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7 News Features: Michael Jackson
Air Date: 02/20/2003
You may not know it, but Michael Jackson visits South Florida a lot. He's been spotted at restaurants on the beach, shopping at Aventura Mall, and even house hunting in Palm Beach. Tonight, some locals who've dealt with Michael are telling us what the King of Pop is like.
(WSVN) -- Child Star...
Entertainer...
Headline Maker...
No one can argue Michael Jackson has spent most of his life in the glare of the media spotlight... some of it right here in South Florida.
"That's part of the life that he's missing and of being just a regular person..."
John Wolfe knows that firsthand. The Boynton Beach bodyguard has provided security for everyone from Chaka Khan to Joan Osbourne. And got to know Michael when he was assigned to the Jackson's Victory Tour.
Bodyguard, John Wolfe says, "Michael is a really nice guy. Michael is a sweetheart. Michael is caring and thoughtful and considerate and shy and a little nervous of people that want more than just an autograph and pictures..."
John says he got close to Michael while the group was rehearsing for the tour in Dallas.
The two spent the day on a golf cart as crews were setting up for the concert -- Michael fascinated by every moment.
John says, "He doesn't even know what its like what it is to go out with a friend and do normal things and I felt bad for him and he was thrilled to death because we drove around on the golf cart like 2 normal guys hanging out and that was cool for him, he liked that..."
Palm Beach Realtor, Nadine House says, "This is a grown man that never grew up."
Nadine House will never forget her encounter with the King of Pop.
She says, "He arrived in two SUV's. There were six security and Michael Jackson."
The Palm Beach realtor showed Michael this 45 million dollar house last December.
But she says he was more interested in the home's interior and a book featuring his good friend Elizabeth Taylor.
Nadine sys, "There was an entire like six chapters, that was jewelry he had given her, which was millions and millions of dollars worth of jewelry..."
Nadine adds, "He was almost like a child going through a house. He was looking at things that had nothing to do with why you would want to live in this house."
Nadine says things got even more bizarre when M.J. stepped outside.
She says, "He saw these birds and they were circling our house. He got so fascinated by this that he started running around the yard imitating the birds."
She adds, "There were probably 100 birds that actually were coming to his loud cawing he was making.......One of his bodyguards has an umbrella he puts over him, and he was trying to keep up with him."
In December he showed up at this Miami Benihana restaurant with the bodyguards --- minus the umbrella.
"According to the management here at Benihana, Michael Jackson sat right here in this chair. He showed up with a party of about 12 people and he was with his children who they say were not wearing masks at the time. He ordered the seafood combination and stuck around for about 2 hours but at the beginning of the meal he did have some unusual requests..."
Kevin Aoki of Benihana says, "The light was a little too bright for him so he asked us to take the bulbs out of the hoods and we put little candles all around the table for him..."
Kevin adds, "Also he wanted to hear some music so we pumped up the music louder we put some classic rock music in the background for him..."
Staff members couldn't believe how Michael worked the room.
Mutsumi Kobayashi of Benihana says, "All night he was so friendly, he talked to everybody and even talked to the customers and asked everybody where are you from and what's your name...and just like this.."
The superstar even posed for a picture with the staff and even signed autographs for customers.
Hisashi Ito of Benihana says, "He's such a famous person so I never thought about meeting Michael Jackson so yeah, very excited..."
South Florida celebrity photographer Manny Hernandez has photographed his fair share of celebs.
He says, "There's something about you baby..."
But the mystery of Michael puts him in a whole other league.
Manny says, "It's like seeing the President of the United States or something, you might not like the President of the United States but if he walks in you're gonna say wow -- there's the President of the United States.."
Only he's not the President --- he's the King. The King of Pop that is.
Michael did not buy that 45 million dollar mansion.
We're hearing he's still interested in South Florida, but with all the controversy... his house hunting is on hold for now.
