So now the question is: will jurors in the Michael Jackson child molestation case be bedazzled by an array of famous, rich celebrities who testify to his character?
It’s going to be interesting to watch. Of course, the immediate question is: what do character witnesses have to do with the price of bagels in Jerusalem when this case revolves around things that allegedly went on in Jackson’s fortress/amusement park Neverland, in his bedroom?
The latest twist is the news that the King of Perps Pop is planning to call a mind-boggling array of famous people for his defense — including one who is raising eyebrows and apparently had no idea he’ll be called. The New York Post reports this:
Hoops star-turned-accused rapist Kobe Bryant is set to be hauled before a jury in Michael Jackson’s upcoming kiddie-sex trial — as a defense witness — Jacko’s lawyer revealed yesterday.
Bryant was listed on a potential-witness roster that also includes two of the singer’s kids, as well as such celebs as Liz Taylor, Jay Leno and Larry King.
It’s unclear what Bryant, who has been sued for the alleged rape of a former Colorado hotel worker, will testify about — especially in light of what he told reporters at the Lakers’ training facility yesterday.
“Am I? Am I really [on the list]?” he said, flashing an incredulous look. “I know him [Jackson] and I’ve had conversations with him and things like that.”
Jacko’s accuser’s mom — who the defense is expected to paint as a money-grubbing celebrity hound — has boasted that she knows Bryant.
Ex-child actor Corey Feldman and baby-faced singers Nick and Aaron Carter also are slated to testify, Jacko’s lawyers said.
The defense’s list of 383 names also touts such stars as Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Ed Bradley, Maury Povich, illusionist David Blaine and guru-to-the-stars Deepak Chopra.
Why doesn’t Leno host?
Oh. That’s right. He’s reportedly going to be a witness, too. Then why not get Letterman to run the courtroom? More:
“A large part of that is going to be for character defense,” said Jim Hammer, a former assistant DA from San Francisco and legal analyst on the sensational case. “[Defense lawyers] are hoping jurors have a good feeling about these stars and that some of it will rub off on Michael Jackson.”
But the prosecution is set to battle back with potentially explosive testimony from the Jacko kids’ mom, former dental assistant Debbie Rowe, who is in a custody battle with her ex-husband over their two children: Prince Michael, 8, and daughter Paris, 7, who are also on the witness list.
Bryant’s choice seems a bit puzzling given that he is still a bit controversial, but if celebrity is all that matters here are some suggestions for Jackson. Why not call:
–Robert Blake. He was in Our Gang and on TV for years and did really well when he appeared on late night TV talk shows.
–O.J. Simpson. He still gets lots of attention as he devotes his life to looking for his wife’s real killer on the finest golf courses in the world.
–William Shatner. He does all kinds of gigs and if he’s booked somewhere else he’ll send his hairpiece to testify.
UPDATE: Jackson was rushed to a hospital emergency room fater getting sick on the way to his trial. No reports yet on his condition.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.