With the second anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death looming this weekend, his sister La Toya has released a new book, Starting Over, and she’s been making the rounds to promote it. Although her main focus has been on the conspiracy which she claims culminated in her brother’s murder, she has also given glimpses into the lives Michael’s children and very intimate details of his last days.
She says that Michael saw his death coming, telling her that he feared for his life and that he thought he might be murdered for his music catalog and his estate. This prediction lends eerie significance to his last words to his daughter, Paris, who told her aunt “Prince and I were arguing, and Daddy said, ‘Stop fighting with your brother. I’m not always going to be here, and you’re going to have to be the lady and watch over them.’”
On June 25, 2009, La Toya recalls receiving news of her brother’s death and rushing to the hospital. There she found her mother with Michael’s weeping children, and at the kids’ insistence they all went in to say their farewells. “We all held hands. And we all prayed to him. And we all just said all of our special thanks to him, what he’s done for the world and for his family and the whole bit, and how much we loved him, and brushing his hair, wiping his face.”
Having a final moment with their father was an important act. “It was closure for them,” says La Toya. “They never cried again. I never saw them shed a tear after that.” She recounts the touching last gift that Paris gave her father: “She had made a special request of me during our fitting for the clothes we would wear to the memorial: ‘Auntie La Toya, I would like to give Daddy a half of a heart necklace. I’ll have one half, and he’ll have one half.’ … ‘Daddy, this is for you,’ she said. ‘I have this part of the heart. And I want you to have this other part and carry it with you.’”
She describes Michael Jackson as a strict and protective parent, shielding his children Prince, Paris and Blanket from the media and allowing them to watch only educational programming. They were never exposed to any media accounts of their famous father. Not surprising, given the late King of Pop’s own first-hand experience with childhood in the spotlight. Wonder what he’d think about his sister selling them out now?
