………and you KNOW this, right? NO, YOU DON’T! So why don’t you SHUT UP?!! Mr. Jackson was fully ACQUITTED by a jury of his peers. Show some respect for the system, why don’t you, you ill-bred idiot!

July 7, 2009

My most sincere, heartfelt condolences go out to Michael Jackson’s children, Mrs. Katherine Jackson, Mr. Joseph Jackson, Jermaine, Marlon, Tito, Jackie, the other Jackson siblings that I never met.

My name is Antoinette Holmes, and although I started the first Jackson Five Fan Club in approximately 1967, in Harlem New York, I was a close childhood friend to Michael Jackson, The Jackson 5 and Mr. Joseph Jackson before they made their firs Apollo appearance, because of a telephone introduction of the family by Sharon and Sheila Horne. Sharon and Sheila Horne’s family relocated to Harlem from Gary, Indiana, and had been neighbors of the Jackson’s.

The approximately 5 years I spent as a childhood friend to Michael Jackson was as a peer. The early years that we spent as friends together, was mostly un-chaperoned, unscripted, un-filmed and unpretentious. Just Michael, Jermaine, Marlon, Tito and me, kids being kids, pulling ridiculous pranks, having pillow fights, throwing water balloons, running through various hotel floors, knocking on guest door and running away. Michael and me shared other Harlem childhood friends, teaching Michael childhood games and sharing secrets, Michael and Marlon’s twin Brandon reunited.

I remember most of all the excitement in Michael’s face and voice when I told him about my many outings to Brooklyn, New York’s Coney Island.

Young 9 year old Michael would always ask me to tell him more about “Corney Island” (as Michael called it), and the rides, fun houses and haunted houses. And he would beg his father, Joseph Jackson to allow me to take him to Coney Island. Which Mr. Joseph Jackson never allowed, due to rehearsals and the hectic and demanding schedules at the Apollo Theater, and the travel time involved.

I was almost like a “Baby Sitter” to Michael and Marlon. Michael Jackson and his brothers were like brothers to me. Joseph Jackson always gave me “Special Privileges” at the hotels Michael and the Jackson’s stayed at and Backstage where ever they performed. I will never forget that day in 1971 when you and Mr. Joseph Jackson made that surprise phone call offering me roundtrip tickets to spend the whole summer with him because they had their “very own swimming pool” and I would be able to meet LaToya and we would all have a lot of fun that summer. Five year of comical anecdotes and funny incidents with Michael Jackson.

Michael became bigger than life and my fear of stampeding crowds eventually drove me away from my “Jackson brothers”. I remember seriously fearing for their safety through it all.

Michael was my friend, but more like my little brother for 5 years. I remember getting in trouble with my mother over the long distance telephone calls to Michael’s Gary Indiana and California homes. I have never had as much fun in my childhood as I did in those 5 years we spent together and mischievous friends. Thank you Mr. Joseph Jackson for allowing me to be friends with you and your sons.

I will miss you, Michael Jackson and I will always love you Michael Jackson. May the Heavenly Father give the Jackson family strength in this very difficult time.