Jackson actually begged Will Smith in real life to be in Men in Black 2, so that's the part he got. Idiot...

Happydude · 07-11-2002, 07:20 PM