Jermaine Jackson: 'I Wish It Was Me,' Michael A 'Gift From Allah' (VIDEO)

(AP Article, Scroll Down for Video)

NEW YORK -- Jermaine Jackson says he would like to see Neverland Ranch as his brother Michael's final resting place.

In an interview broadcast Thursday on NBC's "Today" show, Jermaine Jackson also said he wishes he had died instead of his younger brother, and that Michael was "a gift from Allah."

"He went too soon. I don't know how people are going to take this, but I wish it was me," Jermaine Jackson said.

When asked why he felt that way, Jermaine Jackson said he always felt that he was Michael's "backbone."

"I wanted to be there for him. I was there and he was sort of like molded. Things he couldn't say, I would say them. During the trials, during everything ..."

Jermaine Jackson said that when he rushed to UCLA Medical Center last Thursday, where the 50-year-old pop singer was pronounced dead, "I wanted to see Michael, and I wanted to see my brother, and see him there lifeless and breathless was very emotional for me, but I held myself together, because I know he's very much alive."

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"His spirit is, and that was just a shell, but I kissed him on his forehead and I hugged him, and I touched him and I said, `Michael, I'll never leave you. You'll never leave me.'"

On Wednesday, Jackson family spokesman Ken Sunshine said a public memorial was in the works but it wouldn't be held at Neverland.

A person familiar with the situation told the AP that permits for a burial at the sprawling Santa Barbara, Calif., estate could not be arranged in time. The person was not authorized to speak for the family and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Jackson said Neverland was Michael's home.

"He created this. Why wouldn't he be here? I feel his presence."

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Comments

[OldWiseMan]

There are lyrics in the "We are the world" song that claims God turned stone into bread.

People everywhere remember the song. Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie wrote that song.
Nobody READS anymore. We just trust what people say or SING.

God did NOT turn stones into bread. Lucifer tempted Christ to "turn these stones into bread".
Christ rebuked him.

Michael Jackson was gifted but the lifestyle he lived proved that he was not a gift from God.

[StillAmused]

Bet you had to make yourself vewwy, vewwy small to wedge yourself into that tiny space.

If you play it backwards, there are probably demonic messages.

Fruitcake.

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

How dare you! What makes you an authority on anything?

If you were so concerned about what the Bible actually said, you wouldn't eat swine or shellfish, worship on the Sabbath, and not concerned about artists like Michael Jackson.

PhonyChristians. Get off the internet and get to someone's church.

[OldWiseMan]

"We're The World (USA For Africa)"

There comes a time when we hear a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
and it's time to lend a hand to life
There greatest gift of all

We can't go on pretending day by day
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
We are all a part of God's great big family
And the truth, you know,
Love is all we need

[Chorus:]
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
it's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

Send them your heart so they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us by turning stones to bread
So we all must lend a helping hand

[Chorus]

When you're down and out, there seems no hope at all
But if you just believe there's no way we can fall
Let us realize that a change can only come
When we stand together as one

[Chorus]

[duchamp2008]

Lionel Ritchie actually wrote the song while Jackson was off getting a nose job, which inspired "Man in the Mirror" (containing the classic lyrical line: "Take a look at yourself and change your face").

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

L i e.

[truthartbeauty]

all religion and religious references make me sick but the song was beautiful and the sentiment was too. it was a sweet song.

[psychmaj323]

lol, yet you are? LOL

You don't KNOW his lifestyle. What you KNOW is SPECULATION and what he's ALLOWED YOU TO SEE.

This man has been ridiculed and made a mockery of and many of you really just don't know what he was going through. You really don't....

[watchingfromCanada]

I'm glad I watched this show last night - I have a much better sense of Michael Jackson and his family, and less tolerance for what the media is portraying, in their effort to exploit the situation for higher ratings.

Jermaine was gentle and well spoken, and a fine family spokesperson. I really respected how he focussed on relationships, heartfelt feelings and the kindness that Micheal offered to the world. Showing Neverland in all its beauty reassured me that his life wasn't all such a circus, as the media certainly prefers to portray. Sure, he was eccentric in many ways, but after watching the show last night, I will put those images aside, and focus on what Michael Jackson did so well, as my own personal tribute to a truly gifted person.

