Emails reveal concerns for Jackson’s health

Promoters of Michael Jackson’s planned 2009 comeback described in emails how they feared for the star’s stability.

The revelations are contained in 250 pages of messages obtained by the Los Angeles Times — mostly between executives at Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) — which was financing the ill-fated This Is It London shows.

Some indicated executives were concerned that Jackson’s planned 50-show stand at AEG’s 02 Arena would be a bust.

In one exchange, AEG’s Randy Phillips wrote to his boss, Tim Leiweke, before a press conference to announce the gigs, that Jackson was “an emotionally paralysed mess”. “MJ is locked in his room drunk and despondent,” Phillips said. “I [am] trying to sober him up.”

In the end, Phillips and Jackson’s manager had to dress the pop star. Jackson arrived 90 minutes late for the press conference and made remarks that some reporters noted as odd.

In an interview with the newspaper, AEG’s lawyer Marvin Putnam suggested Phillips had exaggerated and that “nerves” were to blame for Jackson’s behaviour.

The Times said the messages would likely play a key role in two lawsuits set for trial next year. The shows’ insurers are asking a judge to nullify a $17.5m (€13.8m) policy they say AEG got with false claims about Jackson’s health. And Jackson’s heirs filed a wrongful-death suit that accuses AEG of pressuring the singer to carry on with a comeback despite indications he was too weak.

Lawyers for AEG told the Times the messages reviewed were incomplete and leaked to portray AEG in a negative light.

Numerous emails show Lloyd’s of London unsuccessfully pushing for access to five years of Jackson’s medical records in order to expand insurance coverage for the concerts.

The insurer also wanted the singer to undergo a four-hour medical exam.

AEG’s broker tried to persuade Lloyd’s to drop the physical, according to the emails, suggesting Jackson’s physician, Dr Conrad Murray, could give a recitation of Jackson’s medical history instead. Lloyd’s refused.

Murray responded to the last of the requests on Jun 25 at Jackson’s Southern California home. Jackson died less than an hour later, according to a timeline Murray gave investigators.