Source: http://www.wsvn.com/features/articles/spec...cialreport/C80/
7 News Features: Michael Jackson
Air Date: 02/20/2003
You may not know it, but Michael Jackson visits South Florida a lot. He's been spotted at restaurants on the beach, shopping at Aventura Mall, and even house hunting in Palm Beach. Tonight, some locals who've dealt with Michael are telling us what the King of Pop is like.
(WSVN) -- Child Star...
Entertainer...
Headline Maker...
No one can argue Michael Jackson has spent most of his life in the glare of the media spotlight... some of it right here in South Florida.
"That's part of the life that he's missing and of being just a regular person..."
John Wolfe knows that firsthand. The Boynton Beach bodyguard has provided security for everyone from Chaka Khan to Joan Osbourne. And got to know Michael when he was assigned to the Jackson's Victory Tour.
Bodyguard, John Wolfe says, "Michael is a really nice guy. Michael is a sweetheart. Michael is caring and thoughtful and considerate and shy and a little nervous of people that want more than just an autograph and pictures..."
John says he got close to Michael while the group was rehearsing for the tour in Dallas.
The two spent the day on a golf cart as crews were setting up for the concert -- Michael fascinated by every moment.
John says, "He doesn't even know what its like what it is to go out with a friend and do normal things and I felt bad for him and he was thrilled to death because we drove around on the golf cart like 2 normal guys hanging out and that was cool for him, he liked that..."
Palm Beach Realtor, Nadine House says, "This is a grown man that never grew up."
Nadine House will never forget her encounter with the King of Pop.
She says, "He arrived in two SUV's. There were six security and Michael Jackson."
The Palm Beach realtor showed Michael this 45 million dollar house last December.
But she says he was more interested in the home's interior and a book featuring his good friend Elizabeth Taylor.
Nadine sys, "There was an entire like six chapters, that was jewelry he had given her, which was millions and millions of dollars worth of jewelry..."
Nadine adds, "He was almost like a child going through a house. He was looking at things that had nothing to do with why you would want to live in this house."
Nadine says things got even more bizarre when M.J. stepped outside.
She says, "He saw these birds and they were circling our house. He got so fascinated by this that he started running around the yard imitating the birds."
She adds, "There were probably 100 birds that actually were coming to his loud cawing he was making.......One of his bodyguards has an umbrella he puts over him, and he was trying to keep up with him."
In December he showed up at this Miami Benihana restaurant with the bodyguards --- minus the umbrella.
"According to the management here at Benihana, Michael Jackson sat right here in this chair. He showed up with a party of about 12 people and he was with his children who they say were not wearing masks at the time. He ordered the seafood combination and stuck around for about 2 hours but at the beginning of the meal he did have some unusual requests..."
Kevin Aoki of Benihana says, "The light was a little too bright for him so he asked us to take the bulbs out of the hoods and we put little candles all around the table for him..."
Kevin adds, "Also he wanted to hear some music so we pumped up the music louder we put some classic rock music in the background for him..."
Staff members couldn't believe how Michael worked the room.
Mutsumi Kobayashi of Benihana says, "All night he was so friendly, he talked to everybody and even talked to the customers and asked everybody where are you from and what's your name...and just like this.."
The superstar even posed for a picture with the staff and even signed autographs for customers.
Hisashi Ito of Benihana says, "He's such a famous person so I never thought about meeting Michael Jackson so yeah, very excited..."
South Florida celebrity photographer Manny Hernandez has photographed his fair share of celebs.
He says, "There's something about you baby..."
But the mystery of Michael puts him in a whole other league.
Manny says, "It's like seeing the President of the United States or something, you might not like the President of the United States but if he walks in you're gonna say wow -- there's the President of the United States.."
Only he's not the President --- he's the King. The King of Pop that is.
Michael did not buy that 45 million dollar mansion.
We're hearing he's still interested in South Florida, but with all the controversy... his house hunting is on hold for now.
Source: http://www.wsvn.com/features/articles/spec...cialreport/C80/