Finally, kudos on CNN for showing Neverland as a beautiful and peaceful place. Now keep up the good work and just get off the sensationalism with the rest of the story, wouldya? Anderson, you can't be happy with this type of rumour-driven journalism, so either stand up and get a back bone about it or go work for TMZ. I've seen guest after guest these days frustrated with every CNN anchor, and rightfully so. There is a difference between investigative reporting and rumour mongering... Some of us go to CNN to avoid the sensationalist journalism that is found on every other channel, but I'm not seeing much difference these days....

[gladys46]

I wholeheartedly agree with what you've said ! Hazeltt on MSNBC has made a very good effort to silence these horrific rumours ... she puts it that any mere thought from any so-called source or good source is being aired as factual, thus, taking on life of it's own!

What is absolutely apparent to me is Rowe waiting to hear the content of Michael's will & trust before any hint of wanting custody of Michael's children ! Clearly, the greed of her attorney(s) checked in !! We all know that the $$$$, at least 40% follows the children. Suddenly we hear of how difficult it was for her to get visitation of those children after 12 years. My heart goes out to those children ... but, we can pick our friends but not our "parent" !

[harriettubman]

Yeah, I believe the lawyers coerced her. One of her former lawyers said something about custody before MJ was cold. The woman only carried the children, she didn't parent them. She's stated this time and time again. The will is what it is. I hope any judge overseeing custody will see this for what it is.

[Mohawkair]

He appears to be a kind soul.

[KevinHallShow]

Huffington Post should be ashamed at the way it is trying to inject religion into this story. Who cares if Jermaine follows Islam. Trying to inject it is simply a way to sensationalize an already huge story. Please let's keep religion out of this. We get enough religion baiting by Fox News. Maybe someone on Huffington Post can do some research and look at the effects of all of his philantropic efforts

http://kevinhallshow.com/?p=238

[harriettubman]

Jermaine injected it himself. He mentioned Allah a few times when discussing MJ. MJ was as Islamic as I am and I'm not.

[StillAmused]

Jermaine was really solid with Larry King at 'Neverland' last night... even when the old boy was tripping all over his malapropisms and asking truly stupid questions.

Jackson was, whatever else can be dug out of the cracks, a gentle spirit. That utterly baffles and frustrates many people who like their celebs crass and familiar.

[duchamp2008]

MJ a "gift from Allah"!? That just cracks me up.

[WowJones]

It's no wonder, most of your moments come from that avatar anyway.

[Kevbo68]

Hah. Was there some ongoing battle between DuChamp and Magritte I never heard of that you're recreating? It's Readymades vs. Time Transfixed! Annnnd... fight!

[StillAmused]

Geez... be a sport and replace the 'cake', would ya'?

[harriettubman]

He truly was a gift from God or whatever higher being you may or may not believe in. He was a child prodigy and lived a full life in 50 short years.

[firelord5000]

I find it interesting, that people who loved MJ for being MJ, aka his closest friends have remained so mum regarding his death and grieving, aka Culkin and Taylor in comparison to people who mostly saw him as a cash cow.

[harriettubman]

People have to look at this from all angles and not with tunnel fan vision. Some worshipped MJ while some did adore him, some also believed the molestation charges. Even his close friend Gotham said he was conflicted about that but he loved MJ. We're taught to believe children. However, if John Doe committed those things he would be in prison and the public would be outraged so all of this has to be balanced. You can still like someone. Look at all the addicts in people's families across the U.S. who are either loved or outcast.

[firelord5000]

No, I meant regarding people close to him mourning quietly, and his family members whom he wasn't close to are going all over the media.

[illusionpainter]

I can totally empathize with Jermaine. I lost my mother, who was my best fried, 15 yrs. ago. I know how it feels. It never leaves you. People say time will heal. Wrong. You never get over that yearning for them and grieving for your loss. The loss of that companionship and love. It's the most painful, heart wrenching feeling one can ever have. No one will ever understand that feeling unless they live through it. The only thing I think would be worse is to lose a child. My heart bleeds for his mother. No mother should ever have to bury a child.

