Best moments from interview: 01:01 Introduction of Sam Emerson 01:37 Last time being in Chicago 02:12 First steps in Photography career 03:36 How to become celebrity photographer in 70th? 04:42 How photographers got their credentials/ was tagged back in 70th 05:14 How clients can reach out to you in 70th? 05:51 Meeting Michael Jackson for the first time. Unsuccessful shot 08:24 Billie Jean story about shoes 09:36 Did Michael Jackson knew that Billie Jean will be the biggest hit of his career? 10:42 Phone call invite to join Victory Tour 12:10 How much money photographer makes during Michael Jackson Tour? 14:35 Difference between working with Elton John and Michael Jackson 16:38 How Isolated life of MJ was on tour? 17:05 MJ with Detroit police. Photo of decade issue Zoom magazine 18:53 Why MJ was appearing with military group? 19:40 How the day before the concert look like for his personal photographer? 22:32 Funny story with Sam Emerson, Frank Dileo and MJ. 24:06 MJ in Japan 27:52 Photo of MJ with kids in yellow hats. 29:02 How to convince MJ to do a photo? 32:28 How BAD cover was created? 37:22 How much money Sam Emerson made on Bad cover photo? 38:00 MJ in Tenerife. Photo on the roof of hotel with fans. 41:15 Photos of sad moments of MJ 42:05 Secret of great photo of Michael Jackson 44:29 Pepsi commercial video shoot. 46:16 "In the closet" music video shoot story 50:14 How many rooms MJ rented in hotel during tours? 50:45 Did Sam Emerson was bringing girls after the concert to same hotel where was MJ staying? 52:05 MJ in Rome 52:25 MJ in Tokyo Disneyland 53:15 MJ in Hong Kong 53:55 How much money photographer's luggage did cost to clear with airlines in 1988? 55:50 Meeting Sir Run Run Shaw in Hong Kong 58:58 Photo of MJ steering the boat to Macau 01:00:40 Story with Sylvester Stallone 01:00:35 MJ in Roman outfit at American ambassador backyard 01:02:00 Meeting Prince Charles and Princess Diana 01:05:05 How kind MJ was? Meeting children at hospitals 01:06:05 How Sam Emerson got fired? 01:13:55 Phone call from MJ 01:16:45 What moments Sam Emerson missed and did take photos of 01:17:45 MJ meeting Jackie Gleason from "Gigot" 01:18:27 Three the most iceman shots by Sam Emerson 01:19:30 Story of meeting John Lennon 01:21:10 Photo of MJ in yellow shirt and purple flowers. 01:22:50 Photo of MJ, Oprah and Elizabeth Taylor 01:24:10 Three qualities of successful celebrity photographer 01:25:55 Sam Emerson about nowadays generation of Instagram photographers 01:26:45 Is Sam Emerson happy with his career? 01:28:00 Did MJ had his own icon? 01:30:20 MJ and Slash on BAD album cover 01:31:20 Shot of MJ boots from BAD video shoot. 01:31:50 Have Sam Emerson have been friends with MJ? 01:32:47 Why Sam Emerson stopped working with MJ? 01:34:18 Last time seeing MJ
There will never be.....is a different time with internet, social media etc... And "artist" now dont have a legend signature , style, music, dance, clothes etc.....Michael, Elvis have that...... Beyonce, Usher, Chris Brown, Justin Bieber or Timberlake dont have that special thing
Michael never claimed to have invented the moonwalk sam....he clearly explained that som kids in the ghetto did it..he perfected it...those were his words.
Sam obviously didn’t like Michael and never did. But that’s not a reflection on Michael or Sam. It’s to do with Sam’s personal experiences and his own personality as well. Michael didn’t really let down his guard with everyone and he obviously didn’t for Sam and that might’ve hurt Sam’s feelings.
Also, I see a lot of feeling of resentment here and could be many reasons. I mean, sure Sam worked with other big names but not as big as MJ. I mean, outs side of states, who would know sam if it wasn’t for MJ? MJ’s power was ALL over the world even BACK then without social media. I mean, you can’t just say you have talent and that is. I’m sure, Sam has talent but MJ’s name is the biggest out of all his stuff so there’s some weird feeling at SAM’s end.. too bad honestly
@@globalcitizenn i dont think that was the real problem. MJ got him fired for no reason, for something he didnt do but for something another person did and that person still got to continue working with him while he was kicked out and heshowed no support when he faced the allegations and then begged him to come back without apologizing for what he did. im an MJ fan but that was messed up from him. you could argue thathis way of apologizing was by giving him ownership for all of his future pictures but thats not the same.
@@hithere981 The show business is a shark world, being in this place for so long requires to be tough at some point. Having people skills is something you learn over time, MJ grew up in a bubble
Emerson can say he photographed other celebrities but he should admit Michael was his greatest subject! It was Michael’s photos where he (Emerson) got recognized by Life and that French magazine(s.)
Great journalism! Made with good taste like Mike MJ deserves. Many good interviews of these great professionals who worked with him. Such a relief to see these class acts speaking. Thank you!
Sam needs to understand that the real star is and will always be Michael. He made Sam, NOT that Sam made Michael. Michael is immortal and can never be replaced. Period...
@@hannaz4617 He's just not a 'fanboy'. It was work for him, and MJ / his team were tough with people sometimes. He wasn't the only one. It's a great interview nontheless. :)
@@Visionary Sam Emerson liked Michael's money. To me he talked too much about his paychecks and how much money he makes. I think he was jealous of Michael. We don't know the complete story why he was fired. There might have been a reason. Michael is known that he always was humble, polite and loyal to his band members and other artists he worked with. Sam Emerson might not have told the truth, he liked to show a certain image of himself. He seemed to me very arrogant. Why would he fire him without a reason, that doesn't make sense.
What is with the attitude?! You are being interviewed because of Michael Jackson! We are all watching this interview because we saw Michael Jackson name in the video title not Sam Emerson!
He was more into Elton John and said he was the biggest in the world at the time. This dude was/is delusional. He seems like he didn’t like black people. So unenthusiastic about the youngest and biggest star in 1983!
Poor Michael...I wanted to see the video to find out more about the Charity Man that is in World Records and also about the polyvalent Genius that Michael was....Well this video certainly wasn't about Michael...but I found out first-hand the most bitter truth 😢😢... how Michael must have felt working with those kind of people....still he never lost hope that the world could be healed....that's a good lesson of hope indeed....RIP, KING of hearts 🙏🏻👑❤
True Michael Jackson fan’s know Michael wasn’t perfect. There’s nothing wrong with this photographer telling his side of the story/truth, he humanises him. Great job to the interviewer also for the questions. Nobody’s opinion takes away from MJ’s greatness.
accusing MJ of firing him without any reason whatsoever does not humanize him. It's just a story that among countless others told against Jackson does not make any sense and is used to make the storyteller look good and make Jackson look bad. When you examine the details however the story falls apart
Michael is so funny 😂🤣 ,I can tell when the entertainer do not know how to stop!! 🤣😂 A beautiful soul pass the lemonade🥤🥪. He gave his photo/friend the best gift ,his personally photos full control❤️ Now that is humble making up for his dishonour ❤
It feels Sam's attitude or feeling towards MJ has changed since the Bad25 documentary, hasn't it? Or is it just me? Btw MJ didn't do the Oprah interview to sqash the allegations, that interview happened before the Chandlers.
I don't think Sam Emerson is a honest person. I wouldn't trust or believe him. Michael seems to me more humble and grateful to people who were honest, truthful, respectful and humble. The photographer seemed to me not trustworthy and extremely arrogant and full of himself.
This is literally the first time I've heard someone who worked with Michael Jackson speak negatively about him. Everyone who ever worked with Michael said he was the most humble celebrity person, he was professional, humble, always on time, very naive, and never dared to object. Sam is very narcissistic in his interview, and I stopped watching this video after 10 minutes because when he talks about himself, it's just in a narcissistic way.
Oh, thank you so much for this complete interview, recently I made a tutorial on how to draw MJ and the photo I chose for reference was by this great photographer, so somehow TH-cam recommended this video to me and I am so glad I watched it completely, so very interesting, all the stories he could tell about Elton and Rod as well, even Miley... but I am glad this interview was merely focused on MJ. You made some great questions there, congratulations!!!
@@maksymzakharchuk how did Bob Jones get those photos? why did Bob Jones leak them to the media behind Mj's back? Was it him who told Jackson that Emerson did it? what was the magazine the photos were leaked to?
So Michael doesn't understand people because he does not buy you an expensive watch? That's an interesting way of looking at it. I can see why you were not buddies. Totally different values in life.
Mr Emerson shot many iconic images of Michael and am very grateful he shared this interview but I say this with all due respect, Mr Emerson comes off as a Narcissist. Still grateful for all the iconic images of MJ. But sad he valued the brand of a watch more than his first photo in Life magazine thanks to Michael. Sorry for critical comment.
Sam is full of himself. Fine he pictured other famous guys but if it wasn’t for mj, he wouldn’t be here talking about him and still saving all these from 20+ years. He’s clearly way too egoistic than he should be.
I heard the word “paycheck” too many times. And dropping names and brands like he don’t mean to. I dunno, just seemed like Old mate here was alllll about the cash. Bit sad. Mike was surrounded by people wanting to make money from him.
As a professional photographer who also shoots music artists and actors, it's ALWAYS about the money in the end, regarding if you accept a job or not. Just because the person is famous, doesn't mean you go broke on a job, while they rake in millions. In the 90's, I turned down going on the road and photographing the NIN 1st tour, because I wasn't interested in shooting the tour for free. Yes, Michael Jackson was iconic, but he never worked for free, so why should Sam settle for paltry sums?? Not to mention, we STILL have general living expenses at home, which need to be paid, while you are on tour.
MJ was/is the most amazing intelligent caring warm compassionate Entertainer of all times - Creme de la Creme, he was the BEST - a top notch level by himself
I’m almost positive that the Oprah interview was right before the 1993 allegations, Oprah never had any questions of misconduct with kids in that interview. In fact it happened right after the Oprah interview because the interview gave MJ very high acceptance in the publics eye and so that’s when Evan Chandler ( annoyed by MJ’s shrewd move to gain some public affection ) launched his claim of misconduct after MJ refused to loan him twenty million dollars to make a movie.
A very interesting but a very cold interview with Sam Emerson. I attended the Bad Tour in 1988, and I was one of those teenage fans waiting outside The Mayfair Hotel here in London to see MJ in person (which I was lucky enough to see him in person) back in 1988. I remember seeing Sam Emerson, with his Camera taking photos of fans, talking friendly to fans etc. He appeared very very happy and clearly part of MJ’s team. I also remember fake news story in The about Sam Emerson. I never believed it then as it obviously wasn’t true. I do think MJ firing Sam Emerson over the sneaky Bob Jones had a serious effect on his working relationship with MJ, and his opinion on MJ. Which is understandable. I was always aware MJ fired Sam Emerson, and was surprised in 2012 to see him speaking so well about MJ (especially in contrast to this interviewing) in the ‘Bad 25’ documentary. But as Sam Emerson kept saying “Paycheque” in regards to many parts of his career with MJ. Could it be the case of Sam Emerson being a hypocrite and taking a “Paycheque” from the The Estate to speak in a more friendly tone about MJ in ‘Bad 25’. There isn’t anything horrible in this interview that Sam Emerson says about MJ. Only really that MJ wasn’t a person he wanted to be around (Paycheque, Mr Emerson), but to many of us MJ is someone we’d have loved to be around, and to him MJ was “ The Boss” and Work. But I can’t help but feel a loss of respect for Sam Emerson the same way I’ve lost respect for Quincy Jones. Aside from MJ’s big mistake of sacking him over Bob Jones, and not taking time to listen to his side of the story. I do think his little digs at undermining MJ by saying Elton John was the biggest artist around circa 1984 was pathetic. I have also read an interview with Sam Emerson’s son in a MJ fan magazine about 10yrs ago, and it was a very nice interview, and I think Sam Emerson liked being around MJ and got on with him very well. Especially from reading comments he’s made on his Instagram account, in which he says MJ called him a Magician in one of his comments when asked what MJ thought of his photos. Plus the fact, when MJ phoned him to comeback and work for him again, in 1991 he cameback and didn’t hang up like he did on Bill Bray etc. Plus Sam Emerson currently has an exhibition on showing his MJ photos.
