1993-2000 Lisa Marie Presley

Liz Smith, March 5th 1997


MICHAEL JACKSON is upset with me. He reportedly asked a member of his inner circle the other day, “Why is Liz always picking on me?” Well, I don’t believe I pick on Michael at all; I think I bend over backwards where he is concerned. I am just about the only press person who wished Jackson and Debbie Rowe well upon hearing that he was going to be a father.

Every body else went out of their way to make fun of him. And I have said over and over that no matter what the rumors are, or what one hears or assumes, Michael has never been indicted or convicted of any crime. I have also reiterated how talented he is.

Michael’s problems with the media are mostly of his own making. Too much spin control and too much disregard for plain common sense.

But I love it that Michael has complained. He also supposedly said, “Liz is always nice to Lisa Marie, and Lisa Marie is much weirder than I am! (The Daughter of Elvis was, for a brief shining moment, the Wife of Michael.)

Michael, we all appreciate your occasional candor.

Lisa Marie is hospitalized, May 30, 1997


Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis and Priscilla Presley and the former Mrs. Michael Jackson, has been hospitalized since Sunday in Florida, says USA Today. The twenty-nine-year-old mother of two has been diagnosed with a bronchial infection and stomach and liver infections. Her spokesman, Paul Bloch, said Presley’s condition is improving. “The prognosis for recovery is excellent, and she hopes to leave the hospital this week.” Presley, a practicing Scientologist, had a fever for nine days before she was admitted to the hospital.

LMP commenting on her hospitalization later, (from her Q Magazine July 2003)


After splitting from Jackson in 1995, Lisa Marie Presley fell seriously ill, sparking rumours of suicide attempts and a nervous breakdown. In fact, she now believes, her health problems (which included everything from asthma to weird allergies) were related to stress and old mercury fillings. At the same time she was trying to get her emotions back to a stage approaching normality. In her case, this meant reaching a stage where she felt nothing towards Jackson at all. As opposed to just hating his guts.

Lisa’s friend Monica Pastelle,

“She felt that he had really screwed with her mind, and she got sick and her body started breaking down after the divorce.”

Lisa Marie on Diane Sawyer 2003

Lisa Marie Presley: No, he… I think he got on to, you know, getting somebody else pregnant, right? Or having a baby. That’s what he wanted. He seemed to get on that pretty quick. You know, I don’t know.

Diane Sawyer: Did it shake your confidence?

Lisa Marie Presley: Yeah, I was pretty much needed to be mopped up off the floor after that one.

Rolling Stone 2003

You pulled the plug?

“Yes. I told him I wanted a divorce. Then he didn’t talk to me for a couple of weeks.”

In the period following her split from Jackson, her health collapsed: “My body started to deteriorate. I started to have panic attacks. I went through two years of baffling every doctor from East to West Coast. One week it was asthma . . . hypoglycemia . . . candida . . . reflux . . . I had everything. My gall bladder just fucking stopped working, and I had to get it taken out. This was when the tabloids said I tried to kill myself or something like that. We settled out of court. But anyway, I wound up in the hospital. I had everything happening; my body completely fell apart. And nobody knew what the hell was wrong with me.” She was allergic to everything. “I had to eat chicken and broccoli for a year,” she remembers. “I was absolutely falling apart, physically and emotionally, for a two-year period.” At times she thought of death. “It was the constant physical breakdowns that were going on that I didn’t understand.”

You really thought you might not make it?

“I really thought it. It was just non-stop.” Then she went to a homeopathic doctor, told him all her symptoms, and he asked her to open her mouth. He told her to get her fillings removed. “But once I started to get it out, it all stopped.” (She now thinks her problems were caused by a mixture of mercury fillings and extreme stress.) “

Idiot, song from Lisa’s Album “Now What?” 2005

You’re raining, you’re boring
Oh, did you hear me snoring?
I’d wanna mutilate myself when I talk to you
So here we are, I hope you can tell that I’m no referral
You can have ‘em, call hell
You’re gonna drive ‘em nuts
They’re gonna hate your guts

Lisa Marie’s Illness, The National Enquirer June 1997


JACKSON AND HIS WIFE DEBBIE ROWE: Lisa Marie was shattered when Debbie gave him a child – and she didn’t.

