Bestfriend's Brother (Michael Jackson)

chapter 31: my tell all Oprah interview

29th august 1993

"so how did this start? what do you remember about it?" she asked me and i breathed out "well it all started by just, what i thought, innocent flirting from chad... i was used to it because all the boys would be like that with me on set, you know? innocently flirting and i was absolutely okay with that because they never bothered or harassed me.
chad and i didn't really bond like i did with billy, or the other lads, i don't think he liked that." i shook my head "he started being so persistent, always asking me to go to his trailer and meet him there after we was shooting a scene. and i politely declined, told him i had a boyfriend and i was extremely happy with him. he acted... off about it... i ignored it and carried on with my dad. after a scene we shot, i think it was the beach scene, billy, ralph and i decided on going to a restraunt.. eating and just getting to know each other." i breathed out shakily "so we all went to our trailers to change into our normal clothes, billy said he'd knock on my trailer and come and get me once he was ready so we could walk to ralph's trailer. so as i was getting changed there was a knock on my door, i got changed quickly and answered it.." i said softly and looked at billy and ralph for support. they squeezed my hands and nodded at me, silently telling me i could do this.

"chad was there, telling me he needed to talk to me and asked if he could come in. i kind of hesitated and told him i needed to meet billy and ralph for some food. and he told me he wouldn't be long, so i just agreed. i let him in and he told me that he was starting to get feelings for me, so i told him i was in a happy relationship with michael and that i never felt the same towards him. he only knew me like a day..." i said honestly, shaking my head in bafflement  "he looked mad." i added and swallowed the lump in my throat.
"he came closer and just grabbed me." i said and billy immediately squeezed my hand for support
"he threw me on the table and he-" i breathed out shakily "he raped me." i stated as tears came to my eyes. one fell from my right eye and i let go of ralph's hand to wipe it. he leant over and grabbed the tissue box and took two out and gave them to me.

"he made it almost like a routine... he'd come to my trailer and throw himself onto me. i made excuses as to why i didn't want to be in my own trailer and how i wanted to share with someone i trusted. so billy and i ended up sharing a trailer for the remainder of the filming process, i was also in ralph's trailer sometimes." i informed oprah and everyone watching this interview live on their tv
"i ended up having to go back to my trailer for something... i think it was a outfit, i can't quite remember." i shook my head "and chad must of seen me because next minute he was in my trailer and forced himself o-on m-me again. in the same exact position he raped me the first time, and every other time, in.. over the table." the tears started to flow down my face freely. "that was the last time he raped me... he would have done it more and more if he wasn't caught out by ralph." i wiped under my eyes

"oh gosh..." she said softly "you caught him?" she turned to ralph. ralph looked at me and silently asked, with his eyes, if he should speak. i gave him a slight nod and smiled, it would help me a lot if he explained his part of the story too.

"yeah.. i um-" he cleared his throat "i walked into the trailer and she was pouring her eyes out.." his voice cracked "so i pulled him off her and pushed him away helping her up and covering her up... i threw him out of the trailer and he landed in billy's arms. billy was so confused and looked between chad and i, i was shouting at him.. saying he needed to stay away from normani or he'd be in deep trouble, at that point i had no idea he was continuously raping her." he shook his head and cleared his voice again "billy came rushing in the trailer to see normani... once he saw her sat on the couch pouring her eyes out he went over to her slowly and asked if he could sit beside her and comfort her." ralph explained "she really needed comforting after the traumatic experiences she was experiencing." he said

ralph sighed and wiped a tear away, i grabbed his hand and squeezed it as i smiled softly.
"she explained to billy and i what had happened.. and that was when she told
is about James raping her too in the studio doing sound production. at that point, billy and i broke down crying. we thought of her, especially me at that point, as a best friend. and we never noticed how she changed so much on set... she barely wanted to be there any more and we never knew why! we asked and asked but all she ever said was is that she was feeling a little ill.. but billy and i knew that wasn't the case after a few weeks because she can't of been ill for weeks on end because that would mean she was seriously ill." ralph explained "so we sat with her and cried, while she cried in our arms. i drove her and billy to my place and billy got her in my house while i ran upstairs and did a nice warm bath for her." he said softly and i squeezed his hand again "i let her stay at mine that night.. we all fell asleep on the couch watching a movie while she was cuddled into billy with a load of blankets and a hot water bottle for her stomach pains." he said and i nodded

"when did michael find out about these incidents?" oprah asked me "i distanced myself from everyone, even michael and my own parents. i told michael the day he asked me to marry him... and he still wanted to marry me.." i said softly
"what was his reaction?" she dabbed under her eyes taking a tear away

"he was angry, upset, sad and heartbroken.. he was really upset that i didn't tell him straight away but he understood why.. because it's such a mentally and physically draining experience, and i was scared. he was, and still is, just so thankful that i never was truly alone before he knew about the whole ordeal, because i had billy and ralph. so michael personally thanked them for everything they did for me, and for being such amazing guys."

"i'm so sorry... i'm so glad you had ralph and billy, it must of been nice having two men who you'd grown close to support you like that." she nodded

"yeah.. it very comforting, that night when they found out, ralph ran me a bath like he said and i came back down and just cuddled both of them, and i ended falling asleep in billy's arms watching some horror film." i explained and she nodded and smiled
"i owe everything to ralph and billy for getting me through it and helping me find the courage and confidence to tell my family and michael... to speak up and find my voice to tell the authorities." i sadly smiled.

i felt the baby kick and i jumped a little from shock and then placed my hand on my stomach and rubbed it
"you okay?" billy and oprah asked at the same time
i smiled and nodded "yeah sorry... the baby kicked." i said

"is it okay if i feel?" oprah asked
"of course not! go ahead!" i smiled brightly, she leaned forward and carefully rested her hand on my stomach. the baby kicked again and oprah smiled widely "wow, pregnancy is beautiful."

i agreed with her.

"have you been able to talk to michael lately? with all the child molestation allegations?" oprah asked. i knew this was coming!
i nodded and cleared my throat "i've been supporting him all the way through it. it's still early stages in the case." i told her briefly

"do you ever have any doubts? would he ever hurt a child?" oprah asked me. i wanted to gasp and shout at her!
instead, i shook my head, "no. and the fact people believe this, or even ask questions like this just prove they do not know michael at all. i know michael... i have done since being a child! he's an absolute angel who really really adores children. he is no harm to children." i stated as calmly as possibly "i just wish people would stop acting like he is some sort of danger to children. he's not. he's around children all the time whether it be his nieces and nephews or his OWN child!" i almost snapped

"he's innocent." i added "that's all i have to say. i know michael as a best friend, husband, partner and most importantly... i know him as a PERSON. he is not capable of hurting children. it's not in his heart." i said softly

oprah nodded. we changed the subject and talked about future music. future movies all of us could star in. she asked if there'd ever be another karate kid where johnny comes back where daniel and johnny see each other again after what happened at the tournament. the rest of the interview was a joy to be doing. we laughed and joked while answering the questions.