@@hithere981 Agreed. We know MJ the personality. We don't really know how he is in person, esp someone to work with. You might have met him once or twice and thought "Wow, he's such a great guy" but if you've spent every day with him for months or years, you might see something else. MJ is, after all, a human being.
@hithere981 well same could be said about Sam Lol. He said that Michael invented the moonwalk when he never once ever claim that. If you're a MJ hater than yeah of course you will stick to one side and believe all the rumours
I’m neither an MJ fan or “hater” and I found Sam to be a bit unprofessional with some of his remarks in this interview. He gave off a certain bitterness in my opinion, especially considering how many years have passed.
@@thesandwoman he comes off a bit uppity, thats for sure. wanna be high society, bougie. definitely not humble. I think thats why he comes off a little bitter. But i guess when you've come from that world and its all you've known...
I'm curious as to why Sam Emerson said that the first time Michael and Naomi met was at the desert. They didn't rehearse? Their dance moves looked choreographed to me. I also agree with the interviewer Michael looked pretty darn confident during the video and the outtakes. I don't care what Karen and Sam say there is definitely a deeper story.
Amazing photographer, but also amazingly arrogant. I don't know, but he acts like if he's still hurt for being fired that time, maybe it's resentment. But seeing the video of his interview during the tour, gives me an idea that he was always a snob. Oh, and the exasperated sighs when he said he never stayed in Neverland and other couple times, that's not very professional for an interview. I think the interviewer was trying to keep it cool.
Amazing interview 🤍 I have a storage full of photos Mr. Emerson shot of Michael. The authenticity stems through each image. Thank you for the storytelling and showcasing your witty personality 🤍 awesome sauce 🌹 great interview
1:15:53 he contradicts his story here. He says "I told you those weren't mine" but earlier he said he did not talk to MJ about this so how could he tell him there weren't his? When and where did he tell him before meeting with him in that trailer in 1991, two years after he was fired, that he didn't do it? 1:11:40 He does not even say that he asked Frank Dileo or Branca: I want to talk to MJ directly about this but he just says "I didn't get the chance to talk to him". Well, did he even want that chance in the first place? What did he do to try to talk to MJ about this directly? 1:13:22 why would he get recognition he didn't do it if MJ really believed he did it because that's what Bob Jones told him? It's not that Sam did any effort to contact MJ directly and explain himself so why would MJ believe he was even interested in explaining himself? 1:13:32 he says MJ woudln't even listen to the explanation but earlier he said he did not even talk to MJ about this so what exactly should MJ have listened to? Why would he want to fire him if he knew it wasn't him?
That was amazing. Very charismatic guy! I was hooked all the way through what was a pretty long interview. I recently worked with the Jacksons, but that was just one day! Can't imagine what it must have been like working with Mj for 10 years!
Throughly enjoyed the interview!! Particularly the stories behind the photos, the creative process as well as the technical aspects. It was a treat to see the actual photos.
@1:09:22 , very good point here, Sam telling exactly how the media worked on destroying MJ, which is related by Aphrodite Jones and Tom Mesereau in the book The M.J Conspiracy
Sam says they were not friends, but their story sounds very much like they were friends who had a lot of respect for each other, not just respect as friends, but respect for each other as artists. I think Michael Jackson saw him as a good friend and one of the few people outside his family he could trust and maybe Sam just does not realise it. Certainly Michael saw him as one of the few friends or people in his work that he could trust. I think when Sam was gone, Michael missed not just his work, but also his friend and wanted, not just his photographer back whose work he respects, but also his friend he had a treasured history with that he could trust. It's sad Sam does not seem to realise this and how special he was to Michael and so I hope one day he does because they have such a beautiful story. Thanks for the wonderful photos and works of art. Peace and love
@@hithere981 youre theonly logical person ive seen in this comment section. everyone seems to ignore that blatant act of betrayal from MJ. I love MJ but that was fd up and i wouldnt wanna work with him either after that.
@@erenyeeagah204it's his version of the story , yet again ,Michael isn't able to give his version there are so many people who worked with Michael throughout his career, and never had a problem with him, but in my opinion I found Sam to be arrogant and full of himself, yes he was a good photographer but that's because he was photographing the best, Michael had trust issues is it any surprise, it could be that Sam had something to do with what happened, and it could be that Michael did apologise it doesn't suit Sam's narrative to say. People can say what they want now, Michael isn't here to tell his story. And there lies the problem.🙏
In my opinion, the photographer Sam Emerson is as a narcissist. He appears excessively self-centered. His remarks, that Michael didn't understand people or that he didn't invent the moonwalk - when it's widely known that Michael always acknowledged the moonwalk wasn't his creation - and describing Michael as cold, are quite judgmental. The interviewer was remarkable patience, often attempting to steer the conversation back to Michael, but the photographer seemed more interested in talking about himself. Personally, I wouldn't trust him, nor would I want him as a friend!!! I found his behavior distasteful; for instance, instructing the interviewer to search for a specific picture rather than doing it himself indicated to me that he is using people. Similarly, he often mention his paycheck and how much money he earns seemed to me as arrogant and greedy. Elton John cannot be compared with Michael Jackson, and I disapprove of him speaking negatively about Michael after his passing. Speaking ill of the deceased is simply unacceptable; they cannot defend themselves. You just don't do it, it's so unethical. To me, Sam Emerson is a textbook narcissist. Regarding the situation, that he was fired, we've only heard his perspective; the full truth remains unknown. To me the interviewer was more humble and compassionate than the photographer!!!
He is wrong! Michael Jackson was the biggest star. He was well-known to the whole wide world, not only those English-speaking countries. He down-placed Michael because he has never liked him for some reason. Pathetic.
This is the dude who took those photos of Jackson hugging Safechuck. If Jackson indeed fired him shortly after that, knowing he would likely be bitter and could try to bring down Jackson in revenge, that's more evidence he was not at all concerned about anyone using those photos to "prove" he was a pedophile. It would not make sense to molest Safechuck, take those photos, then fire the photographer who saw it all. Besides, Safechuck's current story is that Jackson conspired with his employees, including Emerson, to cover up child abuse. Firing him is the opposite of conspiring with him
Sam OWNS the rights to those photos. ALL of them! He has the copyright registered with the Library of Congress. Under U.S. copyright law, the minute you press the shutter, you own the copyright. You can only collect unlawful use damages if the images are registered with the LOC in Washington, so Sam has every right with those photos.
no way he said michael didn’t undertand people nah people didn’t understand him. having that much fame at the age of 11 isn’t normal. the only normal life he had was maybe his mid teenage years because the jacksons weren’t “as famous” but still relevant being recognized in a time when that wasn’t normal and that was a period where he had a some what “normal” life. it just wasn’t to the degree he was when he was little michael and then off the wall and on. i don’t think a single human could be sane through that he did the best that he could i think that’s just my opinion i think this guy shoulda gave mj a lil more credit on that
I was lucky enough to have front row center seats for the Victory Tour at Dodger Stadium, and Sam Emerson was taking his pics from right in front of me (the stage was high, so he wasn't in anyone's way). I'd also seen the concert the night before from seats further away, so I knew when the group was going to throw stuff into the crowd. When I kept getting myself into position, the security guards kept getting more and more annoyed with me, so Sam stepped in and asked them if they were afraid of one little girl (I was 17, but I probably looked 14) and then he winked at me and laughed. Because he shamed them, they backed off enough for me to catch Randy's shirt after Michael ripped it off of him; it has MJ's fingerprints in make-up on it and I still have it. I've been a fan of Sam's ever since and often saw him in the background of MJ's behind the scenes videos. 18 years later, I got to spend 5 days at Neverland (Chris Tucker was a friend from before he was famous and we called ourselves "working," but not much got done lol). Even though I'm a lifelong fan (I saw my first J5 concert at 4), I refused to let myself fangirl on MJ, so I never told him that my room was wallpapered with his face as teen or that I was willing to tackle somebody to get that shirt if it came to it lol. He was a very gracious host, and Prince and Paris (5 and 4 at the time) were just the sweetest kids. And yes, that place was everything you could imagine it was - and more. EDIT: I'm a writer (so obviously I wrote my whole Neverland experience down - in 10 chapters 😁). I'm terminally ill, so I'll paste it now because people should know what that place was like since very few "regular" people (let alone HUGE fans) got to have the experience. PART ONE: It all actually started a few months before Neverland (in March 2002). By that point, I'd known Chris Tucker for about a decade and we'd been working together to get some of his ideas down on paper for about a year. To say that Chris (CT) is spontaneous would be an understatement for the ages, so I was already accustomed to just bouncing with him at a moment's notice. One morning, I got a call to go to an airport in Van Nuys. Two hours later, I was on a private jet (CT and I being the only two passengers) to NY. It's kinda weird to think about it now, but I didn't ask any questions. CT's life was so much different by that point in comparison to what it was when we first became friends (almost getting kicked out of movie theatres for having popcorn fights and him coming to my parents' house to go jogging with me) that I was just focused on what we were working on and whatever we were doing when we were together. If he had a reason to be in NY and he wanted to work on ideas in and around that, so be it. When we got to NY, we checked into suites on different floors in the Palace Hotel. After going downstairs for dinner in the lobby restaurant, I have to admit that it was more than a bit strange that the only people in there (outside of the staff) were us... and former president Bill Clinton (with his secret service detail). I knew that he and CT were friends, so I didn't think that it was a coincidence, but... still kinda weird to meet a former president and shake his hand as he says, "Hi. I'm Bill" lol. CT even joked that I would have to be his security if anything crazy jumped off because I was all he had... So I assured him that if that happened, his goose was cooked - because I'd be running in the opposite direction of whichever way he went lol. Clinton finished eating first and left, and then we did. As we headed towards the elevators, I assumed that we were just going back to our own suites for the night, but CT stopped me from getting off on my floor, and then we didn’t get off on his either. Next thing I knew, we were getting off on the top floor and then we were in Michael Jackson's suite, and CT HAD NOT WARNED ME AT ALL! Bill Clinton was also in there and I WAS SHOOK. TOTALLY SHOOK! I was the only person with no business being in that room and just getting air into my lungs had become a problem. I was introduced, and I'm sure I mumbled something, but I just wanted to escape. When the three of them started doing impersonations of each other, I made up some reason to leave (that I don't even remember) and BOLTED! So... That story is important because I had my wits about me by the time we got to Neverland, and I don't want anyone to think that I was calm, cool, and collected (despite having met tons of famous folks growing up in and around the industry in L.A. by that point) in my first MJ encounter lol.
