Posts Tagged ‘Michael Jackson’

Can we finally talk about it now? Has enough time passed so we can in earnest address the more substantive issues? I would suggest that we’ve had more than enough time to forward Whitney’s obituary to every friend we had, post every imaginable link to our “favorite” moments of her funeral. We surely had heard every conceivable argument as to why or why we shouldn’t blame Bobby presently or previous to this moment regarding Whitney’s demise.

Usually when we toss around the phrase “too soon,” it is in relation to questionable jokes and semi-classless humor regarding the recently departed. Mo’Kelly had no idea it also applied to the more serious issues.

Can we finally address the issue of substance abuse, or is it still “too soon?”

Keep in mind, this is not just a “Whitney death” issue, it was a Michael Jackson issue. We can run the list. David Ruffin. Rick James, Teena Marie. And yes, it was a Vesta Williams issue too. Despite what some have mentioned in the press that Williams died because of an “enlarged heart,” there was no autopsy or toxicology report released to support  the claim.

That was not by accident.

There was no acknowledgment of the obvious, that years and years of cocaine abuse (admitted by Williams)  inevitably leads to an “enlarged heart.” There was no explanation of the very detailed hotel setting, complete with empty pill bottles found at the scene of her death either.

Are we ready to start telling the truth now?

And don’t get Mo’Kelly started on Pastor Zachery Tims and the mother who is blocking the release of his toxicology report after her “former” addict son was found dead in a New York hotel room with a “powdery substance” on his person.

We enable the drug habits (both illicit and prescription) and when he/she/they die we are “shocked” and seek to blame the enablers while not recognizing them when we pass the mirror. We then want to make sure not to speak ill of the recently departed, whitewashing the truth of both their life and death.  If that weren’t enough, we also try to browbeat and verbally annihilate those who aren’t down with the revisionist history program.

Shortly after Whitney passed, a few media outlets approached Mo’Kelly to give remembrances and speak on her passing. I turned down each request because I had no desire to lie. That, and it was evidently “too soon” for some people to hear the truth.

Here’s what I mean…

I interacted with/met Whitney Houston on only two occasions; the first was at 8:30 in the morning exactly 16 years ago to the day in 1996. While working for the Grammys (NARAS), Whitney and Cece Winans were rehearsing on stage for an upcoming Waiting to Exhale medley.

Upon walking in Madison Square Garden, everyone in the house was instructed not to photograph or engage Whitney. A visibly hungover, crashing, sunglass-wearing, disheveled Houston stumbled through the rehearsal, complaining about the stage lights affecting her “headache.”

There was no mistaking her condition…note the year of 1996.

The other time in which I spent time with Whitney (and Bobby) was in 2000. It was the album release party for “Mr. Dalvin,” Dalvin Degrate…better known as the least known and least talented member of Jodeci. (Yes, he had his own album once upon a time.)

Anyone at the Playboy Mansion that night could tell you of both Whitney and Bobby stumbling around the party with odd, drug-induced behavior, often singing gospel songs back and forth…not quite remembering all the lyrics or recognizing the oddity of belting out gospel in the middle of the Playboy Mansion (of all places) to nobody in particular.

Those are my only two firsthand memories of Whitney Houston…drunk, hungover, high or some sordid combination of all three.  The outlets wishing to interview Mo’Kelly clearly weren’t looking for those stories.

I only spoke with her twice in life and both times she was high.  I could lie and say she wasn’t but lying is what indirectly led to her death.  It’s time to start telling the truth.

Outsiders knew Whitney Houston was an addict ever since the infamous Diane Sawyer interview; two years after my final encounter with her. Music insiders knew she had been hooked for many, many years. As in, many years before Bobby Brown was in the picture.

There is a verifiable history of abuse dating back to the mid 90s that I personally am aware. It likely was even longer. But it is safe to say we had at least 16 years to save her, and we failed. We spent more time hoping she’d divorce Bobby Brown, make a comeback or some well-timed combination of both.

And before you go there, anybody familiar with The Mo’Kelly Report knows that I had been tireless over the years in my attempts to get traction on issue of Whitney’s addiction, to no avail. And it goes without saying, I’ve broached the subject a number of times with singer El DeBarge and Michael Jackson. This is nothing new.

Hopefully the response from our community will be (something new).

How many more of our favorite artists must die untimely deaths before our community has an honest and open discussion regarding addiction and its connection to mental health and depression?

The only earnest discussion regarding artists and addiction that I’ve seen on a national level was between Bill Maher and Dr. Drew Pinsky. Maybe the discussion is being had in our community, but it doesn’t exist on both a national and substantive level.

So instead of finding fault with Bobby Brown for “Being Bobby Brown” or again forwarding copies of Whitney’s obituary to everyone on your Facebook friend list, ask yourself…challenge yourself as to what you could have done differently in the past 10 years that might have saved Whitney.  What might you be able to do moving forward to save another one of our treasured artists?

