Paris’ letter ~ is it right that the letter was disclosed on GMA by Bill?

Michael Jackson’s 3 Bodyguards

Is Michael entitled to his privacy post death?    
Did the bodyguards have employment  contracts or confidentiality agreements?    
Don't really know what to think?

Michael Jackson’s Bodyguards Speak Out Part 1/7

    
Key comments:

This is ABC news footage
The interviewer asked what was the reason they came forward. Bill Whitfield said that there was a side that his fan did not know of him, JB confirmed that position and said it was a blessing that they had experienced both sides.
What about the wall of silence and do they feel they are breaking that code? Bill said that they are not breaking any rules as to speaking on behalf of Michael Jackson, bill said that they have to defend him and that someone has to. Mike Gracia said that if someone else was going to do it that you would have seen it, it would have already been done. They said that the cook or nurse was not there. The body guards say that they were.

Questions:

Did they have a contractual agreement with Michael Jackson?
Were they subject to a confidentiality agreement?
Did any confidentiality agreement extend past death?
Is it a breach of trust?
Is it morally right to reveal intimate stories of your employer post death?
Why were they not working for Michael for the weeks prior to his death, Michael had another team working for him?
When did they decide they were going to write the book?
How did they come together?
When did they start to write the book?
Did they consider any other alternatives to writing a book?
They say that they are speaking on behalf of Michael Jackson, so are they saying that they are his spokesperson?
Did they have authority from Michael Jackson directly in writing to provide information to the media, press? Did they have authority from Michael Jackson to write a book?
They were on the ABC show to promote the book that they have written “In Defense of the King”, and they are looking for a publisher. So the reason for commentary is to sell their book and look for a publisher? To sell the inside scoop?
Michael Jackson on various recorded interviews I have seen, commented on his need for his privacy and that of his children. Thus it seems that this book is in direct conflict with the values that Michael Jackson had for running is own life.
They say that they have witnessed both sides of Michael Jackson and people don’t get that opportunity. But couldn’t the reason for that be, that it was Michael’s private life and it should be his choice how and by what medium that information is released?
It would also be for Michael and his team to consider damage limitation given the Bashir documentary, and considering outside the box how personal information could be considered and whether this would have any consequences to his family and his legacy. Thus have they taken advice from the estate lawyers and from the Jackson’s?
They say they have to defend Michael Jackson, and question who else is going to do it? They state that if someone was going to do it then they would have and they haven’t. Are they talking about Michael’s family, friends and associates who know intimate details about Michael’s personal life?
Or are they talking about Michael’s other staff members, because they say that the cook and the nurse were not there, but there were. So they therefore conclude that they had a more personal relationship with Michael Jackson and that they are in the best place to defend him.
What are they seeking to defend? Not his privacy? Because they are going to spill the beans about every aspect of his personal life?

Michael Jackson’s Bodyguards Speak Out Part 2/7

    
Key Comments:

This is GMA footage
The commentator states that they worked with Michael Jackson for 2 years and really got to know the inside workings of this family
That they had seen everything from the millions of dollars that was going in and out of that house on a regular basis to the late night paranoia and security checks around the compound that Michael would perform himself and the commentator continues that they characterise the extended family as dysfunctional.
THE FAMILY
Bill said that Michael’s family did not come around much, and when they did come they came unexpected. Bill said that he would make Michael aware that one of his family members were outside the gate, he continues that Michael would sometimes ask whether they had an appointment.
Mike Gracia said that when his father came, that Michael would ask if his father had an appointment.
They said that did not stop Randy Jackson from trying to gain access to his brother. Bill mentions that on one occasion that Randy Jackson came to the house and crashed a security gates with his vehicle. He continues that he drew his weapon on him. He states that the first thing out of Randy’s mouth was that he wanted to Bill to get the “that gun” out of his face or he would call the press. Bill said that comment “took him back” and JB said “unbelievable”.
Bill said that he made Michael aware that Randy wanted to see him, and that Michael was not happy and did not see him.
Ashleigh states that Randy admits that he was there, but he denied that he ever set foot on the property
Ashleigh refers to the family intervention, and the bodyguards confirm that they were there for the drug intervention.
Bill states that he would only see his brothers, they confirm that the family did not get into the house and that Michael went to the security trailer. Bill said that Michael was fine after the meeting and left the trailer and went back into the house.
MONEY
Bill confirms that he was the ‘point man’ that dealt with emails, he said that everything came to him. Mike Gracia said everything came to his laptop
Bill confirms that the was the gatekeeper
JB said that there wasn’t a phone call or paper work that did not go through Bill.
Ashleigh said that paper work revealed a lot that there was millions of dollars of debt, much of it owed to law firms, and millions more being paid out. The commentator said that this was occurring whilst they were waiting to be paid, sometimes for months on end. Bill then says $10million, $20million, that he was seeing all these zeros. They said that they couldn’t get their $5000 cheque. They said that the money was going out faster than it was coming in.

