I was very sad to learn that Michael Levine, a former publicist of pop star Michael Jackson released a statement in the Jackson families’ time of grief, saying he foresaw Michael Jackson’s tragic demise years ago. The statement reads:
“As someone who served as Michael Jackson’s publicist during the 1st child molestation incident, I must confess I am not surprised by today’s tragic news.
“Michael has been on an impossibly difficult and often self-destructive journey for years. His talent was unquestionable but so too was his discomfort with the norms of the world.”
After three digs at Michael Jackson, Levine then goes on to say: “A human simply can not withstand this level of prolonged stress.”
HORIWOOD: The last line is definitely true regarding Michael Jackson’s unusual high profile life in the public eye. It was stressful. What are your thoughts about this statement?
And… should a publicist really act as a pseudo psychiatrist/ psychologist… when they’re not qualified to diagnose a client or predict a client’s death, after the fact they’ve died? Isn’t that cheating when it comes to giving predictions?
Something is off here. There appears to be no client confidentiality in Mr Levine’s PR practices. In addition, to release such a statement, for the purpose of one’s own publicity in the Jackson’s families’ collective grief over Michael (a son, brother, father, uncle, cousin etc) is kinda deplorable. Your thoughts?
Or… are we just thankful Michael Levine has been “the bad guy,” to give media and bloggers and us all, something more to talk about surrounding MJ’s death?
Speak on it! That b*tchy Erika T.Bass is alive and well I see.
[...] 9. IS MICHAEL JACKSON’S FORMER PUBLICIST, MICHAEL LEVINE BEING HEARTLESS AND RATHER DESPERATE AS HE B… [...]
Michael Levine DID not work for Jackson during the first molestation incident. He was briefly hired by Jackson’s team (Bob Jones) following the incident. Levine did little to improve the bad PR situation and was terminated soon thereafter. Levine has NEVER been in the same room as Jackson. Let me repeat NEVER. Levine’s statement is a desperate attempt to attract attention to himself. Levine is in terrible financial trouble, has a horrible reputation for hitting on employees/interns and people/clients exit his life once they learn what a horrible insect he is. His company is a joke and barely makes payroll.
The fact that he released such a statement within minutes of Jackson passing away is totally and utterly disgusting. But, what is worse is that his words are filled with lies, innuendos and fabrication from Levine’s own vivid imagination. He suggests that he has inner knowledge of Jackson’s life in the last days/weeks/years and he did NOT. Like I said, Levine has never been in the same room as Jackson and hasn’t been near members of the Jackson inner circle in nearly 15 years – hardly the inner knowledge of someone who knows Jackson’s personal “journey.”
Levine is trying to gain attention so he can sign clients. Despite the fact that Jackson can no longer sue him for slander or libel, Levine has zero class or tact, let alone manners and hopefully his statement will land his ass in court for defamation soon.
Sammie,
You are SO correct! Michael Levine is S……..ZY and represents all the things that legit professionals run from in the industry. His very unprofessional tactics from running his office to making comments about MJ after his death show his lack of ethics.
Now he’s running a mock with capitalizing on “Ronnie Chasen’s” murder! He’s probably put out the contract (I heard someone make a joke suggesting this)
However, he gets so enraged when people don’t like him or dismiss him, and he’s so tacky, nothing would surprise us.
Fundraiser for Ronnie! What a joke and how tacky can he get. He’s trying to make publicity for himself off his (so called) nemesis, Ronnie, whom he was extremely jealous of. I wish Ronnie’s family would tell him to move over and get out of the picture!
[...] media attention. Remember that Michael Levine guy who the day of Jackson’s death released a statement that he “foresaw” Jackson’s [...]
I should also mention that Levine WAS NOT HIRED AS JACKSON’s PUBLCIST – merely a consultant and he was fired when he accomplished nothing. Levine is often fired and nowadays not hired thus why he’s scrambling for press for himself now.
I cannot agree with you more Sammie B. I too have first hand knowledge of what a leach Michael Levine is. I worked for him many years ago and I was able to see first hand of the nonsense that went into his “business”. Initially, I was under the impression that he did indeed represent all the clients that he said he did….come to find out that was not the case at all. I placed calls for him all day and never did Michael receive call backs from any celebrities that he wanted to speak with regarding work. This was a man when I worked for him had 3 different psychiatrists, yes you heard me right. Needless to say, when I quit and moved on, only then did I realize what a joke he and his company were. Not only to me, but also to the entertainment industry.