Publishing my new book, The Michael Jackson Tapes: A Tragic Icon
Reveals His Soul in Intimate Conversation, has been a fascinating and
at times painful education in the need for Michael’s most diehard fans
to deify him. The book is out only three days. But even as the book
and the Dateline NBC special highlighting the conversations has been
met with international acclaim, near-universal praise, and instantly
entered the best-seller lists, that hasn’t stopped a Tsunami of angry
messages from Michael’s most fanatical fans on their message boards, 
some laced unfortunately with anti-Semitism and even threats of
violence. Their complaint: how dare I call Michael ‘tragic.’ How dare
I not declare unequivocally that he never molested a child. Most of
all, how dare I publish any book that does not completely extol their
fallen deity.

First, the facts. The Michael Jackson Tapes was published because it
was Michael’s desperate wish that it be so. For most of the
conversations Michael held the Dictaphone directly to his mouth so
that not a word would be lost. In the conversations he refers to the
importance of the book constantly. He wanted it to be as complete as
possible, even sending me to interview his mother for her perspective
on her son, which ended up being one of the most fascinating chapters. 
Unfortunately, when Michael was arrested on charges of child
molestation in 2003, it became impossible to fulfill Michael’s sincere
wish that the book be published. Much as he wanted it, it simply could
not be done. The public had little to no sympathy for Michael, even
after he was exonerated in 2005. Michael was reviled everywhere. But
Michael’s death brought an outpouring of grief and a sincere desire on
the part of the general public to more deeply understand a fallen
American icon. And just as important, Michael’s tragically shortened
life called out for redemption. Michael’s desperate wish that his soul
be known to the public through the medium of these conversations and
that the lessons of his life be used to help heal families could
finally be fulfilled.

It is clear to me now that Michael was so much more courageous and
honest than some of his diehard fans wanted him to be. They are
uncomfortable with these conversations because they feel Michael is
too forthright, too honest, too open about his frailties, 
shortcomings, and flaws. It seems incredible but the tables have now
completely turned. It is the people who claim to be his most diehard
fans who now wish Michael would have censored himself and portrayed
himself as the perfect superstar. And, conversely, it is the general
public, who before were extremely suspicious of Michael and wanted to
hear nothing from him, who have made the book and the NBC Dateline
special into an international phenomenon and arguably the most
positive statements about Michael ever to be released to the public.

Why is Michael so breathtakingly honest in these powerful
conversations? Because, deep down he never wished to be worshipped. He
understood he was only human. And he wanted people to understand his
pain and brokenness so that they would judge him more charitably. The
unforgettable and searingly honest tone of Michael’s conversations
say, in essence, ‘Put yourself in my shoes before you judge me. And
try and learn some lessons from my life, my sad childhood, so that you
don’t repeat the same mistakes with your kids.’

Should we not applaud his honesty? What would we prefer? The speeches
that were given at Michael’s ‘Memorial service,’ a funeral cum concert
where speaker after speaker spoke of how there was nothing wrong with
Michael even though his appearance at the Staples center came in a
gold box because he had died of a drug overdose? Would we prefer
celebrities getting up, misleading, and saying that the only
challenges Michael ever faced was hatred from the media, even though
Michael himself repeatedly said something completely different, that
he was the loneliest man on earth, that his fame was utterly empty for
him, that he yearned endlessly for his father’s affection, and that
the only thing that he wanted was to help families but was prevented
from doing so.

Perhaps this is why Michael chose a Rabbi to share his deepest
thoughts with while holding the recorder to his mouth so that the
widest possible audience would hear the conversations. Perhaps it was
because Michael understood that Judaism has no Jesus figure. The
Hebrew Bible has not even a single perfect person. Everyone from
Abraham, to Moses, to David is portrayed as flawed. Still, what made
them special was that they wrestled with their nature to live selfless
and morally centered lives amid a predilection to do otherwise.

Deep down, Michael never wanted to be Jesus Christ. He yearned not for
martyrdom but for redemption. He didn’t want to die but to consecrate
his fame to a higher purpose. He felt trapped by superstardom and
wished to liberate himself by directing his celebrity to the service
of neglected children. Sadly, his management, many sycophants, and
those on the gravy train got in the way as they feared that the more
Michael participated in family healing projects, like the lectures
that I organized for him at Carnegie Hall, Oxford University, and
Newark, New Jersey, the less money he would make by singing in
concerts and producing albums, even though he was in no mental or
emotional state to carry those obligations through, which is why it
was no coincidence that he died just days before the ludicrous ’50’ 
London concerts were set to begin.

But ultimately, Michael, like the rest of us, has to take
responsibility for his own actions. In this book he does, which is why
this is, warts and all, the most positive portrayal of Michael Jackson
ever produced. It is Michael in his own words. Michael going beyond
the legend and coming across as fully human. Michael instructing
parents to learn from the terrible example of his own neglected
childhood and reach out and love their kids. And Michael reaching out
from the grave, in a book he desperately wished to be published, to
declare to those who loved him most to stop this ridiculous campaign
to venerate him. For he was not a god but just a man. A man who made
many mistakes in life, but who desperately reached for something
higher and who was lost way too soon.

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach is the international best-selling author of 21
books. He is founder and President of This World: The Values Network, 
who major national campaign is Turn Friday Night Into Family Night. 
The Michael Jackson Tapes: A Tragic Icon Reveals His Soul in Intimate
Conversation is available everywhere. http://www.shmuley.com.