Questions:

So they were aware the family had attempted to conduct a drug related intervention to help Michael Jackson?
So where is the laptop now with Michael Jackson’s confidential emails?
Who has seen the confidential emails?
Are these confidential emails going to he exposed in the book?
Who owns the confidential emails, who does it belong to?
Correspondence received is confidential, not to be disclosed to third parties, so the correspondence from Michael’s lawyers and others sent to Michael surely is confidential, or were the letters addressed to Bill?
In July 16 2007 or so, a law firm Ayscough and Marar obtained judgement against Michael for previous fees owed during 2003. It was reported that he had to pay 216,837 in fees and 39,177 interest [Source Michael Jackson A Visual Documentary.] I don’t which solicitors he is referring to but I thought that lawyer client correspondence is confidential. I don’t see how this is defending Michael Jackson. Indeed throughout the interview they don’t mention whom they are defending Michael from, and what their defence is.
I would have thought a persons financial information is confidential, and that most people would not want details of their liabilities and income being discussed publically.
So who gave them permission, given their trusted positions to disclose that sort of information?
Have they replicated that information in their book?
I saw an interview in which Bains Michael’s previous spokesperson and she said that Michael had said that she was not to comment on the children or finances.
So how come the bodyguards have license to comment on the details of Michael’s finances given that in particular Bill was the gatekeeper of that information?
Was the gatekeeper position part of his contract, or was it an assumed position or a position he took upon himself. Doesn’t Bill and the others owe some kind of loyalty to Michael not to disclose this information?
Why were emails sent to his laptop?
When he left Michael’s employment in 2008 did he have the information transferred to Michael or his team and was that information deleted from his laptop
Was there any salary cheques outstanding at the time of Michael’s death, did they get paid?
When is it appropriate for trusted bodyguards to report on private matters in a bosses household
There were press reports about difficulties involving Randy and Michael’s loan financing, and rebuttals from Michael’s camp http://www.michaeljackson.com/dk-en/node/758082

Michael Jackson’s Bodyguards Speak Out Part 3/7

    
Key Comments:

Footage from ABC news
They confirmed that Janet Jackson did not have a lot of power within the family
JB said that Michael was “CLUELESS” in not knowing that Janet’s movie “When I get married” came out, JB said that it was obvious that MIchael and his sister were not that close as he would have known about the movie. These comments were confirmed by Mike Gracia.

Questions:

Is it appropriate for the Bodyguards to call Michael “CLUELESS“?
Is it appropriate for them to comment on the Jackson family dynamic’s given their position of trust?