If the only discussion we’re willing to have is how drugs (illicit and prescription) or Bobby Brown ruined her career, then we’ve missed the point; and Whitney’s death…and Rick James’…and Teena Marie’s…and Michael Jackson’s…and David Ruffin’s…and Dorothy Dandridge’s…and Billie Holiday’s…and Vesta Williams’…and Phyllis Hyman’s…and Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s…and Gerald Levert’s…and Amy Winehouse et al. were all meaningless.

The Mo’Kelly Report is a syndicated politics and entertainment journal. Visit http://mrmokelly.com for the latest from Mr. Mo’Kelly. Contact him at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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‘Cause he’s a KILLER! OOOOOOO HOOOOO!

The Mo’Kelly Report is a syndicated politics and entertainment journal.  Visit http://mrmokelly.com for the latest from Mr. Mo’Kelly.  Contact him at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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This wouldn’t be The Mo’Kelly Report if Mo’Kelly didn’t at least mention the DeBarge family appearance on Dr. Drew’s Lifechangers.

Mo’Kelly is not going to say ANYTHING.  The videos will stand on their own.  Don’t hate Mo’Kelly, nobody told the DeBarge family to go on the Dr. Drew show under the influence. (Randy admits being high while on the show)

Mo’Kelly is just posting the videos which are available on your local neighborhood youtube.  Don’t hate Mo’Kelly because youtube lets him embed videos.

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published at The Huffington Post and EURWEB.com. For the most recent posts of Mr. Mo’Kelly, visit http://mrmokelly.com.  Mr. Mo’Kelly can be reached at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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The story HERE.

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“Punky Brewster” star Soleil Moon Frye is all grown up now: the 35-year-old mother of two now spearheads her own parenting blog, and is the author of the book “Happy Chaos.” Fans of the Punky character will enjoy portions of the book where Frye talks about her own similarities to Brewster, but there’s a surprise in store, too. Frye reveals she was one of the kid stars with whom Michael Jackson shared a hot tub.

Mo'Kelly and 'Punky'

So there I was sitting with Michael Jackson, alone in his Jacuzzi, talking about life, love, and the secrets of the world. I was eight years old. Yes, I know you’re probably horrified, or at least a little confused as you read this, wondering how in the world I got there.”

She explains that she met Jackson through his close friend Quincy Jones, and shortly thereafter, Frye and her mother were invited to Jackson’s home. “Michael took my mother and me on a tour of his home. We saw his elaborate costumes encased in glass, his bedroom, all of his knickknacks, and his stunning recording studio … We watched ‘Willy Wonka,’ and Michael and I sat next to each other. He had a way of speaking as if he were a child, too.”

The story HERE.

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published at The Huffington Post and EURWEB.com. For the most recent posts of Mr. Mo’Kelly, visit http://mrmokelly.com.  Mr. Mo’Kelly can be reached at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

Free Subscription to The Mo’Kelly Report HERE

Follow The Mo’Kelly Report on Facebook  HERE

Twitter – @mrmokelly

(Probably because Michael died…)

Full story HERE.

In any event, this is very cool.

For the young people who may not remember this classic video, Disneyland/Disneyworld had a 17-minute  3-D video attraction called Captain Eo, co-produced by film legend George Lucas (of Star Wars fame), directed by Academy Award-winner Francis Ford Coppola and starring Michael Jackson.

It ran in both theme parks from 1986 to 1994.  The music/choreography is vintage Jackson, although only one of the songs, Another Part of Me was ever released for sale.  Most people, (including Mo’Kelly) thought that the main song, We Are Here to Change the World was by far the better song.

Unfortunately, young people may not remember Jackson at his height and didn’t have the opportunity to appreciate him at his best.  He was a consummate singer, dancer…a complete entertainer.  So for you young people, enjoy Captain Eo as I and most of my generation did…but in only 2-d this time.

And for the old-heads like Mo’Kelly…remember when…

Captain EO – Part One

Captain EO – Part Two

The Making of Captain EO – Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg

[Stay tuned...the new mrmokelly.com website is coming to you in 2010.  Set your browsers now.]

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Mo’Kelly remembers the controversy like it was yesterday.  But seeing the actual video…incredible.  The man was literally becoming engulfed in flames.  Be sure to check out the bald spot near the end of the video.

For those too young to have seen the finished product or those of us now too damn old to remember it…check it out below.

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published weekly at www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. The Mo’Kelly Report is syndicated by Blogburst. For more Mo’Kelly, http://www.MrMoKelly.com.  Mo’Kelly can be reached at Mo@MrMoKelly.com and he welcomes all commentary.

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Mo’Kelly remembers the controversy like it was yesterday.  But seeing the actual video…incredible.  The man was literally becoming engulfed in flames.  Be sure to check out the bald spot near the end of the video.

For those too young to have seen the finished product or those of us now too damn old to remember it…check it out below.

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published weekly at www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. The Mo’Kelly Report is syndicated by Blogburst. For more Mo’Kelly, http://www.mrmokelly.com.  Mo’Kelly can be reached at Mo@mrmokelly.com and he welcomes all commentary.

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Update 7.2.09 – DEA Joins Jackson Death Probe.  Click HERE

Here is the authentic, last will and testament of Michael Jackson.  Click HERE.

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