Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson did not have it easy. Throughout his childhood, he suffered from physical and mental abuse by his father. As his popularity grew, he was constantly mobbed and hassled by the paparazzi that couldn't get enough of him. He was the media's favorite whipping boy. Controversies shadowed Michael Jackson throughout his career. His sudden demise was also not bereft of controversy. Michael Jackson's life was ungratified, yet successful. The irony of life!

• Children show me in their playful smiles the divine in everyone. This simple goodness shines straight from their hearts and only asks to be lived.

• I will say again that I have never, and would never, harm a child. It sickens me that people have written untrue things about me.

• People think they know me, but they don't. Not really. Actually, I am one of the loneliest people on this earth. I cry sometimes, because it hurts. It does. To be honest, I guess you could say that it hurts to be me.

• (In a statement following the British broadcast of Living with Michael Jackson)
  Today I feel more betrayed than perhaps ever before; that someone, who had got to know my children, my staff and me, whom I let into my heart and told the truth, could then sacrifice the trust I placed in him and produce this terrible and unfair program.

• Just because it’s in print doesn’t mean it’s the gospel.

• Yeah, Wacko Jacko, where did that come from? Some English tabloid. I have a heart and I have feelings. I feel that when you do that to me. It's not nice.

• I made a terrible mistake. I got caught up in the excitement of the moment. I would never intentionally endanger the lives of my children.

• The minute I surpassed Elvis and the Beatles, they called me a freak, a homosexual, a child molester. They said I bleached my skin… everything to turn the public against me. It was a complete conspiracy. I know my race. I just look in the mirror. I know I'm black.

• I am Peter Pan. He represents youth, childhood, never growing up, magic, flying.