Today in History
On February 19, 1997, It was reported that Michael Jackson would sell exclusive pictures of his infant and the money might be donated to charity.
An excerpt from Deseret News on March 27, 1997:
“ The tabloids didn't roll their eyes when Michael Jackson asked if they wanted to see snapshots of his baby. They pulled out a roll of bills.
The National Enquirer paid $2 million for exclusive North American rights to 10 photographs of Jackson's 5-week-old son, Prince Michael Jackson Jr.The British magazine OK! published a photo of the child, along with Jackson and his wife, Debbie Rowe, this week.
Jackson spokesman Bob Jones wouldn't confirm the amount of money but said it was going to the Heal the World Foundation, set up by Jackson to help children worldwide.
From Michael Jackson 20/20 interview:
Barbara: You have said: “ I grew up in a fishbowl, i will not allow that to happen to my son”, yet when your son was born you sold pictures to the national enquirer and to other european papers, tabloids, why did you do that?
Michael: Why?
Barbara: Why?
Michael: Because, there was a race, there were some illegal pictures out, illegally somebody had taken pictures of a baby, for millions of dollars and said here’s Michael’s son.
Barbara: And it wasn’t as i r…?
Michael: It wasn’t! So i took the pictures of the baby and said they’re forcing me to get his picture… There’s helicopters flying above us, flying over my house, flying over the hospital, machines at satellites all over the… even the hospital said, Michael we’ve had every kind of celebrity here, we’ve never had it like this. This is unbelievable. And so i said, here, take it, and i’d gave to money to charity.