Image Credit: Denise Truscello/WireImage.comJoe Jackson, father of the late Michael Jackson, has admitted spanking his son in a new interview. Yet he maintained that he’s been unfairly painted as a bad father. “They try to make a big issue of when I spanked Michael or some of the kids, you know, just like they didn’t spank their kids when they did wrong,” he said (quotes via CNN). “The media twists everything.”
Jackson also said that corporal punishment was a method of keeping his sons away from gang violence. Before his death, Michael Jackson repeatedly described his father’s strict parenting style in terms that amounted to physical and verbal abuse.
The controversial admission comes from a forthcoming documentary. Click through to the jump to see the clip, plus commentary from HLN‘s Showbiz Tonight. What do you think of this revelation? How much more does Joe Jackson have to say?
(Follow The Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)
More news from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Allison Iraheta parts ways with Jive Records
Where’s the beef? Lady Gaga goes raw in new photo spread
Ke$ha before the $: High-school footage unearthed
Taylor Swift: Should she respond to Kanye West’s latest apology?








Give. Me. A. Break.
joe jackson is def on the road of denial.
joe jackson is a child beater and no excuse for what he has done will put him in the good book i to was beaten as a kid and i live with itevery day of my life and the bad feelings i have for my parents are unbelieveable so i know how michael felt don;t beat your kids
My mom used to beat (and she was well aware of the difference between a beating and a spanking). My dad never hit us, but my mother did and I am glad she did. Things would’ve been a lot different for me and my siblings if she chose not to.
There is a difference between spanking and beating. I don’t know if he knows the difference.
Joe jackson is a lying dog, and doest regret what happened to his so all he care bout is money!!
ikr all he cares about is money and he wouldent regret it
This delusional old man is trying to excuse his behavior. The thought that Michael Jackson would join a gang or sell drugs is too funny. He had his mothers religion and was a timid guy. Joe Jackson terrorized his family, cheated on his wife, made horrible business decisions and now is trying to excuse his actions. Sorry Joe, no one is buying it, most of all your family.
Does he know there is a difference between spanking and beating? My guess….no!
is hij echt dood
is michael raely dead
Send him to the electric chair! How dare he spank his son?! I’ve never heard of any other parent doing that! What a monster! And despite there being no proof of any kind, lets just jump to the conclusion that he beat Michael! Yes that is the American way, right? Guilty until proven innocent? Never given the benefit of the doubt?
the fact that he admits it and that his other children have confirm it isn’t proof for you?? malaka
The way MJ described his feelings toward his dad, it’s pretty obvious Joe Jackson terrorized MJ. MJ said he was so scared of his dad he would want to vomit just seeing it. Can you imagine feeling that way about your own dad? Even Janet has said Joe Jackson treated them terribly. He made his own kids call him Joseph instead of dad. Even as adult superstars Michael and Janet still call their dad Joseph in their interviews! Conversely, MJ and Janet have had nothing but effusive praise for their mom.
*vomit just seeing him (Joe)
he spoiled jacksons childhood…
And Michael was the one who died? Kinda unfair if you ask me…
very unfair. but things are not always as they seem.
This fellow did not just “spank” his child(ren). They were beaten. Michael
Jackson described, in detail, and more than once, what he went through. This
guy is trying to excuse his behavior–and a previous commenter is right–how
ridiculous is it to imagine Michael Jackson in a gang? Shy, quiet (except on
stage)religious, strong mother influence…come on. Joe is angling for money
from his son’s estate–he will do and say what he thinks will help him get it.
OMG….Joe Jackson shouldnt have beaten Michael the way that he did bcuz never should u beat a child so bad that they vomit at your presence but people please should 4give him 4 it bcuz not only has he lost his son but if Michael 4gave we should 2….please stop makin him feel so bad about it bcuz that was in the past and we cant change the past
What is SIGNIFICANT too is WHY he beat (or whipped or spank) MJ and the others — it was so they would PERFORM! Even when ANIMAL trainers do that to their DOGS, it is WRONG. It was not loving discipline to teach them to be good people or to punish them for bad conduct that could have led them to become juvenile delinquents, but it was the method he used to FORCE them to perform perfectly and on cue. The fact that it WORKED is why Joe has never felt too badly about it. But the fact that MJ was so MESSED UP (and the others were all affected too but did not “act out” as overtly as MJ did AS FAR AS WE KNOW), lets you know how ABUSIVE and DAMAGING Joe’s methods were. It’s commendable tho that Michael did not hold a grudge against his father forever and neither do the 3 grandchildren. They all love Joe and realize that he just made a BIG mistake in how he selfishly mistreated The J5 — and his wife. Yes, it is a shame that Michael went first and Joe gets to bask in the glory, fame and MONEY of Michael’s life-long, much-deserved, HARD-earned wages. Joe gets to live a nice LOOOOONG healthy life while he made his loved ones suffer under his hand. That sucks!
I agree totally with your comments.
I think I am going to say that he did not know any better. Why else would you treat a child like that? Michael was always the shy one. Did anyone ever see MJ hug his dad or be laughing and smiling with his dad in his teens and beyond? Shouldn’t that tell you something. MJ repeatedly said that all he did he did to please his dad, and apparently his dad was never pleased. But guess what , having the heart that MJ did MJ was willing to forgive his dad. Michael youa re such an incredible person with the capacity to love beyond all the hurt and pain you feel. I love you MJ I love you MOST. Keep well my angel