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Dec 20th, 2003, 09:11 PM
Hundreds gather for party at Neverland before Jackson flies
Sat Dec 20, 7:46 PM ET Add Top Stories - AFP to My Yahoo!
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Hundreds of celebrities, family members and fans of beleaguered pop icon Michael Jackson attended a support party at his Neverland Ranch, hours ahead of his departure to Britain.
Jackson spokesman Stuart Backerman stressed that the star-studded party, held just two days after the "King of Pop" was charged with molesting a young boy, was not a giddy celebration but a gathering of loyal friends.
"The purpose of the event, which has had wild speculation, number one is a private gathering of friends and family to show support for Michael Jackson," Backerman said as Jackson headed back to Neverland, reportedly for the first time since his November 20 arrest.
"Its not party so to speak ... this is what friends are all about," he said of the event that was planned earlier this week for 300 people, but aides said that up to 600 supporters may end up attending.
Among the guests at the party were tennis star Serena Williams (news - web sites), rapper MC Hammer, Jackson's sister Latoyah, his parents Katherine and Joe, former boyband members Nick and Aaron Carter and US television host Ryan Seacrest.
But Backerman would not comment on whether any children were present at the party that came after Jackson was Thursday charged with seven counts of sexually abusing a boy under 14 and two counts of plying him with alcohol in order to take advantage of him.
Jackson was arrested in the California city of Santa Barbara, that lies southeast of Neverland, and was freed on three million dollars bail after surrendering his passport.
But prosecutors agreed Wednesday to return his passport to allow him to carry out two contractual work obligations and to promote his CD that came out last month between Saturday and January 5.
British newspaper have rounded on authorities for allowing the trip, asking for him to be kept out of Britain.
Backerman said Jackson's trip to Britain was "an obligation" but that he would spend Christmas there "relaxing, doing what most of us would do during the Christmas season."
He also dismissed reports this week that Jackson had joined the controversial black Muslim group Nation of Islam, saying that while he had received support from many groups, he did not "fund or direct" any of them.
Source:http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20031221/ts_afp/us_justice_jackson_031221004632
Sat Dec 20, 7:46 PM ET Add Top Stories - AFP to My Yahoo!
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Hundreds of celebrities, family members and fans of beleaguered pop icon Michael Jackson attended a support party at his Neverland Ranch, hours ahead of his departure to Britain.
Jackson spokesman Stuart Backerman stressed that the star-studded party, held just two days after the "King of Pop" was charged with molesting a young boy, was not a giddy celebration but a gathering of loyal friends.
"The purpose of the event, which has had wild speculation, number one is a private gathering of friends and family to show support for Michael Jackson," Backerman said as Jackson headed back to Neverland, reportedly for the first time since his November 20 arrest.
"Its not party so to speak ... this is what friends are all about," he said of the event that was planned earlier this week for 300 people, but aides said that up to 600 supporters may end up attending.
Among the guests at the party were tennis star Serena Williams (news - web sites), rapper MC Hammer, Jackson's sister Latoyah, his parents Katherine and Joe, former boyband members Nick and Aaron Carter and US television host Ryan Seacrest.
But Backerman would not comment on whether any children were present at the party that came after Jackson was Thursday charged with seven counts of sexually abusing a boy under 14 and two counts of plying him with alcohol in order to take advantage of him.
Jackson was arrested in the California city of Santa Barbara, that lies southeast of Neverland, and was freed on three million dollars bail after surrendering his passport.
But prosecutors agreed Wednesday to return his passport to allow him to carry out two contractual work obligations and to promote his CD that came out last month between Saturday and January 5.
British newspaper have rounded on authorities for allowing the trip, asking for him to be kept out of Britain.
Backerman said Jackson's trip to Britain was "an obligation" but that he would spend Christmas there "relaxing, doing what most of us would do during the Christmas season."
He also dismissed reports this week that Jackson had joined the controversial black Muslim group Nation of Islam, saying that while he had received support from many groups, he did not "fund or direct" any of them.
Source:http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20031221/ts_afp/us_justice_jackson_031221004632