Michael Jackson's bodyguards talk to ABC's 'Good Morning America,' defend star (VIDEOS)

Michael Jackson's bodyguards talk to ABC's 'Good Morning
America,' defending the pop star. Above, Mr. Jackson
announcing his last planned concert. (AP Photo / Joel Ryan, File).

Michael Jackson's bodyguards talk to ABC's 'Good Morning America,' defend star (VIDEOS) - Three bodyguards who worked for pop star Michael Jackson during the last two years of his life appeared on ABC's Good Morning America today in what is the first of a series of scheduled interviews in which the men defend the singer.

Ashleigh Banfield interviewed Bill Whitfield, Mike Garcia, and Javon "BJ" Beard over three days. The men, who have admitted their desire to write a book together called "In Defense of the King," describe Mr. Jackson as an "awesome" father who was so close to his children "they were like four buddies."

According to the men, the star could be playful about his fame.  For example, he would ask his bodyguards to pull up to fast food drive-thrus where he would order the food himself through the speaker from the back seat, then let the driver pull up and pay.  They said the singer would laugh from the backseat about what the clerk would say if she or he knew who had ordered the food.

As much as he enjoyed aspects of his fame, the men also say the star was lonely and paranoid at times. They said his face masks were a "disguise," and they did not ask him about the disguises because he would often be in the company of his children, ready to go out.  Mr. Jackson guarded his children from stories about him in the tabloids, they said, often turning the magazines around in stores so his children wouldn't see them. One of the guards said he would also do this for the singer.

None of the men believed the accusations about Michael Jackson behaving inappropriately with children. They said that 'men know men,' and the singer was as attracted to women as they are.

The men said Michael Jackson would buy thousands of dollars' worth of books in a bookstore at a time and particularly liked reading history. Asked whether they thought the singer read all the books he bought, they said he was intelligent and could hold conversations on many subjects. His children also like to read, they said, and are mature and well-mannered.

The interview continues on various ABC programs this week such as Nightline and more episodes of Good Morning America.

Former employees of stars often give "tell-all" interviews; however, Ms. Banfield noted it was unusual to see former employees who wanted to protect and defend their former employer rather than trash him.  The fact that the three of them agree on their observations as a group, she said, adds credibility to their account.

Michael Jackson died unexpectedly on June 25, 2009 at the age of 50 just days before he was to leave for London to begin a concert series called This Is It.  His private physician, Conrad Murray, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter for administering the anesthetic propofol to the singer in an effort to help him sleep. Dr. Murray, who was released on $75,000 bail, is scheduled to appear in court next on April 5.

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Michael Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray faces the music - charged, pleads 'Not guilty'