‘I wish he was here to see all this’ — Joe Jackson’s statements on the death of Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson died on Thursday, June 25, 2009. On Sunday, June 28, 2009, Joe Jackson, father of Michael Jackson, attended the BET Awards and briefly spoke with CNN:
“I’m great. My family’s doing pretty good ... It has been really tough. Remember, we just lost the biggest star in the world, superstar in the world, so, it’s been tough.” (Is asked about whether he is attending the awards show in tribute to Michael.)
“... To show appreciation for my son, yeah, Michael. Yeah, so we did.” (Says he wants his publicist to read a statement. The publicist reads:)
“This is from, written on behalf of Mr. Jackson and the family. ‘Our family sincerely thinks all of you around the world for your love and support during our time of grief. Our beloved son Michael Jackson loved you all. Michael’s children are our first priority. We will have further announcements to discuss our plans going forward. Until such time, however, we have the personal and legal authority to act, and solely Katherine and I have authority for our son and his children. We wish to handle his memorsee- memory and legacy with dignity, and the attorney for the Jacksons is Londell McMillan, and no one else has authority to speak on behalf of the Jackson family at this time.” (Joe Jackson is asked if “the world even realizes how big your son’s legacy is.)
“... I wish the world had recognized him when he were livin’ because you know, but right now, he’s bigger than ever now. But I wish he was here to see all this, to hear all this. Yes.” (Is asked how the family is doing.)
“They’re all doin’ fine. But I want to make this statement. This is a real good statement here. Marshall and I ... we own the record company called, tell ’em ...” (Marshall Thompson continues:)
“Ranch Records. ... Blu-Ray technology. And that’s his next step.”
On Monday, June 29, 2009, Joe Jackson, father of Michael Jackson, took questions at a press conference in Los Angeles accompanied by the Rev. Al Sharpton and made these comments:
“The family and I are very proud to see all of you come out here ... and help us with this whole situation, because we know that we do have fans all over the world. We know that we are loved all over the world. But one thing that, um, I wish could had happened — I wish that Michael could be here to see all this, had to wait till something happened like this before ... before, uh, it could be, uh, realized. Michael is a, was the superstar. He’s a superstar all over the world. He was loved in every country in the United States ... and every country all over the world, he was loved. But one thing Michael didn’t know is, he didn’t know how strong this would be because he tried his hard to please everybody. The sick, he’d donate so much money to the sick, he helped the blind, he helped everybody that needed help, and he was glad to do it. I’ve seen Michael help so many people and sometime he would go and cry about it because he felt sorry for the people that he was helping. So ... I was very proud of my son. And the legacy of Michael will still go on. I promise you that. (Fields question about custody of Michael Jackson’s children.)
“... We’re the parents, and we’ve got other kids of their size. They love those kids, and we love those kids too. We gonna take care of ’em and give ’em they education they- they supposed to have. We can do that. And we have the air enough, and the premises are large enough, to be able to extend all kind of help that they might need. (Fields question about timing of funeral.)
“We’re not ready for that ... because we’re trying to wait on something else ... we’re searching to see what happened to Michael .. we don’t have the time frame yet because I want to see how this autopsy’s coming out, you know. The second autopsy- ... They’re doin’ it right now, and I’m expecting to hear about it ... real soon (Fields question about Debbie Rowe.)
“Debbie Rowe has nothing to do with what we doin’. (Fields question about will.)
“I don’t get into that yet because we looking at that too (Fields question about President Barack Obama.)
“That’s a private situation, I have to deal with that. (Fields question about whether funeral will be private.)
“... It’ll be some private but not, not closed-down, all the way down to the public. (Fields question about a family tour.)
“I don’t know about that either, because I’ve seen no rehearsal, on the world tour yet, not with the rest of the family yet.” (Fields question about whether the children are talking about Michael and are happy.)
“Oh yeah, they’re- They happy, though, they’re happy with the kids ... that they’re around ... small, just like they are ... they was never around other kids, but they- they- they’re happy (Fields question about longtime nanny.)
“We’re looking at that too, but she- she’s a good friend of the family and good friends with the kids. (Fields question about Dr. Conrad Murray.)
“I can’t answer that right now ... I haven’t spoke with him yet. (Fields question about whether he has seen a will.)
“No, not yet. (Fields question about how Mrs. Jackson is doing.)
“She’s fine, thank you. (Fields question on whether Michael will be buried at Neverland.)
“That’s not true. That’s not- that’s not true.”
(August 2026)
