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Did Martin Bashir lie to Michael Jackson for docu? He told singer he was Princess Diana’s ‘most trusted’ confidante

Michael Jackson's fans pointed out following the inquiry by Lord Dyson, Bashir should also be held accountable for his contribution to Michael Jackson's deterioration

An inquiry conducted by former Supreme Court judge Lord Dyson into former BBC journalist Martin Bashir's interview with Princess Diana revealed that he had actually "deceived" her by showing her brother falsified bank documents to get her in front of the camera. No sooner than this news broke, it had everybody's attention. In the midst of all of this, some social media users pointed out that following this inquiry, Bashir should also be held accountable for his contribution to Michael Jackson's deterioration. 

Bashir interviewing Diana had life-altering effects - the very foundation of the royal family would be shaken, her already crumbling marriage with Prince Charles would end a year later, and as Prince William pointed out earlier, eventually led to her death. Social media users are now pointing out how Bashir's documentary with the artist, 'Living with Michael Jackson', also hampered his life. 

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Martin Bahir 'lied and manipulated' 

"Martin Bashir faked bank statements to secure an interview with Princess Diana, and lied and manipulated during the entirety of his interviews with Michael Jackson. He is DONE!" one user tweeted. Along similar lines, another user tweeted, "As well as Princess Diana, Martin Bashir also manipulated an interview with Michael Jackson, don't forget. The media owes Michael the biggest overdue apology ever."

Apology for Michael Jackson

In 2003, Bashir interviewed Michael Jackson at his Neverland Ranch when the Arvizo family was visiting. Many fans argue that the ABC special made Jackson seem like a pedophile. A user explained the ill-effects of the exchange, "Martin Bashir in 2003 promised Michael Jackson a fair portrayal for his "documentary" living with Michael Jackson. instead Martin manipulated the footage he had that ultimately ended up with Michael having to go through a criminal trial in 2005 that was so bogus it shouldn't have even gone to trial. Michael was rightfully aquitted of all 14 counts he was charged with but you can tell that the media circus surrounding that trial took it's toll on Michael both physically and emotionally and was likely a factor in why he was so tragically sent to an early grave. I'm glad that lady Diana got an apology form Martin (though i have my doubts about whether it was genuine) but the person who deserves the biggest apology from that scumbag is Michael Jackson."

"BREAKING: BBC admits that in 1995 "journalist" Martin Bashir forged official documents, deceived and unfairly manipulated Princess Diana. BBC are silent on similar tactics Bashir used against Michael Jackson in 2003, which led to false criminal charges against him. #MJInnocent," one user wrote. 

People called on to ABC to now initiate an investigation into the interview. ".@ABC, we’re waiting on the Martin Bashir investigation into the deceptive interview with Michael Jackson."

Bashir gained MJ's trust 

Michael Jackson’s lawyer Tom Mesereau revealed how Bashir managed to get Jackson, who was notoriously private, in front of the camera. Bashir interviewed Jackson over a span of eight months, from May 2002 to January 2003. While Jackson did not trust the media, Bashir made it seem to him like he was an extremely credible journalist. 

Mesereau reportedly told The Sun, "What Michael told me was that Martin Bashir had gained his trust and he was most impressed with his professed relationship with Princess Diana." Mesereau also added that Bashir told Jackson he was the late princess' "most trusted" confidante. 

Jackson claimed that Bashir had played on his affection for Diana. "[He] told me that he was 'the man that turned Diana's life around,'" Jackson said. Mesereau added that Jackson's documentary with the former BBC journalist had "set in motion a series of very tragic events". 

Documentary a 'gross distortion of truth'

When Jackson had agreed to do the documentary, he wanted to convey to the audience his love for children and desire to help sick kids. Bashir reportedly even told Jackson that he supported his vision for an international children's holiday. 

But Jackson felt betrayed by the final product, claiming it was a "gross distortion of the truth" and painted a misleading picture of his behavior and conduct as a father.

"I trusted Martin Bashir to come into my life and that of my family because I wanted the truth to be told," an enraged and emotional Jackson said in the days after the film was aired. “Martin Bashir persuaded me to trust him, that this would be an honest and fair portrayal of my life. I feel more betrayed than perhaps ever before; that someone who had got to know my children, my staff and me, whom I let into my heart and told the truth, could then sacrifice the trust I placed in him and produce this terrible and unfair program."

Bashir's documentary 'killed him'

Following Jackson's death in 2009, Dieter Wiesner, the pop star's manager from 1996 to 2003, reportedly said of Jackson's response to Bashir's documentary, "It broke him. It killed him. He took a long time to die, but it started that night. Previously the drugs were a crutch, but after that they became a necessity."

The documentary would reportedly spark a new investigation from then Santa Barbara District Attorney Tom Sneddon, who was looking for a reason to arrest the singer. Following bad publicity, arrest, a 2005 trial in which he was acquitted, Jackson died four years later.