Michael Jackson’s Bodyguards Speak Out Part 4/7

    
Key Comments:

Bill discusses Joe Jackson
Bill said that Joe Jackson refused to shake his hand and said that Joe Jackson had accused him of being one of the ones putting needles in my son’s arm
Bill confirms that Jackson’s did not come around much and when they did it was unexpected. He said that he would make Michael aware that one of his family members was outside the gate, and he said that Michael would sometimes ask if they had an appointment.
Bill said that Michael’s family did not have appointments.
Mike Gracia said that they were not allowed in when Michael was being creative.
JB says that both he and Bill are fathers, and if he had to make an appointment to see his son that would be ‘problems’.
When the commentator asked who much family interaction there was, Bill said that his mother came in the holidays, the kids birthdays. Bill comments with regard to them being together all as a family, he confirms that never took place during his watch

Questions:

So it would seem that as soon as they were off the scene Michael attended a big family dinner?
You will note later an inconsistency with regard to the children’s birthdays and who was present.
I again dont know how this information defends Michael and from whom?

Michael Jackson’s Bodyguards Speak Out Part 5/7

    
Key Comments:

They said that Michael wanted to go and order a beer that Michael wanted the opportunity to do normal things
Bill said that Michael would make comments
JB said that he would say to Michael that he did not know how good he had it
Bill said that there were times that Michael vented and when he did so he did it loudly.
Bill said that Michael said “why don’t people just leave me alone”
Mike Gracia said that Michael had wished that he and his children would be left alone
Bill said that they would feel bad
Bill said that when he heard things like that and going 3 months without being paid, he said it did not matter at that time.

Questions

So the bodyguards heard Michael wish for privacy and the desire for him and his family to be left alone, his desire to be free, so I don’t understand why they would expose his private life
I also don’t understand why Bill would flag up that during these heartfelt comments, the fact that he had not got paid for 3/4 months.
It would seem from the look on his face when he said that, that it was the only thing that mattered?

Michael Jackson’s Bodyguards speak out Part 6/7

    
Key comments:

Footage from ABC news
They commented that Michael purchased many books and videos, a minimum of $4000 – $5000 dollars worth one trip
They said that Michael, mostly read history books
They believed that he read a lot of the books that he purchased that Michael was very knowledgeable
They said that Michael was big on Knowledge
He said that the children loved books and were homeschooled

Michael Jackson’s Bodyguards Speak Out Part 7/7

    
Key comments:

Bill said that Michael was sheltered but was he?
http://lacienegasmiled.wordpress.com/2010/04/14/michael-jackson-love-sex-playboy/
Bill said that Michael Jackson had a little hood in him.

Questions:

After seeing this footage I am left with the question of what are they defending Michael from?
How do their comments defend Michael from anything?
Don’t some of the comments add to speculation, isn’t it a case of re-stirring the pot?
They have commented about Michael’s family I would have thought that the Jackson’s would not appreciate the comments made.
I am totally astonished that JB called Michael “CLUELESS”.
Have their boundaries been smudged? Have they over stepped their professional boundaries, in the manner that they discuss the household and the Jackson family. Some of their contemporaries in private protection believe that is the case.
But was Michael that sheltered if you have read Moonwalk you would note that he learnt a lot at an early age

These are the full GMA interviews found on YouTube:

Michael Jackson Bodyguards on GMA Part 1

    
Key comments:

