Diane Dimond on Michael Jackson's Drug Use

ET special correspondent Diane Dimond, who has been covering Michael Jackson news since 1993, talks about the accident that she claims led to Michael's drug use.

It was a TV spot that went bad. The King of Pop was filming a Pepsi commercial when, during the sixth take, Michael's hair caught on fire. He was rushed to the hospital with burns to his scalp and face.

"That was a horrific accident, and that is the point at which Michael Jackson was introduced to the world of painkillers," Diane says. "After that, and all the cosmetic surgeries, he became hopelessly addicted."

Diane also addresses reports that the LAPD is treating the Gloved One's death as a homicide. A spokesperson for the police tells the ET newsdesk that it is not true, saying, "This is an ongoing investigation."

Diane says, "The LAPD does not label an investigation as a homicide until after they've completed gathering all of the evidence. My sources tell me law enforcement is looking at the illegal distribution of narcotic drugs and the possibilities of homicide or even suicide."

In his first interview since Michael's death, Tito Jackson says he and his siblings talked about [the possibility of Michael's using drugs] again and again for hours, but they just couldn't get through to him. He adds that they tried many times, but his team of people shut them out.

Diane's reaction to that is: "What I have learned from various sources over the years is this: Michael's addiction was a constant source of concern and conversation among the Jackson family. They truly loved him and worried about him, but Michael felt they were interfering with his life. In his mind, he felt they wanted him back on stage to help them earn money."

There is also a new report that the rented mansion where Michael went into cardiac arrest was outfitted with a sophisticated security camera system, and that there is missing surveillance footage from the day that Michael died.

"What I have learned over the course of my years investigating Michael Jackson is that he had a strong 'dislike' for security cameras inside his homes, and he did not want a video record of what he did behind closed doors. If there were cameras at his Los Angeles home, they were probably at the gates and outside, rather than in the bedrooms," Diane says.

For more on the Michael Jackson investigation, tune in to tonight's ET, and keep checking back here for all the latest updates.From:www.etonline.com

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Michael Jackson was preparing for 50 London performances

Michael Jackson was preparing for 50 London performances at the time of his June 25 death. But the star's father Joe Jackson claims that his son would not have been able to complete the lengthy set – and was pushed into the commitment by promoters.

"Michael told me himself [that] he agreed to 10 shows. But they went and added all these other shows," the elder Jackson tells ABC News. "I was worried about his health. No artist can do those many shows back to back like that, and so I knew Michael couldn't do all those shows."

Another Jackson associate, former financial advisor Leonard Rowe (no relation to Debbie Rowe, the biological mother of two of Michael's children) agreed that in spite of recently released video of Jackson's final rehearsal, the 50-year-old King of Pop was sickly and far from top form.

According to Rowe, Jackson "was not ready. He was not fit, [only] if you can call weighing 110, 115 pounds fit."

Producers of the show counter Joe Jackson's claims, saying that Michael himself was responsible for the show's extension. AEG CEO Randy Phillips says he tried to change the singer's mind about the set, but was rebuffed. "He told me to shove off," said Phillips.

Jackson's manager Frank DiLeo says that Jackson was not being pushed in the preparation for London. "He built up his stamina. There would have been no problems, I don't think, with him doing this tour. Nobody was pushing him into it. Nobody was overworking him."
From:www.people.com

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Prince Michael & Paris Jackson Photos: Unmasked

Older, never-before-seen pictures of Michael Jackson at home with his two older children, Prince Michael and Paris Jackson, have just been published by OK!To sum them up in a word: Awww! It's so sad that their father is gone, and our hearts go out to these adorable children and their younger sibling Blanket.The King of Pop was a music icon and a deeply troubled individual in many ways, but he was

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Photos: Michael Jackson, Kids Together on Christmas

Michael Jackson celebrated his final Christmas with his three children - and Prince Michael Jackson I, 12, Paris Jackson, 11, and Blanket, 7, Us Weekly reports. That was assumed even before they unearthed the photo below - but one new and interesting fact is that, apparently, Dr. Arnold Klein, was there as well. Klein also brought Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher, a close friend, as a surprise

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Michael Jackson's Last Dance Video

Michael Jackson 6/23/09 2 days before his death a rare exclusive clip of Michael Jackson rehearsing at the Los Angeles Staples Center... CNN Exclusive

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Fans of Michael Jackson flocked to Hollywood Boulevard

- Fans of Michael Jackson flocked to Hollywood Boulevard on Thursday as they learned of the singer's tragic death - only to find they couldn't leave tributes on his sidewalk star.

Jackson's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was blocked off by scaffolding set up for a movie premiere, Sacha Baron Cohen's "Bruno."

Extra security guards were brought in to keep distraught fans with candles and flowers away from the sidewalk star.

"I grew up with Michael Jackson," said Suzette Jones, 45, a Virginia woman who was in Los Angeles visiting her son at the University of Southern California.

"I saw the Jackson 5 in concert. Who cares about Bruno?"

"I think it's disrespectful."

Jones and her son, Erik Douglas, 26, wandered around Hollywood Boulevard for an hour, dazed by the news and searching for the star to leave flowers before they realized it was under the scaffolding.

"He's a pop icon," she said tearfully. "If anyone should be remembered in Hollywood, it should be him. How come we can't honor him?"

Some fans gathered on Vine Street at a star labeled "Michael Jackson" - apparently unaware that it was named for the radio personality of the same name.

Rafael Landa, 46, of Hollywood, was struck by the two celebrity deaths Thursday, Jackson's and actress Farrah Fawcett's.

"Hollywood was struck twice today," said Landa, who left a candle at Fawcett's star.

From;www.contracostatimes.com

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Michael Jackson was taking a cocktail of up to seven prescription drugs

Life & Style reports that Michael Jackson was taking a cocktail of up to seven prescription drugs in the months before his death.

The star had been taking prescription painkillers including anti-anxiety drugs Xanax, Zoloft and painkiller Demerol in recent months, sources close to Jackson told Life & Style. The insider close to the star said he took a suspected overdose of drugs on Thursday morning, which caused respiratory and cardiac arrest.

And a Jackson family lawyer told CNN he "feared" the drugs could kill the pop star. CNN's interview with the source follows the jump.

ackson family lawyer Brian Oxman confirmed Jackson may have had trouble with prescription drugs as he prepared for his London show.

"This was something which I feared and something which I warned about," Oxman said on CNN. "I can tell you for sure that this is something I warned about. Where there is smoke there is fire."

Mr Oxman compared Michael to Anna Nicole Smith, alleging that Michael had 'enablers' just like her.

CNN details Jackson's long history of medical problems here. At a news conference, brother Jermaine Jackson said doctors and family tried "for an hour" to resuscitate the performer. TMZ's video of the conference is here.

Meanwhile, Hollyscoop reports that doctors visited Jackson "daily." THe site's latest update:

While news of Michael Jackson's death came as a shock to many, inside sources tell Hollyscoop exclusively that the King of Pop "had doctors visiting him daily."

Michael went into cardiac arrest Thursday afternoon and was rushed to UCLA Medical Center around 1pm. His personal physician was with him at the time and accompanied him to the hospital.

At approximately 1:14pm when he arrived at the hospital, doctors and emergency personnel performed CPR and tried to resuscitate him, but were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at 2:26pm.

The cause of his death is still unknown, but an autopsy is scheduled for this coming Friday afternoon. Michael was transferred from UCLA Medical Center to the coroner’s office via a Los Angeles Sheriff's helicopter shortly after 6pm.
From:www.kansascity.com

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