PART TWO: Nothing MJ-related happened between that trip to NY and some day in June when, out of the blue, CT said: "Let's get away from everything and go to Mike's for the weekend." (Now, I obviously knew that CT and MJ were friends, but I'd also been around from the days when CT and I were both just huge fans. For a stretch in the 90's, I was his go-to "date" for some "Hollywood" stuff because he knew that I wouldn't embarrass him by fangirling on anybody - and also because we were so firmly in the friend zone that I wouldn't read anything into it and think I was going to end up being Mrs. Tucker. When Magic Johnson opened his theatre, there was a huge party - not that either one of us expected it to be a big deal because we regretted stuffing our faces with Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles earlier that day (the food at the party was insane and we just didn’t have room to partake of any of it; those Roscoe's waffles really do swell up like sponges lol) before changing clothes (sexy girly stuff and no more combat boots for me lol; I'm straight and don't mind that look on occasion. It just isn't particularly comfortable day in/day out) and meeting back up. And the security was ridonkulous. CT had to show his ID THREE different times before we even got out of the car (I was just his +1, so nobody cared about mine lol). We joked that they must be expecting the president, which is kinda ironic since Clinton was the president at the time lol. Anyhoo, we eventually figured out that the security was because MJ was stashed in one of the 16 or so theatres - and CT was determined to find him. We started poking our heads here and there, but we came up empty. When MJ finally emerged at some point to join Magic and say a few words, CT grabbed my wrist and dragged me through the crowd saying, "I've got to see this MF up close" lol. So it was still kinda odd to go from that to the quote about where to spend the weekend.) I took it in stride when CT made the suggestion because, as I said, his plans could change with no warning at all - and he also told me that I couldn't tell anybody - so I tried not to think about it too much. When the day finally came, he just told me to meet him at his house and that we'd go from there. I still wasn't believing it 100%, but off I went. When I got to CT's house, there was a huge bus parked in front of it (like a band tour bus), so it was starting to get more real; I knew we were going SOMEWHERE within driving distance. Inside CT's house, I was surprised to find three kids: Davellin, 16, Gavin, 13, and Star, 12. I had no idea who these kids were to CT or why he was taking them with us to Neverland, but I'd find out soon enough. (Fyi, these were the kids that ultimately put MJ on trial in 2005, so that’s a story also.) CT's assistant and his assistant's little brother were going too. I was kinda in my own world for the almost 3 hour drive to the Santa Ynez Valley, and kinda dumbstruck when we finally pulled through the gates of Neverland. I was actually there. I saw my first J-5 concert when I was 4 years old, saw the Jacksons and MJ multiple times after that (even flew home from college in TN TWICE for the Bad tour because MJ got sick in November and the last two dates were rescheduled for January) - and I was about to be the man's houseguest. Holy F***!!! PART THREE: Once inside the gates, there was some business to attend to before we got anywhere near the house (or the amusement park, theatre, zoo, or anything else Neverland was famous for). Someone from the guard station boarded the bus. Anyone (including CT) over 18 needed to sign an NDA before being allowed any further onto the property. Needless to say, I didn’t actually read it (who would under the circumstances? lol) so I’m just left to believe that I wasn’t supposed to talk to anyone (especially the press) about my time there (especially if anything would paint MJ in a bad light). After that, the bus went up the looooooong driveway (if you can call it that because it was more like a road) until it made a right. MJ’s house was then on the left, the guest cottages were on the right, and a fountain was right in front of us. Davellin was my roommate (we were the only two females) and everybody else bunked-in (nobody had their own room - including CT) to the rest of the cottages. In our room, Davellin (Davie) told me how they came to be on that trip with us (and I’ll try to condense it as much as possible). They met CT when they participated in a comedy workshop for kids at the Laugh Factory on the Sunset Strip. Not long after, Gavin was diagnosed with a particularly nasty form of kidney cancer and the doctors thought it would kill him. His “Make a Wish” was to meet MJ, so he did. While I personally believe that CT and MJ would have met each other eventually on their own, Gavin was the one who orchestrated their introduction, so MJ and CT’s relationship was mixed up with the Arvizos from the start; that’s why they were on that trip with us. When Gavin MIRACULOUSLY recovered (and I’m not being hyperbolic in saying that; the kid really was at death’s door), he credited his friendships with MJ and CT for giving him the strength to keep fighting. So that’s that. It turned out that MJ wasn’t in town when we arrived, and since we were only supposed to be staying for a couple days, he wouldn’t be there by the time we left either. But Prince and Paris were there, and Bigi (Blanket) too - but the world didn’t know about him yet.
PART FOUR: As I said, MJ wasn’t in town, but it didn’t even matter. It was bananas just to be there. Once we were situated, Davie, Gavin and Star took me on a mini-tour - starting with the main house. I didn’t know how many times the kids had been to Neverland before, but they were certainly accustomed to having the run of the place. Because of the unusual situation of the property, nobody used the front door to the main house. The back door (closest to the pool) was our entry point, and it had a code to unlock it (which we had). MJ routinely had large groups of people out to the ranch for charity events and that was just the easiest way to keep random people from wandering through his house while also allowing his actual houseguests access to whatever they may have needed (because staff offices were between the back door and the kitchen). A chef was on duty 24/7 and each meal came with a specific themed menu (but it was just a suggestion; you could ask for anything within reason and they probably had it). If we ate in the house, it was at a normal family-sized table not far from the kitchen. Also near the kitchen was a step-down den area with seating, a grand piano, and TONS of MJ’s family photos. Adjacent to that was a library filled floor to ceiling with books; I didn’t dare touch anything, but I was told that there were a LOT of first edition classics in there. Upstairs, I didn’t see any of the actual bedrooms, but the kids’ playroom was adorable, and the room set up for homeschooling was too. (I actually ended up putting Grace, the nanny, on the phone with a friend of mine who had to start homeschooling her little brother when he became ill, and she gave Grace the blueprint for how to get started for Prince beginning kindergarten in the fall). Next to the main house (connected but with different entrances) were the video library (each cottage still had a VCR and Neverland basically had its own Blockbuster in case guests wanted to watch something), MJ’s dance space (where you could LITERALLY see where he’d worn away the top surface of the floor practicing spins in front of the mirror), and the fire station (yep, Neverland had its own fire truck). I can’t remember when or where I met Prince and Paris, but I’m pretty sure it was the first day. PART FIVE: Waking up in Neverland was surreal… even more surreal than all the events that led up to it. And I’m just going to put it out there right now that I don’t have much recollection of the order of the things that followed over the next couple of days. So yes, we had meals at the family dining table in the house, but MJ’s houseguests could also have meals all over the property if that’s what they wanted to do (because he had what amounted to a catering service to make that happen). Golf carts were at our disposal to get from here to there, and one day we went up to the precipice of Neverland - overlooking all its 2700 acres as if we were in Zamunda from “Coming to America” lol. On the way up, we went by/through a herd of cattle, dust was kicked up, and it was so easy to forget that we were just going up there to have lunch. There was a gazebo (if you can call it that because it had a table that would seat about 20) - and that’s where I remember connecting with MJ’s kids for the first time. I don’t have a clue what we ate that day, but I definitely remember Prince and Paris yelling, “K, chase me!” as I chased them around that huge table with the wind swirling around everybody. I caught them, they caught me, and I was exhausted by the end of it lol. I guess that was the point that their nanny (Grace) started trusting me around them, and then that led to me talking to her about home-schooling and me putting her on the phone with my friend (as mentioned in the last chapter). That also may have been the same day that CT and I were jumping on a huge trampoline with the kids (stretched over a hole in the ground, so “falling” would have just meant kind of breaking even lol) - until a coyote sent us scrambling back into the house.
PART SIX: As a reminder, I was at Neverland with CT because we were SUPPOSED to be working on some creative stuff (I tried to keep my laptop close by), but there were SO many ways to get distracted from “real” life at Neverland that we didn’t ultimately get much done. The cell phone age was fully in play in 2002, but there was no service to speak of there (we were surrounded by mountains), and while getting an outside line was possible, you had to go through MJ’s staff to do it, so it really was life in a bubble. On top of that, no one from my “real” life knew I was there; even my parents were clueless. Davie and I MAY have turned the TV in our cottage on once - if that. And one day in the theatre, CT LITERALLY said to me, “When we get back to the STATES…” For the record: We were a 3-hour drive from Los Angeles at the time lol. It really was so easy to get sucked into MJ’s surreal world - and it didn’t take long for it to happen. There’s a lot of footage about what Neverland had to “offer” its guests, and it’s all true - and then some. We had the quads at our disposal, so one day Davie and I just took off going nowhere in particular except AWAY from the house, and if you weren’t the one riding in front, you were going to be dirrrrrrty. We switched back and forth to keep it fair, and I think we’d been out there for about a half hour, constantly getting further and further away from the house, when it dawned on me that we were still in somebody’s BACKYARD. At a certain point, getting lost became an actual concern, so we headed back - and darn near turned our shower (one after the other) into a mud bath just trying to get clean again lol. There was a fort designed for water gun battles, so we had super soaker fights there (it was June, so it was warm enough for that). When Neverland had overnight guests, it was always someone’s job to be posted at all of the areas (the amusement rides, theatre, zipline, water gun fort etc.) just in case we wanted to partake in those activities (and we did - with some results being better than others; CT and I once chose to do the circular “swing” ride about 4 times in a row, and we both looked a little green around the gills when that was over lol. The tilt-a-whirl was a bad idea for me too). I think there were like 4 or 5 golf carts for guests on the property (and people almost never took one alone), so somebody probably would have had to do it on purpose if you ever got stranded anywhere for long. Speakers were hidden all over the place (in fake rocks and such), so music was always playing unless there was a specific request to turn it off. In addition to the zoo that everybody knows about, there was also a reptile house (I didn’t stay in there long; ick!). All the trees had white lights in them, so it was really beautiful at night, but you had to be where you were going before midnight because when they turned them off, Neverland was DARK. You couldn’t even see your hand in front of your face, and the kids were worried they’d fall into the lake (about 10 - 15 feet away) if they wandered around that side of the guest cottages after hours lol (we did have flashlights in our closets though, so they were just being extra). At some point, CT decided that we were going to stay longer than the original couple of days, so I actually had to get some laundry done at Neverland. The idea that Michael Jackson’s staff would be washing my clothes is a thought that never could have occurred to me when I was a kid. PART SEVEN: I guess I should mention some interesting things that MJ fans would just LOVE to have seen because Neverland was HIS property. Going back to the message where I said the bus turned right off the driveway (with MJ’s house then to the left and our guest cottages to the right), the iconic hill (with the floral clock patterned after the one at Disneyland) was on the left before we made that turn. At the top of that hill was a train station… and the train was real. We took a ride on it around the property (and also one in MJ’s SUV limo, which was basically a party club on wheels). But the most poignant thing was inside of the train station. Upstairs, MJ had decorated a room to be Christmas 24/7. And he did it to the hilt. Being raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, he didn’t get to celebrate Christmas as a kid (even after making a Christmas album with the Jackson 5), so he kept a room full of all the Christmas stuff he missed out on as a kid. It was summery and warm outside, but it was still Christmas and fully festive in that room. In another section of the property, there was a structure - I think it was called Hill House (which is kinda weird now because of the horror movie), but it’s where there was SO much of his memorabilia - the outfits he wore for the American Music Awards and Grammy’s in 1984 were definitely there; some of the awards themselves too - but I don’t remember many details of that because my brain was already on MJ overload and kinda spent from being in his surreal world by that point. So… back to the other stuff. One morning (up early for reasons I can’t explain) and calling myself “working” on my laptop while sitting at a table next to the back door of the main house, a guy walked up with an elephant and a baby deer on a leash. Yes, you read that right. Read it again if you need to be sure… because I wasn’t when it happened lol. Next thing I knew, my whole right arm was down the throat of the elephant giving her a can of Mountain Dew. Apparently, she got sweets - especially muffins - on Mondays, and I just happened to be there. Then CT came around the corner dressed HEAD-TO-TOE like an Arab prince - and it didn’t seem weird at all lol. I STILL don’t know what that was about because I never asked - so it didn’t seem any weirder when he was walking that baby deer like it was a puppy (still wearing that get-up) across the bridge over the lake behind our guest cottages later that day. Like I said, it was so easy to get sucked in, and "normal" went ALL the way out the window lol.