They state that they were taking on responsibilities that were that of a personal assistant, and they initially thought that it was not their jobs
They said realised that there was no one else around. That Michael did not have any personal entourage
Michael was said to be unhappy with the Las Vegas property and its security risks, especially relating to the media
THE CHILDREN
They said that he was a good father; Mike Garcia said that the children would constantly tell him that they loved him, that they were like the 4 buddies. Mike Garcia said that was the children’s world
They said that Michael did what he could to shield the children from the media frenzy
They confirm that Michael saw the headlines “Wacko Jacko” and ensured that the children did not see them
The bodyguards said that Michael did not feel that anything he did was unusual
Ashleigh asked if they thought Michael’s behaviour was weird. Bill said that Michael thought his own behaviour was different and not weird
Bill said that the kids were regular kids, with the intelligence of a 21year old, very well-mannered
A copy of a note sent to Bill from Paris was shown
Comments made about Michael going to fast food drive ins and ordering food himself
They described the children’s birthdays (for the time they were there) were lonely; that they had clowns. But I think it should be remembered that between 2006/7- 2009 Michael was on the road a lot, because of the 2005 false accusations, Michael was in the Middle East for the first year August 2005 to summer 2006 and then in reportedly in Ireland, France, UK and back in US.
They said that there were no other children in attendance at their birthday parties, only support staff and them. But on a different clip they said that their grandmother attended on the children’s birthdays
THE CHILDREN’S PATERNITY
Bill said that when he met the children he wondered about their paternity, but said after you got to know them it did not matter
THE RUMOURS
Ashleigh refers to a shadow of speculations despite his acquittal and flatly asked if Michael was a paedophile. The bodyguards stated that was not the case. Bill stated that Michael has desires for women like they do. Ashleigh stated that dispelled the other rumour
Ashleigh states that he had two girlfriends. They then go on to comment that a curtain was put up to cover the back seat so that they could not see the backs seat. He said they hear Michael and his female friend. From what I understand the bodyguards intend to discuss his girlfriends further in their book
I don’t know what JB means by saying it was a “queue” for them?
Bill said that when Michael was going to the book store and had plasters on his mouth that was a disguise? Bill said that it was to Michael the burn victim look (but they did not ask him – this is their assumption?)
They said that they just thought something was up, and when asked if they ever told him how they felt? JB said, how could you tell him, JB said that he was coming down with the kids and he could not say to Michael – what the hell you got on Sir
Bill said that on a few occasions it appeared to him that Michael was on something, he said that you could tell from his demeanour that something wasn’t right, something had changed
Ashleigh said that she had covered trials for the last 5 years and that she had an opinion when she was going in, hmm, was Ashleigh another of the journalists that covered the prosecution case and not the winning defence case? She states that the bodyguards did not take anything for their appearance, though they wanted to do their book

Questions:

In the OK magazine interview they are stated as having worked for Michael from 2007, but Bill states on Face book that he work for Michael in 2006 and they worked for him for 2 years. They left his employment prior to his death and were not working for him at the time of the 2005 trial. They worked for him for the last 2 years of his life when Michael was largely out of the country. Thus the comments made by Ashleigh Banfield are slightly misleading during the intro
They knew that Michael wanted the children protected from the media, so I am unsure why they thus plunged the children’s family life into the media
It also seems to me a perfect example to the children to not trust their staff, because they are likely to have their private home lives exposed to the media. Thus they have no privacy
I wonder why Bill kept a note regarding cat food, why?
Why was it used in the show and will be in their book?
I don’t know what the children’s paternity had anything to do with Bill, and why it would affect his initial impression of the children, Bill said when he got to know them, it did not matter?
So the question is did it matter in the first place?
Isn’t this sort of speculation harmful to the kids? That even their trusted bodyguards were concerned about this.
I feel that many of the comments made, give further material to some folk to mock Michael
I still can’t see their defence of Michael Jackson. Their comments indicate a tell-all book, unless the book is totally different.
The bodyguards come over as likeable guys, but I think they saw an opportunity and decided to take it. Maybe I am too cynical.

