Former Jackson Adviser Sheds Light on Rowe
One person who knew both Michael Jackson and his ex-wife, Debbie Rowe, is Stuart Backerman, the star's former adviser and publicist.
Backerman stopped by "The Early Show" Tuesday to talk to co-anchors Harry Smith and Maggie Rodriguez about Rowe and what he expects may happen with the unsettled issue of who will have custody of Jackson's two oldest children.
Backerman said he hasn't had contact with Rowe since Jackson died on June 25.
Asked if he thinks she would want to be part of the kids' life and whether she might be the best person to raise the children, Backerman said, "To tell you the truth, you have to go back in time. Debbie came to Michael's aid on a number of occasions. In two particular cases, she was critical. After the (journalist) Martin Bashir interview, Debbie came out and said Michael would never harm a child, and that mitigated the Martin Bashir frenzy that occurred at that time."
"Number two is that during the trial of the century, when Michael was charged with child molestation, Debbie was a prosecution witness and she came forth and really blew the prosecution case out of the water, because she said Michael was a wonderful person, that Michael would never harm a child. That Michael was fantastic with his kids and that, to many people, put it over the top in terms of the jury deciding not guilty," he explained.
"So she's come to his aid in a number of cases. This is after the 2002 will. And so she cares for Michael. Michael's will came out, that was prepared, and in that will, Michael made it very clear he wanted his mother to be the custodial parent for the children. And I would be very surprised if Debbie would want to stir the pot - create a big scene - so to speak, and a messy court case, given that she really did care for Michael. I don't think she wants to go against the family," Backerman predicted.
Backerman told Smith he does not believe the rumors that Rowe is not the biological mother of the two older children. "I don't think there's a question about that. And I think she would be able to prove that if it came to that."
"I want to ask you about today's memorial. I'm holding this ticket for this memorial and it strikes me - it's screaming fans, all this press, a live broadcast, ticket and wristband to get in? Is this a Michael Jackson concert or Michael Jackson funeral? It's almost like he's dying the way that he lived," Rodriguez remarked.
"It's interesting, because it's a contradiction in a way with the police presence," Backerman said. "On one hand and it's a memorial in essence, sort of like a sad type of event, but on the other hand, it's going to music and entertainment, because that's who he was. A great entertainer and great performer. Almost like his life, a contradiction in terms."