PART EIGHT: Everything I previously wrote about my experiences at Neverland DEFINITELY took place over the first three days, but as I said, it probably isn’t in the right order. During that time, I was also trying to “work,” and we were hanging out and doing most (or all) of these things as a group (with Paris and Prince involved a lot of the time.) Also, I forgot to mention that around the same time the elephant and baby deer showed up out of nowhere, I saw Grace (the nanny) going into a different back door with a box of Pampers. Since Prince was 5 and Paris was 4, I was understandably confused. When I asked her about it later, that’s when she shared “Blanket’s” existence with me; it would still be a little while before the world learned about him (and I never met the baby). So… on the fourth day (which hadn’t started out any different from the others), I somehow found myself hanging out with Prince (and I have NO recollection of where everybody else was at the time). Anywho, he asked me to go with him to the arcade. I’d been in it for a couple minutes on another day (just to see it), but I hadn’t played any of the games at that point. Since it was already established that we (as guests) had the run of the place, I truly didn’t think anything of it and off we went. Of course, everything in there was free, and I had fun with some of the “old school” games from my childhood first… then Prince suggested that we play, “Smooth Criminal” or “Moonwalker” - the video game that is literally based on the music video (or short film as MJ would prefer it to be called) of the same name. Cue the surreal. It’s just the two of us in there, and this 5-year-old is talking to the character of his own father as he moves the avatar around the screen. “Daddy, go over here! Oh no, Daddy, don’t do that!” I have no recall of how long we were in the arcade, but when we went back into the house… WHAMMO! MJ was standing right there in the hallway between the offices and the kitchen. PART NINE: Apparently, Prince and I had unofficially “gone missing” because nobody knew we were in the arcade (and everybody else was there to greet MJ) when we just came strolling back inside the house as if we didn’t have a care in the world. I guess I must have said that we’d been in the arcade. All eyes on us. AWK-WARD! I may as well have been that baby deer (caught in headlights) at that point. Silence. Thankfully, MICHAEL JACKSON HIMSELF took control of the situation… and I just stood there dumbstruck… as I watched him be a regular dad. Long story short, Prince and Paris (at 5 and 4) didn’t have permission to just go wherever they wanted whenever they wanted on the property. (In Prince’s defense, the arcade wasn’t far from the back door of the main house, so it wasn’t like we had to hop on a golf cart to get there or that any of the wildlife on the property would ever get that close, but that wasn’t the point.) When MJ called Prince out for doing something that he KNEW he wasn’t allowed to do, the kid stood right next to me and BLAMED IT ALL ON ME! Prince said that it was MY idea to go to the arcade, and that he was just trying to be a good host the way his dad had always said he should be! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?! I wanted to defend myself to Michael Jackson(!), but I was standing next to HIS 5-year-old son who was just trying to get himself out of trouble. (WHAT DOES ONE DO IN THAT SITUATION?!?!) Fortunately, and saving me from actually having to DO anything, MJ saw right through his son’s BS (apparently, Prince was a repeat offender lol) and he gave him a lecture about using their guests as a means to get his way. It was just BONKERS. Prince was then instructed to apologize to me, and I just stood there, stunned. So yeah, THAT actually happened. The whole experience was just SO surreal. Brandy (the actress and R&B singer) was also a guest with her baby daddy and her 4 day old infant; Al Sharpton was there for dinner one day… You just can’t make this ish up - and it’s my JOB to make ish up lol. PART TEN: This is the last chapter of my Neverland story. After having dinner and a slumber party in a teepee that slept 10 (yeah, that actually happened too; MJ was in there with us for a bit after dinner, but he didn’t stay overnight) it all eventually got really sad after we left Neverland. I made a connection with those Arviso kids. We had our own relationship after that (they slept over in my apartment, I took them to Magic Mountain, and I knew their mom and their grandparents etc.) so when the ish hit the fan publicly a year and a half later (and MJ got arrested), I knew it was going to happen about six months before it did. I can say that I saw MJ and Gavin together being perfectly normal with my own eyes, so when that documentary came out, I almost fell off my chair when I saw them so weirdly hugged up - and I wondered why nobody stopped them from doing that during filming; it was all just so bizarre. (I don’t think the kids realized how big of a deal that doc was going to be though because they never mentioned having done it even once before it aired.) Everybody is entitled to their own opinion about everything, but I can tell you that those kids LOVED MJ to the moon and back before it all went sideways. (I have my suspicions about what really happened and why, but it’s just my personal hunch). When the trial was on the horizon, my dad teased me that I might get pulled into it because the kids had been in my apartment. My reply? “I hate to break it to you, but they’ve been in YOUR house - and pool - too, so if that’s all it takes, we’re BOTH going to be in that trial” lol. So that’s my Neverland story. I was one of the fortunate few who got to live every MJ fan’s dream.
@@KB-xp6dq thanks for sharing your story. So detailed, which I like. You have some great memories there. Amd pretty lucky to be high-school friends with Chris Tucker! By the way, regarding the scene when Gavin is holding hands with Michael and resting his head on his shoulder....was set up by the snake Martin Bashir. He knew exactly what he was doing when he instructed naive Michael by saying "Hey, why don't you and Michael hold hands, and maybe lean your head on his shoulder? Yeah. Show the viewers how loving your friendship is". Something to that effect, . Got this confirmed from bodyguard Matt Fidesse who was friends with the bodyguard there that day. Bashir set him up in that way. They wouldn't have done thst otherwise. There was no advisor of any kind there thst day so no one to say "um, no, MJ that is not a good idea."
Excellent wonderful pictures, kind of cold interview. Humility is everything, It should be a privilege to photograph the most famous person in the world at the time. I love you Michael, always and forever.
I liked the interview, a good one! You can feel that Sam had a great time working for/with Michael ( who wouldn’t?😊) , it was a big point in his career and … he was very disappointed with Michael! He is just honest. Fired for no reason, for something that he didn’t do. Not easy to swallow. Good to listen a great professional like him talking about how great and genius Michael was. Amazing stories!
you don't see how his story makes no sense? Why would MJ want to fire him if he didn'r really believe Emerson betrayed him? Why would that be in his interest? And the person who told Emerson he was fired, telling we can't fire BoB Jones so we fire you, if MJ knew Emerson didn't do anything how would firing him fix anything?
@@theansweris4241 Sam owns ALL the copyrights to his photos of MJ, NOT MJ! Sam's images of MJ, and all the other artists he has photographed are registered with the Library of Congress in Washington D.C., and he never needed the "approval".
Sam Emerson too much self praise! Too much ego, sorry!! 10 years working for Michael Jackson allowed Sam to become more known and rich!! Also Sam Emerson is wrong about the " moonwalk" : Michael always said in various interviews that he did not invent the moonwalk , but that he took the moves from seeing kids in the ghetto doing it, and Michael just embellished and improved it.
This sam guy should kept the same energy then and there not now after he becomes known. I cant explain his lack of gratitude towards Michael may come from.
A lot of people seem to feel Sam was cold, but there seemed to have been several moments he practiced discretion and did not over share out of respect.
This interview is very revealing... it gives u a look into the fact that Michael had few people around him who cared or had his interest in mind. This guy simply used Michael, had no respect for him, some ways dispised Michael & who he was and comes off as a racist. The tragedy that was Michael Jackson's life is on full display here. We will never know if this guy didn't leak those photos that got him fired. My guess is that he did.
Sam was making some faces throughout the interview that seem to be hiding some feelings. I wish he would have really spilled the beans 🫘 😂 great interview though!! 👏🏼
What a great interview...It´s amazing to listen to these stories from a special person like photographer Sam Emerson! Congratulations! Hug from Portugal!
Sam thinks the 'Bad' album cover is the most reproduced image / most iconic imagine of MJ...lol What about THRILLER. Dick Zimmerman was the photographer for that album and IT is the most reproduced photo of MJ by far
Its obvious bob Jones sold that story to the sun .I wonder how many false stories he sold about Michael. Sam also sounds so bitter to. Michael will always be the greatest.😂no matter how many watches Elton gives away
and if Bob Jones did that he had an interest telling MJ that it was Emerson who likely believed it really. Otherwise how would it serve him to fire Emerson?
The interviewer missed some opportunities to ask some really good questions. 1). Was there a particular reason Sam didn't want to be around Michael? 2). Why didn't he want to stay at Neverland? 3). How did Michael and Oprah get along. Michael always appears uneasy around her. You can see it in the photos but especially during the interview. I wish they would've shown the photos longer for the audience to see. The interviewer just kinda holds them up a few seconds. Not nearly long enough to appreciate them. Sam Emerson's Sylvester Stallone impression is spot on. 🤌🏾 And.... dude loves him some champagne .🍾 🥂 He clearly drank more than the interviewer. 😏
I warmed up to Emerson in the course of the interview. If he worked with Mj for 10 years, their relationship was special enough. He’s downplaying it a bit because he’s worked with so many big artists and it was so long ago.
Give God a little credit jeese! If he made Michael, he can make another. He was only a man. Not a perfect God. He worked hard and practiced and had millions of dollars. Don't doubt yourself, God or other artists. Who knows. Maybe God will provide a greater artist. Michael was only human.
At min 41:40 Sam Emerson is talking about a picture that he took of Michael that he likes. But we don’t see that picture. 😞 could you please add it somewhere?
I've seen the original photo of the Bad album cover shoot. Photos are available on the internet. I wonder why they lit up those photos to make him look lighter.
It's asinine that anyone would be as moronic to say something like " you're old so what would you know about photography?" That's outrageous! First of all you were a young man in the beginning when you had the dream of becoming a photographer, AND you had the ambition to achieve that ultimate dream job‼️💯👏 ✨️ 🎉 Incredible!!! Outstanding work and incredible memories ❤ Tank you for sharing!
This guy if not mistaken ,is the one who I said point the camera ( video)here. I have a message for Michael "Victory or Bad tour". 😓😶. Or maybe he fired the first one in K.C. I never asked Michael in 2009 last time I talked to him.If it is the man I think,he know some of me and Michael's personal secrets. Yet I can see he is a man of honor. ❤
Hes so disrespectful. Talking about Ehhh… Elton was the biggest in the world… I get it at that moment Mj was MJ but some people can’t really give props for talent..
Best moments from interview:
01:01 Introduction of Sam Emerson
01:37 Last time being in Chicago
02:12 First steps in Photography career
03:36 How to become celebrity photographer in 70th?
04:42 How photographers got their credentials/ was tagged back in 70th
05:14 How clients can reach out to you in 70th?
05:51 Meeting Michael Jackson for the first time. Unsuccessful shot
08:24 Billie Jean story about shoes
09:36 Did Michael Jackson knew that Billie Jean will be the biggest hit of his career?
10:42 Phone call invite to join Victory Tour
12:10 How much money photographer makes during Michael Jackson Tour?
14:35 Difference between working with Elton John and Michael Jackson
16:38 How Isolated life of MJ was on tour?
17:05 MJ with Detroit police. Photo of decade issue Zoom magazine
18:53 Why MJ was appearing with military group?
19:40 How the day before the concert look like for his personal photographer?
22:32 Funny story with Sam Emerson, Frank Dileo and MJ.
24:06 MJ in Japan
27:52 Photo of MJ with kids in yellow hats.
29:02 How to convince MJ to do a photo?
32:28 How BAD cover was created?
37:22 How much money Sam Emerson made on Bad cover photo?
38:00 MJ in Tenerife. Photo on the roof of hotel with fans.
41:15 Photos of sad moments of MJ
42:05 Secret of great photo of Michael Jackson
44:29 Pepsi commercial video shoot.
46:16 "In the closet" music video shoot story
50:14 How many rooms MJ rented in hotel during tours?
50:45 Did Sam Emerson was bringing girls after the concert to same hotel where was MJ staying?
52:05 MJ in Rome
52:25 MJ in Tokyo Disneyland
53:15 MJ in Hong Kong
53:55 How much money photographer's luggage did cost to clear with airlines in 1988?
55:50 Meeting Sir Run Run Shaw in Hong Kong
58:58 Photo of MJ steering the boat to Macau
01:00:40 Story with Sylvester Stallone
01:00:35 MJ in Roman outfit at American ambassador backyard
01:02:00 Meeting Prince Charles and Princess Diana
01:05:05 How kind MJ was? Meeting children at hospitals
01:06:05 How Sam Emerson got fired?
01:13:55 Phone call from MJ
01:16:45 What moments Sam Emerson missed and did take photos of
01:17:45 MJ meeting Jackie Gleason from "Gigot"
01:18:27 Three the most iceman shots by Sam Emerson
01:19:30 Story of meeting John Lennon
01:21:10 Photo of MJ in yellow shirt and purple flowers.
01:22:50 Photo of MJ, Oprah and Elizabeth Taylor
01:24:10 Three qualities of successful celebrity photographer
01:25:55 Sam Emerson about nowadays generation of Instagram photographers
01:26:45 Is Sam Emerson happy with his career?
01:28:00 Did MJ had his own icon?
01:30:20 MJ and Slash on BAD album cover
01:31:20 Shot of MJ boots from BAD video shoot.
01:31:50 Have Sam Emerson have been friends with MJ?
01:32:47 Why Sam Emerson stopped working with MJ?
01:34:18 Last time seeing MJ
There was no one bigger than Michael Jackson. Amazing.
15 YEARS OF ME WAITING FOR A SUPERSTAR LIKE MJ TO COME ALONG, NOT EVEN BEYONCE OR DRAKE MATCH UP 🤔
There will never be.....is a different time with internet, social media etc...
And "artist" now dont have a legend signature , style, music, dance, clothes etc.....Michael, Elvis have that......
Beyonce, Usher, Chris Brown, Justin Bieber or Timberlake dont have that special thing
There is no one bigger than Michael Jackson...
Майкл- это явление необычайного масштаба, это редкость. Его знали во всем мире от мала до велика, сложно приблизиться к такой величине!