Michael Jackson Bodyguards on GMA Part 2

    
No copyright infringement intended    
Key Comments

Banfield said that Michael Jackson was adored by many and known by very few.
Mike Garcia said that they were with Michael Jackson the person not the entertainer
JB said it was like protecting the President
Bill said that he was the point man when it came to emailing
Michael’s paper work emails and telephone calls went through Bill.
Banfield said that the paperwork revealed a lot ~ millions of dollars in debt much of which was owed to law firms and millions more being paid out whilst they waited to be paid sometimes months on end
They said Michael was always being sued long after the criminal trial in 2005 when he was cleared of child molestation charges
Banfield said that he always chose to settle
Mike Garcia said that they would go to lawyers offices and they would be there from 10am to midnight
Bill said that Michael Jackson throw his cell phone out of the window, and recalls that Michael said that he would need a new phone
Banfield said that even with so much money changing hands, that credit card were refused and hotels were evicting
Bill said that they were asked to leave hotels because the credits cards on file were being denied, and on screen you glimpse a document marked 2007.
Mike Garcia said that someone was not paying the bill.
Bill said that he remembered four different occasions when this occurred [eviction from hotels].
Banfield said that when long time friend Jesse Jackson turned 66, that the bodyguards stated that Michael and his entourage could not even afford to get there. Bill said that Jesse Jackson put up his credit card to fly the entire staff and team to the hotel for 3 nights.
Banfield asked if Michael seemed like he had a drug problem. Bill said that he did not have a drug problem. Both Bill and Mike Garcia said that Michael did not have a problem. Bill said that at times he gave the appearance that he was high on something. Mike Garcia said that he would appear that he was intoxicated on sometime, but denied that he had a problem.
Bill said that Michael would ask about marijuana
JB confirmed that Michael would be dancing or practicing at 3 or 4 am
Mike Garcia said that when Dr Conrad Murray came onto the scene he was taking care of the kids
Banfield said that there was a lot of blame zeroed in on him. JB said that he was a scapegoat. Bill said that he never thought that it was the fault or at the hands of one person.
Banfield said that they were not in LA at the time of Michael’s death, though they were at the memorial
Bill said that he looked around that he looked at a lot of celebrities and it made him wonder where were they or were these some of the celebrities that turned their back on him after the second trial
Mike Garcia said where were they, he said that the guy was so lonely where were they
The footage then shows Paris on the stage. Bill said that hurt him, JB said he doesn’t want to talk about it, and Mike Garcia said it was a quite ride home
Mike Garcia was in tears when asked what he would like to say to the children right now. JB said he was speechless and that they were proud of them.
Mike Garcia said that they were everything to their father and they agreed that their father was everything to them.
Ashleigh Banfield said that they never blamed Michael for their pay difficulties she said that he had been mismanaged.
The other commentator said the bodyguards saw what others would not expect to see. [What is that supposed to mean?]
Ashleigh said that the bodyguards had informed her of some more bazaar things, that he would cover mirrors in hotels, and Michael feared that their were camera’s behind mirrors.
Ashleigh continued that he would travel with a briefcase full of cash, and said that the reason may have been because his credit cards were being declined
That he was a huge eBay fan. Ashleigh said that if viewers went on abc.com that there was more information on Janet’s status

Questions:

Would presidential bodyguards disclose details of the presidents personal life?
Why did they reveal details of Michael’s debts how is this defending the king?
Isn’t this the type of information that Michael did not want in the public’s or media hands?
Is it in Michael’s interests to disclose that he was evicted from at least 4 hotels in 2 years?
Is it in Michael’s interests to disclose that he spent hours in lawyers offices trying to settle claims against him?
Is it in Michael’s interests to disclose the level of his frustrations during these times? For some of this time it was reported in the press that he was unwell.
How is it defending Michael to state that he was at times high and intoxicated?
Is it in Michael’s interests to make comments that Conrad Murray is a scapegoat etc? There are criminal proceedings against Murray and they were not employed by Michael at the time.
I think it should be remembered that Michael had been subjected to 20 years of people going to extreme lengths to gather information about him, he also had the FBI investigating him. He may have justifiable reasons to be concerned about mirrors.
I don’t see how it is defending the king to mention that he carries cash around him or that he had his credit cards declined.
In a police report in a former bodyguard already mentioned that part of his job was to keep Michael’s family from performing an intervention. Bill seems to think it slightly amusing the family dynamics there, but is this really defending the king, or in the months following his death is this only likely to cause heartache.
These guys do seem likeable, it’s just that I don’t understand how their comments are defending the king and I don’t know who they are defending Michael from.
I just think they were employed to do a job, personal protection, not blab about their boss, kids or family
How would you feel if it was you, and your staff or work associate did this to you?