UNITED KINGDOM: Uri Geller says Michael Jackson must apologize if voice of tape is his

Record ID: 722395

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: Uri Geller says Michael Jackson must apologize if voice of tape is his
  • Date: 1st December 2005
  • Summary: NEAR HENLEY ON THAMES, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (NOVEMBER 24, 2005) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) URI GELLER, AUTHOR, SAYING: "When I heard about these alleged comments coming from Michael Jackson on a taped message he left, I was absolutely shocked and appalled and saddened. Both me and my wife. Because Michael Jackson was our best man when we renewed our wedding vows. And the words that he used describing Jews in my opinion - and this is my opinion - are anti-Semitic. There is no doubt in my mind."
  • Embargoed: 16th December 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA3DUHMKSHMDGJOC3OX3TDF2XPM
  • Story Text: Author Uri Geller said that popstar Michael Jackson must apologize for the "hurtful words", he allegedly left on a answer machine tape in 2003. US TV show 'Good Morning America' aired a conversation between Jackson and his former adviser Dieter Wiesner, in which the superstar accused Jewish of ruining him financially and branding them as leeches. Geller said that he was "absolutely shocked and appalled and saddened" by the comments but stressed that he himself had not heard the tape and could therefore not say with certainty whether the voice was indeed the of Jackson. Geller said that he would not break ties with Jackson if the comments were not from him. "Of course I will invite Michael back here if that's not his words." But he also made very clear how important the matter is for him and how much pain those comments caused. "But if Michael Jackson indeed said those hurtful words, anti-Semitic words, I will try to erase Michael Jackson totally out if my mind. I will cut him out, I will eradicate him out of my lexica. I will never, ever want to hear about him again," he added. However, Geller said that he never detected any anti-Jewish resentments in Jackson. "I can vividly remember him turning to me in a limousine in London - and David Blaine was sitting next to him, the magician from America - and he simply said 'you know, Uri, the Jews are the chosen ones'," he explained. Uri Geller was once a close friend of singer Michael Jackson. He has always remained loyal and defended Jackson more than once against various accusations. On the tape - a recorded message for former adviser, Dieter Wiesner - Jackson says: "They suck them (stars) like leeches. ... They start out the most popular person in the world, make a lot of money, big house, cars and everything and end up penniless." "It's a conspiracy. The Jews do it on purpose." Wiesner is suing the pop star for 64 million U.S. dollars (37 million pound sterling), alleging breach of contract and fraud. The 'Billie Jean' singer's alleged comments have outraged America's large Jewish population and now the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) have demanded Jackson make a public apology. Right after the message was broadcasted, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) demanded Jackson an apology for his "hurtful and hateful words", claiming he had "an anti-Semitic streak".
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