Michael never claimed to have invented the moonwalk sam....he clearly explained that som kids in the ghetto did it..he perfected it...those were his words.
Sam obviously didn’t like Michael and never did. But that’s not a reflection on Michael or Sam. It’s to do with Sam’s personal experiences and his own personality as well. Michael didn’t really let down his guard with everyone and he obviously didn’t for Sam and that might’ve hurt Sam’s feelings.
Also, I see a lot of feeling of resentment here and could be many reasons. I mean, sure Sam worked with other big names but not as big as MJ. I mean, outs side of states, who would know sam if it wasn’t for MJ? MJ’s power was ALL over the world even BACK then without social media. I mean, you can’t just say you have talent and that is. I’m sure, Sam has talent but MJ’s name is the biggest out of all his stuff so there’s some weird feeling at SAM’s end.. too bad honestly
@@globalcitizenn i dont think that was the real problem. MJ got him fired for no reason, for something he didnt do but for something another person did and that person still got to continue working with him while he was kicked out and heshowed no support when he faced the allegations and then begged him to come back without apologizing for what he did. im an MJ fan but that was messed up from him. you could argue thathis way of apologizing was by giving him ownership for all of his future pictures but thats not the same.
@@hithere981 The show business is a shark world, being in this place for so long requires to be tough at some point. Having people skills is something you learn over time, MJ grew up in a bubble
@@hithere981same could be said about people who surrounded Michael. They only wanted his money
Emerson can say he photographed other celebrities but he should admit Michael was his greatest subject! It was Michael’s photos where he (Emerson) got recognized by Life and that French magazine(s.)
He's white what do u expect
pfff and Bob Jones is black. So?@@callmeking1318
@@callmeking1318 Of course "someone" would make this about race. Sam has worked with a large number of black artists.
Mj was massive in an age b4 the internet thats how powerful his talent was.
2012 he was “crying” during the BAD 25 documentary, now he’s like ehh whatever? 😒 nah bro we wouldn’t know who you’re without MJ.. get humble
He had already worked for Elton John….the ppl that knew about him knew who he was.
Great journalism! Made with good taste like Mike MJ deserves. Many good interviews of these great professionals who worked with him. Such a relief to see these class acts speaking. Thank you!
Thank you! Such a pleasure to read this kind of comment!
Sam needs to understand that the real star is and will always be Michael. He made Sam, NOT that Sam made Michael. Michael is immortal and can never be replaced. Period...
Facts... Period.
Sam didn't say anything that would make you think like that. So what are you on about?
@@Visionary Sam has a big ego and to me he is arrogant!
@@hannaz4617 He's just not a 'fanboy'. It was work for him, and MJ / his team were tough with people sometimes. He wasn't the only one. It's a great interview nontheless. :)
@@Visionary Sam Emerson liked Michael's money. To me he talked too much about his paychecks and how much money he makes. I think he was jealous of Michael. We don't know the complete story why he was fired. There might have been a reason. Michael is known that he always was humble, polite and loyal to his band members and other artists he worked with. Sam Emerson might not have told the truth, he liked to show a certain image of himself. He seemed to me very arrogant. Why would he fire him without a reason, that doesn't make sense.
What is with the attitude?! You are being interviewed because of Michael Jackson! We are all watching this interview because we saw Michael Jackson name in the video title not Sam Emerson!
thats right
He was more into Elton John and said he was the biggest in the world at the time. This dude was/is delusional. He seems like he didn’t like black people. So unenthusiastic about the youngest and biggest star in 1983!
exactly
Emaderaghi,you are right.
Poor Michael...I wanted to see the video to find out more about the Charity Man that is in World Records and also about the polyvalent Genius that Michael was....Well this video certainly wasn't about Michael...but I found out first-hand the most bitter truth 😢😢... how Michael must have felt working with those kind of people....still he never lost hope that the world could be healed....that's a good lesson of hope indeed....RIP, KING of hearts 🙏🏻👑❤
His Ego is HUGE
He just replied frankly, not basically playing the fanboy
True Michael Jackson fan’s know Michael wasn’t perfect. There’s nothing wrong with this photographer telling his side of the story/truth, he humanises him. Great job to the interviewer also for the questions.
Nobody’s opinion takes away from MJ’s greatness.
his side here contradicts what he said on Instagram in 2022 so let's just say Sam Emerson is far from being perfect. He is a liar.
accusing MJ of firing him without any reason whatsoever does not humanize him. It's just a story that among countless others told against Jackson does not make any sense and is used to make the storyteller look good and make Jackson look bad. When you examine the details however the story falls apart
But nobody said he was perfect.
i really like how we can see another side of what went into the pictures and how they were inspired.
Michael is so funny 😂🤣 ,I can tell when the entertainer do not know how to stop!! 🤣😂 A beautiful soul pass the lemonade🥤🥪. He gave his photo/friend the best gift ,his personally photos full control❤️ Now that is humble making up for his dishonour ❤
It feels Sam's attitude or feeling towards MJ has changed since the Bad25 documentary, hasn't it? Or is it just me? Btw MJ didn't do the Oprah interview to sqash the allegations, that interview happened before the Chandlers.
You are on point!!! Old Sam forgetting oredy😅
That's how they rewrite history, anything MJ did was about the allegations, that haven't happened yet lol. He used the toilet for that reason too
Wow hidden gem, amazing new perspective on MJ 🔥
once again without MJ having a chance to provide his side of the story. Just because someone says something about him does not mean it's true
I don't think Sam Emerson is a honest person. I wouldn't trust or believe him. Michael seems to me more humble and grateful to people who were honest, truthful, respectful and humble. The photographer seemed to me not trustworthy and extremely arrogant and full of himself.
This is literally the first time I've heard someone who worked with Michael Jackson speak negatively about him. Everyone who ever worked with Michael said he was the most humble celebrity person, he was professional, humble, always on time, very naive, and never dared to object. Sam is very narcissistic in his interview, and I stopped watching this video after 10 minutes because when he talks about himself, it's just in a narcissistic way.
Oh, thank you so much for this complete interview, recently I made a tutorial on how to draw MJ and the photo I chose for reference was by this great photographer, so somehow TH-cam recommended this video to me and I am so glad I watched it completely, so very interesting, all the stories he could tell about Elton and Rod as well, even Miley... but I am glad this interview was merely focused on MJ. You made some great questions there, congratulations!!!
Thank you so much! It means a lot to me! Appreciate that!
@@maksymzakharchuk how did Bob Jones get those photos? why did Bob Jones leak them to the media behind Mj's back? Was it him who told Jackson that Emerson did it? what was the magazine the photos were leaked to?
So Michael doesn't understand people because he does not buy you an expensive watch? That's an interesting way of looking at it. I can see why you were not buddies. Totally different values in life.
Elton was the biggest in the world? This guy just won’t give MJ credit like all others who just wanted to sink him. Ungrateful guy
EXACTLY! WHO WOULD KNOW IF IT WAS NOT FOR MJ
That was a funny thing of him to say. When he joined the Victory tour Elton was the biggest? Jeez. Laughable.
Elton John wasn’t even as big as Duran Duran in the 80s, and they weren’t even a quarter as big as MJ in the 80s.
Mr Emerson shot many iconic images of Michael and am very grateful he shared this interview but I say this with all due respect, Mr Emerson comes off as a Narcissist. Still grateful for all the iconic images of MJ. But sad he valued the brand of a watch more than his first photo in Life magazine thanks to Michael. Sorry for critical comment.
Same feelings
Why❓…because he isn’t an MJ groupie or bootlick❓🤔
He clearly has some problems with Michael!
Agreed...
@@hithere981 This is only one side of the story..... did he do something to make Michael Not believe him? Did he sale photos before?
amazing interview!!! Wow! Thank you so much for this.
You are welcome!
Excellent interview, love all the stories and Sam's work is incredible.
Thank you very much for this interview!
wow what a great interview with sam! loved it and very much enjoyed. worth the 1hr and 35 mins :)
Sam is full of himself. Fine he pictured other famous guys but if it wasn’t for mj, he wouldn’t be here talking about him and still saving all these from 20+ years. He’s clearly way too egoistic than he should be.
You Nailed it!
Agreed
Agreed!
Agree 💯
Exactly!! Sam Emerson is not the star!! Michael Jackson is the STAR!!!!!
This guy is very cold and uninterested.
I commend your interview though! It’s quite interesting hearing this perspective of MJ
I see his personality hasn’t changed at all from the Dangerous Tour.
Bad tour actually. He was always an arrogant snob
I heard the word “paycheck” too many times. And dropping names and brands like he don’t mean to. I dunno, just seemed like Old mate here was alllll about the cash. Bit sad. Mike was surrounded by people wanting to make money from him.
Exactly
Snakes and Leeches....
Oh yes...
You are absolutely right. I have the same opinion as you!!!! ❤
As a professional photographer who also shoots music artists and actors, it's ALWAYS about the money in the end, regarding if you accept a job or not. Just because the person is famous, doesn't mean you go broke on a job, while they rake in millions. In the 90's, I turned down going on the road and photographing the NIN 1st tour, because I wasn't interested in shooting the tour for free. Yes, Michael Jackson was iconic, but he never worked for free, so why should Sam settle for paltry sums?? Not to mention, we STILL have general living expenses at home, which need to be paid, while you are on tour.
MJ was/is the most amazing intelligent caring warm compassionate Entertainer of all times - Creme de la Creme, he was the BEST - a top notch level by himself
I’m almost positive that the Oprah interview was right before the 1993 allegations, Oprah never had any questions of misconduct with kids in that interview. In fact it happened right after the Oprah interview because the interview gave MJ very high acceptance in the publics eye and so that’s when Evan Chandler ( annoyed by MJ’s shrewd move to gain some public affection ) launched his claim of misconduct after MJ refused to loan him twenty million dollars to make a movie.
I think the allegations referred to were about his skin bleaching and eccentric behaviours that the media reported.
A very interesting but a very cold interview with Sam Emerson.
I attended the Bad Tour in 1988, and I was one of those teenage fans waiting outside The Mayfair Hotel here in London to see MJ in person (which I was lucky enough to see him in person) back in 1988.
I remember seeing Sam Emerson, with his Camera taking photos of fans, talking friendly to fans etc. He appeared very very happy and clearly part of MJ’s team.
I also remember fake news story in The about Sam Emerson. I never believed it then as it obviously wasn’t true.
I do think MJ firing Sam Emerson over the sneaky Bob Jones had a serious effect on his working relationship with MJ, and his opinion on MJ. Which is understandable.
I was always aware MJ fired Sam Emerson, and was surprised in 2012 to see him speaking so well about MJ (especially in contrast to this interviewing) in the ‘Bad 25’ documentary. But as Sam Emerson kept saying “Paycheque” in regards to many parts of his career with MJ. Could it be the case of Sam Emerson being a hypocrite and taking a “Paycheque” from the The Estate to speak in a more friendly tone about MJ in ‘Bad 25’.
There isn’t anything horrible in this interview that Sam Emerson says about MJ. Only really that MJ wasn’t a person he wanted to be around (Paycheque, Mr Emerson), but to many of us MJ is someone we’d have loved to be around, and to him MJ was “ The Boss” and Work.
But I can’t help but feel a loss of respect for Sam Emerson the same way I’ve lost respect for Quincy Jones. Aside from MJ’s big mistake of sacking him over Bob Jones, and not taking time to listen to his side of the story. I do think his little digs at undermining MJ by saying Elton John was the biggest artist around circa 1984 was pathetic.
I have also read an interview with Sam Emerson’s son in a MJ fan magazine about 10yrs ago, and it was a very nice interview, and I think Sam Emerson liked being around MJ and got on with him very well. Especially from reading comments he’s made on his Instagram account, in which he says MJ called him a Magician in one of his comments when asked what MJ thought of his photos.
Plus the fact, when MJ phoned him to comeback and work for him again, in 1991 he cameback and didn’t hang up like he did on Bill Bray etc.
Plus Sam Emerson currently has an exhibition on showing his MJ photos.
@@hithere981 Agreed. We know MJ the personality. We don't really know how he is in person, esp someone to work with. You might have met him once or twice and thought "Wow, he's such a great guy" but if you've spent every day with him for months or years, you might see something else. MJ is, after all, a human being.
i never cared for Bob Jones! he's the 1 who put out all the wild stories!