[Megley]

Re: death of a loved one:
It doesn't get better, it just gets different.
That pain never goes away.
When my mom died, I mourned for six months; I was inconsolable. I became detached.
Part of me was afraid that if I stopped grieving her death, I'd start forgetting her. Stupid, I know.
That said, whatever was going on in the Dysfunctional Family Poster Children, their grief is real.

[nilotic]

Very well said. Two years after losing my dad too soon, I am still in a lot of pain, and I can't imagine it going away. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about him. He was my right arm. I can't imagine the pain of having to bury a child, so I feel very bad for Mrs. Jackson. The pain must never ending on a most profound level.

[MsIrisMG]

Poor Jermaine. That hole between he and Jackie is pretty large right now, but not as large as the hole in the hearts of those who loved his fallen brother.

[duncansdad]

I wonder how long it had been since Jermaine say his brother.
His child is named Jermajesty. Seriously.

[psychmaj323]

so what? Gwyneth names her kid apple, lol...

[aznurse]

I watched this while in a waiting room today. Did he say that they were thinking about using the
Washington Monument area to have services for him. I couldn't quite hear it for certain.
If this is true, then its seems a bit much.

[MsIrisMG]

You weren't watching THIS show, then. Watch it again.

[tora]

Yes he said Wash monument, in order to accommodate the fans from the US and around the world. The Staple center would only hold 1/10 of the people. They don't call him a legend for no reason

[AlligatorShuz]

Please tell me what happened t Jermain hair?
It reminds me of the 1960's process?

[psychmaj323]

lol, his hair has been that way for years, it ain't gonna change...lol

[Uchenna Oguekwe]

That second trail really had an affect on Michael. You could see it as he walked into the court and it got worse as the trial progressed. I'd never believe both accusations. There was a lot of suspicion around both children's parents. The first parent settle the case for reportedly $20 million. I'm sorry but if I believed that anyone harmed my child, I would want that person in prison. No amount of money would stop me from ensuring that they go there. In the second case, it was all about greed. In initial interviews with officials the boy said that nothing happened. To add, the mother of the boy had charges brought on herself for unlawfully collecting $19,000 in welfare, http://atlantis2.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=792741nn).

I think Michael wanted to give these kids the childhood he never had and because he left his arms wide open, many greedy people came into his life. Because many in our society want to think the worst and thought Mike lived a strange life, it was easy for these greedy people to make others believe a lie. I hope he has found some peace now.

[lippp]

He admitted giving alcohol to children. It was called Jesus Juice for white wine and Jesus Blood for red wine. Please explain how that relates to giving the children the childhood he never had. That, by the way is a matter of record when he was tried for child molestation.

[tora]

Kids are given wine in Europe at a very young age. Is that a crime? I actually think the same thing must have happened to MJ when he was young, alcohol given to a minor, considering he grew up in show biz.

MJ was eccentric and different from the norm, to a point of naivety. He may have made faux pas choices, but don't forget this was a man who never had a normal childhood of his own. He created a world of his own, Neverland, in order to find sanctuary and inner peace.

Neverland was supposed to reflect the childhood he missed. Instead it was stolen from him.

[Uchenna Oguekwe]

In many places around the world, kids are allowed to drink very young. I know many people in this country who have allowed their kids to take sips of wine not just on special occasions like New Year's Eve. Michael Jackson didn't know what it was like as a child to go outside and play. He did know what it was like to go to a school dance or to the movies with friends as a child. He built Neverland as a testament of all the things he would have liked to have or do growing up. He shared it all with under privileged or sick kids who also don't know what it is like to have a fun childhood. Like I said before, Michael opened up his arms wide to the rest of the world; however many people who came in hurt Mike in the end.

[MsIrisMG]

He often hosted terminally ill kids at Neverland so they could enjoy some fun beyond the chemo.

[duchamp2008]

A little gin and juice makes play time fun!

[Stilts9]

What a crock.

[ObamaNation0812]

NIce Germaine-- ignore the h@ters!