The director of Michael Jackson’s planned final concerts testified today that he feared a paranoid, lost and off-balance MJ was in no shape to perform in what turned to be the final weeks of his life.
Famed music maestro Kenny Ortega, director the “High School Musical” movies, also said he let AEG Live concert promoters know his fears.
Jackson had missed weeks of rehearsals in June, 2009 before he finally showed up on June 19 – and he was a wreck, according to Ortega. With the “This is It” concerts in London around the corner, Ortega said he was sure Jackson wasn’t ready.
“My feeling was we were not gonna make it and the plan was to make it clear” to AEG bosses that Jackson couldn’t perform, Ortega told jurors weighing a civil lawsuit pressed by MJ’s family.
The King of Pop’s loved ones are suing AEG Live, claiming that the concert titans knew Jackson was falling apart but did nothing to help him.
Family lawyer Brian Panish methodically Ortega if Jackson was losing weight, having problems keeping his balance, suffering back pains, appearing lost and acting paranoid.
Ortega simply answered “yes” to all those claims.
The 50-year-old Jackson died on June 25, 2009.
Dr. Conrad Murray was convicted of manslaughter for giving Jackson anesthetics as sleep medication.
The plaintiffs showed jurors an e-mail they’d previously seen from Ortega to AEG Live co-CEO Paul Gongaware.
“Were you aware Dr. Murray not allowing Michael to come to rehearsal? Are Randy and Frank aware?” Ortega wrote to Gongaware, referencing AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips and Jackson’s manager Frank DiLeo.
“Please don’t underestimate the need to stay on top of this.”
Jackson showed up for rehearsal on June 20, but Ortega sent him home because he was in no shape to work.