@hithere981 well same could be said about Sam Lol. He said that Michael invented the moonwalk when he never once ever claim that. If you're a MJ hater than yeah of course you will stick to one side and believe all the rumours
I’m neither an MJ fan or “hater” and I found Sam to be a bit unprofessional with some of his remarks in this interview. He gave off a certain bitterness in my opinion, especially considering how many years have passed.
@@thesandwoman he comes off a bit uppity, thats for sure. wanna be high society, bougie. definitely not humble. I think thats why he comes off a little bitter. But i guess when you've come from that world and its all you've known...
Amazing interview. As a photographer I relate to a lot of what he talked about. Loved this.
Great interview, but is it me, or does this guy come off a little pompous and snarky
Jealosy is the closest emotion to fear
I'm curious as to why Sam Emerson said that the first time Michael and Naomi met was at the desert. They didn't rehearse? Their dance moves looked choreographed to me. I also agree with the interviewer Michael looked pretty darn confident during the video and the outtakes. I don't care what Karen and Sam say there is definitely a deeper story.
Having watched a few Naomi videos, I am sure it is correct they only met properly at the set.
Amazing photographer, but also amazingly arrogant. I don't know, but he acts like if he's still hurt for being fired that time, maybe it's resentment. But seeing the video of his interview during the tour, gives me an idea that he was always a snob. Oh, and the exasperated sighs when he said he never stayed in Neverland and other couple times, that's not very professional for an interview. I think the interviewer was trying to keep it cool.
He makes some snide remarks too like going "ugh" when he said he never stayed at Neverland. Not very professional
Loving this!!!
Amazing interview 🤍 I have a storage full of photos Mr. Emerson shot of Michael. The authenticity stems through each image. Thank you for the storytelling and showcasing your witty personality 🤍 awesome sauce 🌹 great interview
i LOVE your style of interviewing!! Hope u do more interviews of people who worked with Michael!!! Thanks for the GREAT respect!!!❤❤
Thank you! Who should I interview you think?
1:15:53 he contradicts his story here. He says "I told you those weren't mine" but earlier he said he did not talk to MJ about this so how could he tell him there weren't his? When and where did he tell him before meeting with him in that trailer in 1991, two years after he was fired, that he didn't do it?
1:11:40 He does not even say that he asked Frank Dileo or Branca: I want to talk to MJ directly about this but he just says "I didn't get the chance to talk to him". Well, did he even want that chance in the first place? What did he do to try to talk to MJ about this directly?
1:13:22 why would he get recognition he didn't do it if MJ really believed he did it because that's what Bob Jones told him? It's not that Sam did any effort to contact MJ directly and explain himself so why would MJ believe he was even interested in explaining himself?
1:13:32 he says MJ woudln't even listen to the explanation but earlier he said he did not even talk to MJ about this so what exactly should MJ have listened to?
Why would he want to fire him if he knew it wasn't him?
That was amazing. Very charismatic guy! I was hooked all the way through what was a pretty long interview. I recently worked with the Jacksons, but that was just one day! Can't imagine what it must have been like working with Mj for 10 years!
Throughly enjoyed the interview!! Particularly the stories behind the photos, the creative process as well as the technical aspects. It was a treat to see the actual photos.
This man has done a complete 180 since 2012. I dont trust people like this. Huge red flag.
Agree 100 %!
what is that complete 180?
Имеется ввиду разворот на 180, т.е. полностью поменял свое мнение, поэтому нет к нему доверия
@1:09:22 , very good point here, Sam telling exactly how the media worked on destroying MJ, which is related by Aphrodite Jones and Tom Mesereau in the book The M.J Conspiracy
I do not like this guy... His ego too big
Why do people like this interview? The guy clearly has disdain and has an ego. I bet he thinks he’s the reason MJ blew up 😂🤣
Awful man...🤢
Yeah I ain’t feeling his vibe
What?? 😮
Sam says they were not friends, but their story sounds very much like they were friends who had a lot of respect for each other, not just respect as friends, but respect for each other as artists. I think Michael Jackson saw him as a good friend and one of the few people outside his family he could trust and maybe Sam just does not realise it. Certainly Michael saw him as one of the few friends or people in his work that he could trust. I think when Sam was gone, Michael missed not just his work, but also his friend and wanted, not just his photographer back whose work he respects, but also his friend he had a treasured history with that he could trust. It's sad Sam does not seem to realise this and how special he was to Michael and so I hope one day he does because they have such a beautiful story. Thanks for the wonderful photos and works of art. Peace and love
nope, check how he talks about MJ in that Bad tour interview. This guy was there for the money and only for the money
Ingratitude! MJ KING . His Music Will Live Forever
Thank you for all these insights - I was touched several times. I felt great artistic vibes during this interview.
Bro, I’m proud of you 👏🏻👏🏻! Well done! The further you go, the cooler it gets! Amazing interview 🔥! Awesome suit 👍🏻!
thanks bro for a nice words!
Michael boosted this guy ‘s ego tbh haha
Michael is second to none!
Great people surrounded him!
Interesting interview
Well done💪🏻
A lot of fakes and backstabbers surrounded him, too
the life on the other hand
I didn't expect the "Elton John was more welcoming, more warming". Michael Jackson is the nicest guy I ever known
Did you really believe what he said?!
He is obviously still mad for being fired because he had a great time with him.
@@hithere981 youre theonly logical person ive seen in this comment section. everyone seems to ignore that blatant act of betrayal from MJ. I love MJ but that was fd up and i wouldnt wanna work with him either after that.
@@hithere981 We all watched the interview. So we already know that 🙄
@@erenyeeagah204How do you know what happened between them, I don’t understand. Do you guys actually know them?
@@erenyeeagah204it's his version of the story , yet again ,Michael isn't able to give his version there are so many people who worked with Michael throughout his career, and never had a problem with him, but in my opinion I found Sam to be arrogant and full of himself, yes he was a good photographer but that's because he was photographing the best, Michael had trust issues is it any surprise, it could be that Sam had something to do with what happened, and it could be that Michael did apologise it doesn't suit Sam's narrative to say. People can say what they want now, Michael isn't here to tell his story. And there lies the problem.🙏
1 question.. If he was fired in London, what was he doing there still photographing Michael through the rest of the tour?
In my opinion, the photographer Sam Emerson is as a narcissist. He appears excessively self-centered. His remarks, that Michael didn't understand people or that he didn't invent the moonwalk - when it's widely known that Michael always acknowledged the moonwalk wasn't his creation - and describing Michael as cold, are quite judgmental. The interviewer was remarkable patience, often attempting to steer the conversation back to Michael, but the photographer seemed more interested in talking about himself. Personally, I wouldn't trust him, nor would I want him as a friend!!!
I found his behavior distasteful; for instance, instructing the interviewer to search for a specific picture rather than doing it himself indicated to me that he is using people. Similarly, he often mention his paycheck and how much money he earns seemed to me as arrogant and greedy. Elton John cannot be compared with Michael Jackson, and I disapprove of him speaking negatively about Michael after his passing. Speaking ill of the deceased is simply unacceptable; they cannot defend themselves. You just don't do it, it's so unethical. To me, Sam Emerson is a textbook narcissist. Regarding the situation, that he was fired, we've only heard his perspective; the full truth remains unknown.
To me the interviewer was more humble and compassionate than the photographer!!!
He is wrong! Michael Jackson was the biggest star. He was well-known to the whole wide world, not only those English-speaking countries. He down-placed Michael because he has never liked him for some reason. Pathetic.
I'll bet I know what that reason is.....!!!
so true how much he is missed even today 2023 9god bless youMJ ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Japan schoolchildren picture made "LIFE magazine, which was important at the time... before Instagram" 😂😂😂😂
This is the dude who took those photos of Jackson hugging Safechuck. If Jackson indeed fired him shortly after that, knowing he would likely be bitter and could try to bring down Jackson in revenge, that's more evidence he was not at all concerned about anyone using those photos to "prove" he was a pedophile. It would not make sense to molest Safechuck, take those photos, then fire the photographer who saw it all. Besides, Safechuck's current story is that Jackson conspired with his employees, including Emerson, to cover up child abuse. Firing him is the opposite of conspiring with him
Now that Michael is dead.... he is back peddling. Yet still profiting off those photos of him.
Sam OWNS the rights to those photos. ALL of them! He has the copyright registered with the Library of Congress. Under U.S. copyright law, the minute you press the shutter, you own the copyright. You can only collect unlawful use damages if the images are registered with the LOC in Washington, so Sam has every right with those photos.
no way he said michael didn’t undertand people nah people didn’t understand him. having that much fame at the age of 11 isn’t normal. the only normal life he had was maybe his mid teenage years because the jacksons weren’t “as famous” but still relevant being recognized in a time when that wasn’t normal and that was a period where he had a some what “normal” life. it just wasn’t to the degree he was when he was little michael and then off the wall and on. i don’t think a single human could be sane through that he did the best that he could i think that’s just my opinion i think this guy shoulda gave mj a lil more credit on that
Sounds like Sam wanted Mike all to himself
I was lucky enough to have front row center seats for the Victory Tour at Dodger Stadium, and Sam Emerson was taking his pics from right in front of me (the stage was high, so he wasn't in anyone's way). I'd also seen the concert the night before from seats further away, so I knew when the group was going to throw stuff into the crowd. When I kept getting myself into position, the security guards kept getting more and more annoyed with me, so Sam stepped in and asked them if they were afraid of one little girl (I was 17, but I probably looked 14) and then he winked at me and laughed. Because he shamed them, they backed off enough for me to catch Randy's shirt after Michael ripped it off of him; it has MJ's fingerprints in make-up on it and I still have it. I've been a fan of Sam's ever since and often saw him in the background of MJ's behind the scenes videos. 18 years later, I got to spend 5 days at Neverland (Chris Tucker was a friend from before he was famous and we called ourselves "working," but not much got done lol). Even though I'm a lifelong fan (I saw my first J5 concert at 4), I refused to let myself fangirl on MJ, so I never told him that my room was wallpapered with his face as teen or that I was willing to tackle somebody to get that shirt if it came to it lol. He was a very gracious host, and Prince and Paris (5 and 4 at the time) were just the sweetest kids. And yes, that place was everything you could imagine it was - and more.
EDIT: I'm a writer (so obviously I wrote my whole Neverland experience down - in 10 chapters 😁). I'm terminally ill, so I'll paste it now because people should know what that place was like since very few "regular" people (let alone HUGE fans) got to have the experience.
PART ONE: It all actually started a few months before Neverland (in March 2002). By that point, I'd known Chris Tucker for about a decade and we'd been working together to get some of his ideas down on paper for about a year. To say that Chris (CT) is spontaneous would be an understatement for the ages, so I was already accustomed to just bouncing with him at a moment's notice. One morning, I got a call to go to an airport in Van Nuys. Two hours later, I was on a private jet (CT and I being the only two passengers) to NY. It's kinda weird to think about it now, but I didn't ask any questions. CT's life was so much different by that point in comparison to what it was when we first became friends (almost getting kicked out of movie theatres for having popcorn fights and him coming to my parents' house to go jogging with me) that I was just focused on what we were working on and whatever we were doing when we were together. If he had a reason to be in NY and he wanted to work on ideas in and around that, so be it. When we got to NY, we checked into suites on different floors in the Palace Hotel. After going downstairs for dinner in the lobby restaurant, I have to admit that it was more than a bit strange that the only people in there (outside of the staff) were us... and former president Bill Clinton (with his secret service detail). I knew that he and CT were friends, so I didn't think that it was a coincidence, but... still kinda weird to meet a former president and shake his hand as he says, "Hi. I'm Bill" lol. CT even joked that I would have to be his security if anything crazy jumped off because I was all he had... So I assured him that if that happened, his goose was cooked - because I'd be running in the opposite direction of whichever way he went lol. Clinton finished eating first and left, and then we did. As we headed towards the elevators, I assumed that we were just going back to our own suites for the night, but CT stopped me from getting off on my floor, and then we didn’t get off on his either. Next thing I knew, we were getting off on the top floor and then we were in Michael Jackson's suite, and CT HAD NOT WARNED ME AT ALL! Bill Clinton was also in there and I WAS SHOOK. TOTALLY SHOOK! I was the only person with no business being in that room and just getting air into my lungs had become a problem. I was introduced, and I'm sure I mumbled something, but I just wanted to escape. When the three of them started doing impersonations of each other, I made up some reason to leave (that I don't even remember) and BOLTED! So... That story is important because I had my wits about me by the time we got to Neverland, and I don't want anyone to think that I was calm, cool, and collected (despite having met tons of famous folks growing up in and around the industry in L.A. by that point) in my first MJ encounter lol.
