‘Drugged, exhausted’ MJ ‘could barely walk’ during This Is It rehearsals

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LONDON - King of Pop Michael Jackson used golf cart to whisk him to and from his car during This Is It tour rehearsals, because he was so drugged and exhausted he could barely walk, it has been revealed.

In the new movie This Is It, the late singer is shown as a master at work as he leaps around the stage at Los Angeles Staples Center.

However, aides have revealed behind the scenes he was a wreck who could hardly stand.

“Everyone in the house knew Michael was not himself, and was clearly under the influence of drugs. I was amazed at how he looks on film, because in the flesh he was a shadow of himself. He was thin, almost anorexic, pale and didn’t seem to have enough energy to walk across the room, let alone dance,” News of the World quoted concert promoter and friend Terry Harvey as saying.

“He had a sharp mind, but he was deluded, hampered by the drugs. He didn’t know what he was saying to people. To make his life easy he would just say ‘yes’.

“He was walking around in a daze like a zombie,” Harvey added.

Harvey also said: “To me that movie is all smoke and mirrors. Michael was struggling with his dance moves and schedule.

“Michael was not fit enough - he couldn’t pull off a tour if his life depended it. They took the best bits of the video and made it into this movie.

“The rehearsals were long days, and Michael was tired. He hadn’t been on stage for over 10 years and wasn’t used to the physical demands of long days. Some days he didn’t even turn up to rehearsals,” Harvey added.

A source close to the production said: “Michael was exhausted. Some days he barely said a word. He slumped down in a chair and would just get talked at. During one rehearsal he nodded off.”

Choreographer Travis Payne admitted Jackson, who died in June, used the golf cart to whisk him to and from his car, parked a few yards from the stage.

Both Payne and promoter Randy Phillips were worried about the star’s weight and mental welfare.

“He used to forget to eat because he was so focused and Kenny Ortega and I used to cut up his food and physically feed him,” Phillips said.

One friend said: “The hard work needed was just too much for him, and his mood became very dark by the end. He was a gibbering wreck.

“He shouted out, ‘They are pushing me and I can’t take it anymore. They are gonna kill me’.” (ANI)