Michael Jackson's manager tried to “kidnap” the singer to save him from drug addiction.
Ron Weisner - who controlled the late icon's career during his heyday - came up with a plan to rescue the King of Pop at the height of his troubles in 2006 when he was reportedly being plied with drugs and cash by Bahraini royalty.
According to excerpts from Ron's new book, 'Listen Out Loud', obtained by the New York Post's Page Six, the showbiz mogul concocted an elaborate plan with Michael's sister La Toya Jackson to sneak the 'Thriller' hitmaker away from his exotic haven and take him to rehab.
He writes: “That's exactly what this was, a kidnapping [on] the other side of the world” that involved a plane, rehab facility, a team and “more money than I'd care to admit.”
Despite discussing the plan 10 times over the course of the year, La Toya begged Ron to back out at the last minute.
Ron added: “In retrospect, it was probably for the best ... as one of my attorneys pointed out. There was little question that [the law] would view this as a kidnapping rather than an attempt to help a colleague.”
The businessman - who also controlled Sir Paul McCartney and Madonna's careers - had been axed from looking after Michael's affairs by the star's father Joe Jackson at the time, and didn't see him again until 2009.
He recalled his final meeting with Michael at the Staples Center, just days before he died from acute Propofol intoxication.
Ron revealed: “He hadn't looked really healthy for a good long while, but this was a whole other level. I thought ... 'He looks like a goddamn prisoner of war' ... He had that look in his eyes ... a look of resignation, a look that said, 'It's over,' and it broke my heart.”
Bang Showbiz