PART TWO: Nothing MJ-related happened between that trip to NY and some day in June when, out of the blue, CT said: "Let's get away from everything and go to Mike's for the weekend." (Now, I obviously knew that CT and MJ were friends, but I'd also been around from the days when CT and I were both just huge fans. For a stretch in the 90's, I was his go-to "date" for some "Hollywood" stuff because he knew that I wouldn't embarrass him by fangirling on anybody - and also because we were so firmly in the friend zone that I wouldn't read anything into it and think I was going to end up being Mrs. Tucker. When Magic Johnson opened his theatre, there was a huge party - not that either one of us expected it to be a big deal because we regretted stuffing our faces with Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles earlier that day (the food at the party was insane and we just didn’t have room to partake of any of it; those Roscoe's waffles really do swell up like sponges lol) before changing clothes (sexy girly stuff and no more combat boots for me lol; I'm straight and don't mind that look on occasion. It just isn't particularly comfortable day in/day out) and meeting back up. And the security was ridonkulous. CT had to show his ID THREE different times before we even got out of the car (I was just his +1, so nobody cared about mine lol). We joked that they must be expecting the president, which is kinda ironic since Clinton was the president at the time lol. Anyhoo, we eventually figured out that the security was because MJ was stashed in one of the 16 or so theatres - and CT was determined to find him. We started poking our heads here and there, but we came up empty. When MJ finally emerged at some point to join Magic and say a few words, CT grabbed my wrist and dragged me through the crowd saying, "I've got to see this MF up close" lol. So it was still kinda odd to go from that to the quote about where to spend the weekend.) I took it in stride when CT made the suggestion because, as I said, his plans could change with no warning at all - and he also told me that I couldn't tell anybody - so I tried not to think about it too much. When the day finally came, he just told me to meet him at his house and that we'd go from there. I still wasn't believing it 100%, but off I went. When I got to CT's house, there was a huge bus parked in front of it (like a band tour bus), so it was starting to get more real; I knew we were going SOMEWHERE within driving distance. Inside CT's house, I was surprised to find three kids: Davellin, 16, Gavin, 13, and Star, 12. I had no idea who these kids were to CT or why he was taking them with us to Neverland, but I'd find out soon enough. (Fyi, these were the kids that ultimately put MJ on trial in 2005, so that’s a story also.) CT's assistant and his assistant's little brother were going too. I was kinda in my own world for the almost 3 hour drive to the Santa Ynez Valley, and kinda dumbstruck when we finally pulled through the gates of Neverland. I was actually there. I saw my first J-5 concert when I was 4 years old, saw the Jacksons and MJ multiple times after that (even flew home from college in TN TWICE for the Bad tour because MJ got sick in November and the last two dates were rescheduled for January) - and I was about to be the man's houseguest. Holy F***!!!
PART THREE: Once inside the gates, there was some business to attend to before we got anywhere near the house (or the amusement park, theatre, zoo, or anything else Neverland was famous for). Someone from the guard station boarded the bus. Anyone (including CT) over 18 needed to sign an NDA before being allowed any further onto the property. Needless to say, I didn’t actually read it (who would under the circumstances? lol) so I’m just left to believe that I wasn’t supposed to talk to anyone (especially the press) about my time there (especially if anything would paint MJ in a bad light). After that, the bus went up the looooooong driveway (if you can call it that because it was more like a road) until it made a right. MJ’s house was then on the left, the guest cottages were on the right, and a fountain was right in front of us. Davellin was my roommate (we were the only two females) and everybody else bunked-in (nobody had their own room - including CT) to the rest of the cottages. In our room, Davellin (Davie) told me how they came to be on that trip with us (and I’ll try to condense it as much as possible). They met CT when they participated in a comedy workshop for kids at the Laugh Factory on the Sunset Strip. Not long after, Gavin was diagnosed with a particularly nasty form of kidney cancer and the doctors thought it would kill him. His “Make a Wish” was to meet MJ, so he did. While I personally believe that CT and MJ would have met each other eventually on their own, Gavin was the one who orchestrated their introduction, so MJ and CT’s relationship was mixed up with the Arvizos from the start; that’s why they were on that trip with us. When Gavin MIRACULOUSLY recovered (and I’m not being hyperbolic in saying that; the kid really was at death’s door), he credited his friendships with MJ and CT for giving him the strength to keep fighting. So that’s that. It turned out that MJ wasn’t in town when we arrived, and since we were only supposed to be staying for a couple days, he wouldn’t be there by the time we left either. But Prince and Paris were there, and Bigi (Blanket) too - but the world didn’t know about him yet.
PART FOUR: As I said, MJ wasn’t in town, but it didn’t even matter. It was bananas just to be there. Once we were situated, Davie, Gavin and Star took me on a mini-tour - starting with the main house. I didn’t know how many times the kids had been to Neverland before, but they were certainly accustomed to having the run of the place. Because of the unusual situation of the property, nobody used the front door to the main house. The back door (closest to the pool) was our entry point, and it had a code to unlock it (which we had). MJ routinely had large groups of people out to the ranch for charity events and that was just the easiest way to keep random people from wandering through his house while also allowing his actual houseguests access to whatever they may have needed (because staff offices were between the back door and the kitchen). A chef was on duty 24/7 and each meal came with a specific themed menu (but it was just a suggestion; you could ask for anything within reason and they probably had it). If we ate in the house, it was at a normal family-sized table not far from the kitchen. Also near the kitchen was a step-down den area with seating, a grand piano, and TONS of MJ’s family photos. Adjacent to that was a library filled floor to ceiling with books; I didn’t dare touch anything, but I was told that there were a LOT of first edition classics in there. Upstairs, I didn’t see any of the actual bedrooms, but the kids’ playroom was adorable, and the room set up for homeschooling was too. (I actually ended up putting Grace, the nanny, on the phone with a friend of mine who had to start homeschooling her little brother when he became ill, and she gave Grace the blueprint for how to get started for Prince beginning kindergarten in the fall). Next to the main house (connected but with different entrances) were the video library (each cottage still had a VCR and Neverland basically had its own Blockbuster in case guests wanted to watch something), MJ’s dance space (where you could LITERALLY see where he’d worn away the top surface of the floor practicing spins in front of the mirror), and the fire station (yep, Neverland had its own fire truck). I can’t remember when or where I met Prince and Paris, but I’m pretty sure it was the first day.
PART FIVE: Waking up in Neverland was surreal… even more surreal than all the events that led up to it. And I’m just going to put it out there right now that I don’t have much recollection of the order of the things that followed over the next couple of days. So yes, we had meals at the family dining table in the house, but MJ’s houseguests could also have meals all over the property if that’s what they wanted to do (because he had what amounted to a catering service to make that happen). Golf carts were at our disposal to get from here to there, and one day we went up to the precipice of Neverland - overlooking all its 2700 acres as if we were in Zamunda from “Coming to America” lol. On the way up, we went by/through a herd of cattle, dust was kicked up, and it was so easy to forget that we were just going up there to have lunch. There was a gazebo (if you can call it that because it had a table that would seat about 20) - and that’s where I remember connecting with MJ’s kids for the first time. I don’t have a clue what we ate that day, but I definitely remember Prince and Paris yelling, “K, chase me!” as I chased them around that huge table with the wind swirling around everybody. I caught them, they caught me, and I was exhausted by the end of it lol. I guess that was the point that their nanny (Grace) started trusting me around them, and then that led to me talking to her about home-schooling and me putting her on the phone with my friend (as mentioned in the last chapter). That also may have been the same day that CT and I were jumping on a huge trampoline with the kids (stretched over a hole in the ground, so “falling” would have just meant kind of breaking even lol) - until a coyote sent us scrambling back into the house.
PART SIX: As a reminder, I was at Neverland with CT because we were SUPPOSED to be working on some creative stuff (I tried to keep my laptop close by), but there were SO many ways to get distracted from “real” life at Neverland that we didn’t ultimately get much done. The cell phone age was fully in play in 2002, but there was no service to speak of there (we were surrounded by mountains), and while getting an outside line was possible, you had to go through MJ’s staff to do it, so it really was life in a bubble. On top of that, no one from my “real” life knew I was there; even my parents were clueless. Davie and I MAY have turned the TV in our cottage on once - if that. And one day in the theatre, CT LITERALLY said to me, “When we get back to the STATES…” For the record: We were a 3-hour drive from Los Angeles at the time lol. It really was so easy to get sucked into MJ’s surreal world - and it didn’t take long for it to happen. There’s a lot of footage about what Neverland had to “offer” its guests, and it’s all true - and then some. We had the quads at our disposal, so one day Davie and I just took off going nowhere in particular except AWAY from the house, and if you weren’t the one riding in front, you were going to be dirrrrrrty. We switched back and forth to keep it fair, and I think we’d been out there for about a half hour, constantly getting further and further away from the house, when it dawned on me that we were still in somebody’s BACKYARD. At a certain point, getting lost became an actual concern, so we headed back - and darn near turned our shower (one after the other) into a mud bath just trying to get clean again lol. There was a fort designed for water gun battles, so we had super soaker fights there (it was June, so it was warm enough for that). When Neverland had overnight guests, it was always someone’s job to be posted at all of the areas (the amusement rides, theatre, zipline, water gun fort etc.) just in case we wanted to partake in those activities (and we did - with some results being better than others; CT and I once chose to do the circular “swing” ride about 4 times in a row, and we both looked a little green around the gills when that was over lol. The tilt-a-whirl was a bad idea for me too). I think there were like 4 or 5 golf carts for guests on the property (and people almost never took one alone), so somebody probably would have had to do it on purpose if you ever got stranded anywhere for long. Speakers were hidden all over the place (in fake rocks and such), so music was always playing unless there was a specific request to turn it off. In addition to the zoo that everybody knows about, there was also a reptile house (I didn’t stay in there long; ick!). All the trees had white lights in them, so it was really beautiful at night, but you had to be where you were going before midnight because when they turned them off, Neverland was DARK. You couldn’t even see your hand in front of your face, and the kids were worried they’d fall into the lake (about 10 - 15 feet away) if they wandered around that side of the guest cottages after hours lol (we did have flashlights in our closets though, so they were just being extra). At some point, CT decided that we were going to stay longer than the original couple of days, so I actually had to get some laundry done at Neverland. The idea that Michael Jackson’s staff would be washing my clothes is a thought that never could have occurred to me when I was a kid.
PART SEVEN: I guess I should mention some interesting things that MJ fans would just LOVE to have seen because Neverland was HIS property. Going back to the message where I said the bus turned right off the driveway (with MJ’s house then to the left and our guest cottages to the right), the iconic hill (with the floral clock patterned after the one at Disneyland) was on the left before we made that turn. At the top of that hill was a train station… and the train was real. We took a ride on it around the property (and also one in MJ’s SUV limo, which was basically a party club on wheels). But the most poignant thing was inside of the train station. Upstairs, MJ had decorated a room to be Christmas 24/7. And he did it to the hilt. Being raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, he didn’t get to celebrate Christmas as a kid (even after making a Christmas album with the Jackson 5), so he kept a room full of all the Christmas stuff he missed out on as a kid. It was summery and warm outside, but it was still Christmas and fully festive in that room. In another section of the property, there was a structure - I think it was called Hill House (which is kinda weird now because of the horror movie), but it’s where there was SO much of his memorabilia - the outfits he wore for the American Music Awards and Grammy’s in 1984 were definitely there; some of the awards themselves too - but I don’t remember many details of that because my brain was already on MJ overload and kinda spent from being in his surreal world by that point. So… back to the other stuff. One morning (up early for reasons I can’t explain) and calling myself “working” on my laptop while sitting at a table next to the back door of the main house, a guy walked up with an elephant and a baby deer on a leash. Yes, you read that right. Read it again if you need to be sure… because I wasn’t when it happened lol. Next thing I knew, my whole right arm was down the throat of the elephant giving her a can of Mountain Dew. Apparently, she got sweets - especially muffins - on Mondays, and I just happened to be there. Then CT came around the corner dressed HEAD-TO-TOE like an Arab prince - and it didn’t seem weird at all lol. I STILL don’t know what that was about because I never asked - so it didn’t seem any weirder when he was walking that baby deer like it was a puppy (still wearing that get-up) across the bridge over the lake behind our guest cottages later that day. Like I said, it was so easy to get sucked in, and "normal" went ALL the way out the window lol.
