Bad: An Unprecedented Investigation into the Michael Jackson Cover-Up

by Dylan Howard

An Inside View into the Dark Side of a Music Icon He was the King of Pop, a superstar without equal, the idol of millions of young people around the world. But was Michael Jackson also a sexual predator without equal, someone who preyed on the very fans who adored him?  Bad is the revelatory untold true story of the strange and larger-than-life career of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop. In the wake of the controversial two-part documentary Leaving Neverland, which told the stories of two young boys who were befriended by the singer and have claimed they suffered years of agonizing abuse, Dylan Howard set out to investigate Jackson’s life and death in unprecedented depth, to determine—as one lawyer suggested—that the pop star ran “the most sophisticated child sexual abuse procurement and facilitation operation the world has known.”   After all the highly publicized trials and unfounded accusations, stunning new information has finally come to irrefutable evidence that one of the best-known, best-loved figures in the world was a monster behind closed doors—a foul-mouthed, abusive, drug-sodden freak whose deeds and the reasons for those deeds are revealed now for the first time.   A dramatic narrative account based on dozens of interviews, Howard shares Jackson’s own riveting personal journal—obtained exclusively for this book—interviews with family members, multiple first-person sources—some of whom have asked to remain anonymous—as well as thousands of pages of court documents. What he uncovers is a man who was both naive and Machiavellian, unorthodox, a devoted father, shrewd businessman, and drug addict whose life was cut short but whose sound and style have influenced artists of various genres and generations.   Remarkably though, in death, there remains two portraits of Michael the reigning King of Pop, and a pedophile whose pattern of abuse ruined his reputation. Fans and individuals alike will forever be asking if the insidious claims being made about MJ are true. This is the new narrative and the sad legacy of one of the best-selling music artists of all time.   Here is his life story, told for the first time with stories and testimony that will leave you shaken.

Genres: True Crime, Music, Biography, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Crime

Kindle Edition

First published June 2, 2020

Reviews

[MacWithBooksonMountains Marcus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before I commit myself to reading nonfiction about celebrities, I often research the author. What I could garner about Dylan Howard did not make me take heart. I was wondering if I would waste my time with a sensationalist, money grabbing, irresponsible attempt to milk money from gullible readers.
Eventually, I gave it a try. And was I surprised. The author managed a responsible, impartial treatise on the pop-idol. At the beginning we are treated to a description of one of the videos that Jackson shot with two boys in his bedroom. The author’s comments on Jackson’s interaction with the boys are objective and fair, but make it clear that despite all the biographical elements, all the career highlights that are to follow why this book was written.
There is plenty new to learn about Michael Jackson, and true to the title of the book, later on the focus shifts to the unsavory accusation of pedophilia that have not gone away, even after his death.
Dylan Howard does provide you with facts, some quite disturbing; though he interprets these facts, he does this from different angles. If there is not enough information to go by, the author makes it clear that one should assume innocence rather than guilt. Ultimately, one gets the distinct feeling that the author wants the reader to decide who Michael Jackson really was - sex fiend or victimized Peter Pan like pop star idol.

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very odd book. The cover and title of it suggests that this is a 'Michael Jackson is a confirmed pedophile' book yet the author actually goes through the Chandler and Arvizo cases debunking them but then talks about documents and videos that no one has ever seen, that is not published and is highly questionable if it is real or not, such as Jackson's diary.

Mild exploration into the recent Safechuck and Robson accusations also questions the legitimacy of these men's claims.

So, it's 1/5 questionable crap, 4/5 actual decent biog of MJ and exploration of the claims money-hungry individuals made.

[TLG · Rating 1 out of 5]

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment...

This guy is a joke....the fact is that there has never been a journal and if he has one, then it's fake. Just another reporter going after a dead man perpetuating the mythology with no facts.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

If he started with the antics in his late teens, heaven help the possible thousands of boys he tainted.

Plus, Paul McCartney was extremely pissed off at him when he snatched up the Beatles song catalogue (now owned by Sony if I recall correctly that they got from Jackson due to money woes).

Blame father, Joe Jackson for being an overbearing and totally abusive parent.

The book was well structured and gave the facts as they should by not being biased.

Interesting read.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating read but not much in the way of new information. The book covered Michaels whole life.

[Shamar Guishard · Rating 1 out of 5]

It sounds quite jarring but nonsensical, it has a few things I heard off like Michael Jackson's immortality obsession but quite frankly the book doesn't really add up.

[Faloni © · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just passed my old house, I miss living in LA 🐶🙁

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this was written in quite a biased manner and ends quite abruptly, the author clearly and comprehensively lays out the case against Michael Jackson.

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much new information - but if you missed all the controversy, the trials, etc. thus book will enlighten you. I’m glad I saw him in concert in his heyday - his single sequined glove days.

[Brian J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not looking good for Michael here…

[Kameloth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a huge fan of Michael Jackson and haven't been familiar with many details of his life and career. This book was so interesting to read, I learned so much about this tragic star who will remain without doubts the greatest ententainer ever in the human history.