I Just Can't Stop Loving You

Chapter 6. Broken

*One month later*

PEOPLE magazine, October 1987

I JUST CAN STOP LOVING YOU—

Michael Jackson's troubled marriage and new flame

Michael Jackson has ruled the popular music charts for most of this decade. He is also a sex symbol in the eyes of millions of women, despite his sometimes eccentric ways (hyperbaric chamber and the Elephant Man's bones, anyone?). But ever since he introduced her to the world at the American Music Awards in 1981, Beth Warren has been right by his side as he broke records, topped the charts, and become America and the world's darling. Through Triumph, Thriller, Victory, and "We Are The World", Michael only has had eyes for Beth. With all of the sordid affairs in Hollywood, Michael's devotion to his wife and children has always been refreshing. It appealed to even President Ronald Reagan, who pointed to him as an example for other young men to follow in a world without moral values.

Now nearly six years after their New Year's Eve 1981 wedding, it seems as if Beth and Michael are no longer a couple. Beth filed for legal separation at the beginning of September, and although publicist Bob Jones issued a statement that they are not divorcing, their behavior this fall seems to cast doubt. While Michael sells out stadiums on multiple nights in city after city of his BAD tour in Japan, Beth and their four children remain at their Montecito residence in California. As reported previously in this magazine (a PEOPLE exclusive), Michael's three eldest children have begun school. Twins Cara and Nia have started kindergarten, and Michael Jr. is in preschool. (Michael's youngest daughter, Heather, is not quite three years old, and is tutored at home by the children's governess, Nneka Odetiynbo.) And Beth remains at the helm of her independent studio, Kaleidoscope Films, whose most recent project is Michael's forthcoming MOONWALKER.

Meanwhile, Michael has not been alone in Asia. Accompanying him to Japan, Australia, and beyond is a huge entourage, including his parents, sister LaToya (who is currently dating music superstar and Michael's rival Prince), managers, attorneys, musicians, dancers, and various hangers-on. Yet that is not unusual. The Victory tour was similarly elaborate, and this one seems to differ little, except for the conspicuous absence of Michael's brothers.

What is different is that Michael has been seen around Tokyo, Osaka, and Yokohama with the stunningly beautiful Tatiana Thumbtzen, the svelte model from the forthcoming "The Way You Make Me Feel" video. Although Michael reportedly wrote the song for his wife, it's Tatiana who has been seen living it up with the pop superstar at Korakuen Amusement Park, Disneyland Tokyo, and a formal tea ceremony hosted by the mayor of Osaka. She is now as much a fixture at Michael's side as his wife once was.

"Michael thinks Tatiana is gorgeous," says one associate, who asked not to be named. "She's of course bowled over by the attention. I've been working with Michael for three years and I've never seen that kind of easy affection between him and his own wife. I think his marriage is finished." This was confirmed by a longtime friend of Beth Jackson, who said that the superstar's wife is "heartbroken" by her husband's blossoming relationship with Tatiana.

The video "The Way You Make Me Feel" premieres on Halloween. At press time, Michael Jackson could not be reached for comment.

************

*Another month later*

November 11, 1987

The twins had a lavish fifth birthday party. Normally, Beth didn't care for that kind of excess. She would have hosted a small ice-cream-and-cake affair with a few clowns. But she'd been so depressed and despondent all fall that the girlfriends had started planning it for her. Rhonda especially had been wonderful with looking after the details, since she was between shoots.