PART EIGHT: Everything I previously wrote about my experiences at Neverland DEFINITELY took place over the first three days, but as I said, it probably isn’t in the right order. During that time, I was also trying to “work,” and we were hanging out and doing most (or all) of these things as a group (with Paris and Prince involved a lot of the time.) Also, I forgot to mention that around the same time the elephant and baby deer showed up out of nowhere, I saw Grace (the nanny) going into a different back door with a box of Pampers. Since Prince was 5 and Paris was 4, I was understandably confused. When I asked her about it later, that’s when she shared “Blanket’s” existence with me; it would still be a little while before the world learned about him (and I never met the baby). So… on the fourth day (which hadn’t started out any different from the others), I somehow found myself hanging out with Prince (and I have NO recollection of where everybody else was at the time). Anywho, he asked me to go with him to the arcade. I’d been in it for a couple minutes on another day (just to see it), but I hadn’t played any of the games at that point. Since it was already established that we (as guests) had the run of the place, I truly didn’t think anything of it and off we went. Of course, everything in there was free, and I had fun with some of the “old school” games from my childhood first… then Prince suggested that we play, “Smooth Criminal” or “Moonwalker” - the video game that is literally based on the music video (or short film as MJ would prefer it to be called) of the same name. Cue the surreal. It’s just the two of us in there, and this 5-year-old is talking to the character of his own father as he moves the avatar around the screen. “Daddy, go over here! Oh no, Daddy, don’t do that!” I have no recall of how long we were in the arcade, but when we went back into the house… WHAMMO! MJ was standing right there in the hallway between the offices and the kitchen.
PART NINE: Apparently, Prince and I had unofficially “gone missing” because nobody knew we were in the arcade (and everybody else was there to greet MJ) when we just came strolling back inside the house as if we didn’t have a care in the world. I guess I must have said that we’d been in the arcade. All eyes on us. AWK-WARD! I may as well have been that baby deer (caught in headlights) at that point. Silence. Thankfully, MICHAEL JACKSON HIMSELF took control of the situation… and I just stood there dumbstruck… as I watched him be a regular dad. Long story short, Prince and Paris (at 5 and 4) didn’t have permission to just go wherever they wanted whenever they wanted on the property. (In Prince’s defense, the arcade wasn’t far from the back door of the main house, so it wasn’t like we had to hop on a golf cart to get there or that any of the wildlife on the property would ever get that close, but that wasn’t the point.) When MJ called Prince out for doing something that he KNEW he wasn’t allowed to do, the kid stood right next to me and BLAMED IT ALL ON ME! Prince said that it was MY idea to go to the arcade, and that he was just trying to be a good host the way his dad had always said he should be! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?! I wanted to defend myself to Michael Jackson(!), but I was standing next to HIS 5-year-old son who was just trying to get himself out of trouble. (WHAT DOES ONE DO IN THAT SITUATION?!?!) Fortunately, and saving me from actually having to DO anything, MJ saw right through his son’s BS (apparently, Prince was a repeat offender lol) and he gave him a lecture about using their guests as a means to get his way. It was just BONKERS. Prince was then instructed to apologize to me, and I just stood there, stunned. So yeah, THAT actually happened. The whole experience was just SO surreal. Brandy (the actress and R&B singer) was also a guest with her baby daddy and her 4 day old infant; Al Sharpton was there for dinner one day… You just can’t make this ish up - and it’s my JOB to make ish up lol.
PART TEN: This is the last chapter of my Neverland story. After having dinner and a slumber party in a teepee that slept 10 (yeah, that actually happened too; MJ was in there with us for a bit after dinner, but he didn’t stay overnight) it all eventually got really sad after we left Neverland. I made a connection with those Arviso kids. We had our own relationship after that (they slept over in my apartment, I took them to Magic Mountain, and I knew their mom and their grandparents etc.) so when the ish hit the fan publicly a year and a half later (and MJ got arrested), I knew it was going to happen about six months before it did. I can say that I saw MJ and Gavin together being perfectly normal with my own eyes, so when that documentary came out, I almost fell off my chair when I saw them so weirdly hugged up - and I wondered why nobody stopped them from doing that during filming; it was all just so bizarre. (I don’t think the kids realized how big of a deal that doc was going to be though because they never mentioned having done it even once before it aired.) Everybody is entitled to their own opinion about everything, but I can tell you that those kids LOVED MJ to the moon and back before it all went sideways. (I have my suspicions about what really happened and why, but it’s just my personal hunch). When the trial was on the horizon, my dad teased me that I might get pulled into it because the kids had been in my apartment. My reply? “I hate to break it to you, but they’ve been in YOUR house - and pool - too, so if that’s all it takes, we’re BOTH going to be in that trial” lol. So that’s my Neverland story. I was one of the fortunate few who got to live every MJ fan’s dream.
@@KB-xp6dq thanks for sharing your story. So detailed, which I like. You have some great memories there. Amd pretty lucky to be high-school friends with Chris Tucker!
By the way, regarding the scene when Gavin is holding hands with Michael and resting his head on his shoulder....was set up by the snake Martin Bashir. He knew exactly what he was doing when he instructed naive Michael by saying "Hey, why don't you and Michael hold hands, and maybe lean your head on his shoulder? Yeah. Show the viewers how loving your friendship is". Something to that effect, . Got this confirmed from bodyguard Matt Fidesse who was friends with the bodyguard there that day. Bashir set him up in that way. They wouldn't have done thst otherwise. There was no advisor of any kind there thst day so no one to say "um, no, MJ that is not a good idea."
Excellent wonderful pictures, kind of cold interview. Humility is everything, It should be a privilege to photograph the most famous person in the world at the time. I love you Michael, always and forever.
Money is all he thinks
It's strange that I'm the first one to comment on this... Sam is top-notch and the interview is awesome
This guy is too full of himself.
I liked the interview, a good one! You can feel that Sam had a great time working for/with Michael ( who wouldn’t?😊) , it was a big point in his career and … he was very disappointed with Michael! He is just honest. Fired for no reason, for something that he didn’t do. Not easy to swallow.
Good to listen a great professional like him talking about how great and genius Michael was. Amazing stories!
you don't see how his story makes no sense? Why would MJ want to fire him if he didn'r really believe Emerson betrayed him? Why would that be in his interest? And the person who told Emerson he was fired, telling we can't fire BoB Jones so we fire you, if MJ knew Emerson didn't do anything how would firing him fix anything?
♥️♥️♥️Michael forever ♥️♥️♥️
This has been interesting, great photography work. @Sam Emerson,are the pictures gonna be on the market.
the Ego on this guy is wild.
so entitled and rude
Love how Sam Emerson is very real talking about money. He is a professional photographer and needs to get his income.
He needs to check his Ego and Attitude
@@joeyferguson2129 why?
hm, right... and since he was so interested in money it's hard to believe he never sold photos to the media without MJ's approval
@@theansweris4241 Sam owns ALL the copyrights to his photos of MJ, NOT MJ! Sam's images of MJ, and all the other artists he has photographed are registered with the Library of Congress in Washington D.C., and he never needed the "approval".
Sam Emerson too much self praise! Too much ego, sorry!!
10 years working for Michael Jackson allowed Sam to become more known and rich!!
Also Sam Emerson is wrong about the
" moonwalk" : Michael always said in various interviews that he did not invent the moonwalk , but that he took the moves from seeing kids in the ghetto doing it, and Michael just embellished and improved it.
This sam guy should kept the same energy then and there not now after he becomes known. I cant explain his lack of gratitude towards Michael may come from.
A lot of people seem to feel Sam was cold, but there seemed to have been several moments he practiced discretion and did not over share out of respect.
This interview is very revealing... it gives u a look into the fact that Michael had few people around him who cared or had his interest in mind. This guy simply used Michael, had no respect for him, some ways dispised Michael & who he was and comes off as a racist. The tragedy that was Michael Jackson's life is on full display here. We will never know if this guy didn't leak those photos that got him fired. My guess is that he did.
Very true. He obviously leaked those photos. The guys seems like a total ass
For a photographer he’s quite the snob 😂
Mr Emerson thank to you we have Michael s photos
Thank you!
Sam was making some faces throughout the interview that seem to be hiding some feelings. I wish he would have really spilled the beans 🫘 😂 great interview though!! 👏🏼
What a great interview...It´s amazing to listen to these stories from a special person like photographer Sam Emerson! Congratulations! Hug from Portugal!
This man is too formal and tensed for a supposed relax interview
Sam thinks the 'Bad' album cover is the most reproduced image / most iconic imagine of MJ...lol What about THRILLER. Dick Zimmerman was the photographer for that album and IT is the most reproduced photo of MJ by far
Listen to it again! Sam said it was the most iconic image that HE (Sam) did of Michael.
This guy acts like he was photographing some random
Its obvious bob Jones sold that story to the sun .I wonder how many false stories he sold about Michael. Sam also sounds so bitter to. Michael will always be the greatest.😂no matter how many watches Elton gives away
and if Bob Jones did that he had an interest telling MJ that it was Emerson who likely believed it really. Otherwise how would it serve him to fire Emerson?
The interviewer missed some opportunities to ask some really good questions.
1). Was there a particular reason Sam didn't want to be around Michael?
2). Why didn't he want to stay at Neverland?
3). How did Michael and Oprah get along. Michael always appears uneasy around her. You can see it in the photos but especially during the interview.
I wish they would've shown the photos longer for the audience to see. The interviewer just kinda holds them up a few seconds. Not nearly long enough to appreciate them.
Sam Emerson's Sylvester Stallone impression is spot on.
🤌🏾
And.... dude loves him some champagne .🍾 🥂
He clearly drank more than the interviewer. 😏
I warmed up to Emerson in the course of the interview. If he worked with Mj for 10 years, their relationship was special enough. He’s downplaying it a bit because he’s worked with so many big artists and it was so long ago.
Michael jackson..just wow...there well be NOONE else..like him. The king. 👑🤴🙇♂️
Give God a little credit jeese! If he made Michael, he can make another. He was only a man. Not a perfect God. He worked hard and practiced and had millions of dollars. Don't doubt yourself, God or other artists. Who knows. Maybe God will provide a greater artist. Michael was only human.
Buenos Aires, Argentina 😮 no Sam, it was the island of Tenerife, Spain. I was there in the crowd 😊 Beautiful photo ❤
Oh god he’s so boring with so much attitude and ego Michael is and will always be the king 👑 ❤
At min 41:40 Sam Emerson is talking about a picture that he took of Michael that he likes. But we don’t see that picture. 😞 could you please add it somewhere?
Dope content bro!
He work is definitely amazing ❤
Most famous person of the 20th century ❤🎉
I've seen the original photo of the Bad album cover shoot. Photos are available on the internet. I wonder why they lit up those photos to make him look lighter.
It's asinine that anyone would be as moronic to say something like " you're old so what would you know about photography?" That's outrageous! First of all you were a young man in the beginning when you had the dream of becoming a photographer, AND you had the ambition to achieve that ultimate dream job‼️💯👏 ✨️ 🎉 Incredible!!! Outstanding work and incredible memories ❤ Tank you for sharing!
I really enjoyed this❤
This guy if not mistaken ,is the one who I said point the camera ( video)here. I have a message for Michael "Victory or Bad tour". 😓😶. Or maybe he fired the first one in K.C. I never asked Michael in 2009 last time I talked to him.If it is the man I think,he know some of me and Michael's personal secrets. Yet I can see he is a man of honor. ❤
😊😊love 😊you😊😊😊😊w😊
This man is an MJ Encyclopedia. Wow!
Anyone else notice how annoyed he got at 40:30 😂
very nice interview..
Hes so disrespectful. Talking about Ehhh… Elton was the biggest in the world… I get it at that moment Mj was MJ but some people can’t really give props for talent..