Lisa Marie Presley was found crumpled on a bathroom floor at her home, sobbing hysterically after scrawling “Nobody loves me – I’m ugly” all over her arms.

It was the bizarre start of a shocking spiral into self-loathing and self-destructive behavior that landed Elvis daughter in a hospital – and in the midst of a suicide drama. Lisa Marie, who wanted a baby by Michael Jackson, was shattered when their marriage fell apart. She plummeted into self-mutilation and a weird routine of body “cleansing” that wrecked her system, sources reveal.

Now she’s a physical and emotional mess, say friends – who fear the 29-year-old beauty will destroy herself if she doesn’t get professional help. That’s the untold story behind Lisas recent, frightening five-day hospitalization in Clearwater, Fla.

She was rushed to Morton Plant Hospital on May 25 from her home in Clearwater.

A spokesman for Lisa announced she was “diagnosed with a bronchial infection, a stomach infection and a liver infection.”

In fact, Lisa’s condition was far more serious. She also was suffering heart palpitations and a high fever.

JUST DAYS AFTER SHE LEFT THE HOSPITAL . . . bikini-clad Lisa Marie takes a lonely stroll (left) on the grounds of her bay front home and (above) sits dejectedly with her thoughts.

“Lisa Marie’s friends and family have every right to be worried. This is a life-threatening situation,” Dr. Danilo Ponce, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Hawaii, told The ENQUIRER. “I would say she was in the midst of a moderate to severe nervous breakdown. If this patient were brought to me, I would put her under a suicide watch. She is suicidal.”

Confided a source close to the gorgeous heiress: “Lisa Marie is a very sick girl. She’s mentally drained and emotionally upset.

“Now she’s relating to how lonely and depressed her father Elvis was feeling just prior to his own death.

“Friends and family fear she might try to kill herself. “In March of last year, two months after she filed for divorce from Michael, Lisa Marie tried to mutilate herself. “When she was found on her bathroom floor she was bloody from head to toe due to cuts shed made on her arms.

“Asked why she was trying to harm herself, Lisa Marie replied: ‘Because nobody loves me.’

“None of the wounds were deep enough to cause serious injury – but it was a cry for help.”

A month before that scary incident, Lisa Marie had already been found on her bathroom floor expressing her unhappiness by writing “Nobody loves me” and “I’m ugly” on her arms with a ballpoint pen, an insider told The ENQUIRER.

Explained Dr. Ponce: “By writing on her arms, Lisa Marie shows poor self-esteem.”

After that episode, Lisa – a member of the Scientology church – was escorted to a Scientology retreat in the California desert where she spent ten days getting special counseling from church members.

“A VERY SICK GIRL”: Just like her cigarette, Lisa Marie’s world is going up in smoke

“Unfortunately, this treatment wasn’t enough to combat her depression and low self-esteem,” said the insider.

Despite her beauty, wealth and fame, Lisa’s self-worth continued to plunge over the following months. “She had trouble looking anyone in the eyes, isolated herself at home and looked sickly,” said a pal. Instead of seeking conventional professional help, Lisa began a strange process of self-medication she calls “Cleanse Thyself.” It involves swallowing as many as 60 different kinds of herbs while eating decreased amounts of vegetables and fruit, followed by complete fasting.

Lisa also resorted to “purifying” her body with wheat grass – a type of grass that’s harvested and squeezed to yield a green liquid, said the close source.

“The liquid is used in enemas. To cleanse the eyes, you wash them with the juice – which burns terribly. And the hemp-like residue is inserted into the nostrils and mouth to cleanse them.”

Lisa added her own twists to the “Cleanse Thyself” ritual – including mega doses of vitamins, algae pills, and strenuous exercise, say insiders.

Finally, in late May, the abuse of her body came crashing down on her and she wound up in a hospital bed.

Lisa became a physical and emotional mess because “she loved Michael and really wanted to have a child with him while they were married, but it never happened,” said the close source. “Then Michael really did a number on her by having a child with his new wife Debbie Rowe. Now he’s telling friends that he and Debbie want to have another baby, and that’s another devastating blow to Lisa Marie.”

Lisa, a loving and devoted mother to her two children by ex-hubby Danny Keough, told a pal: “It makes me feel like I wasn’t good enough to have Michaels child.”

The internationally known stunner also feels unworthy because she wanted to follow in Elvis’ giant footsteps, but she’s never been able to get a showbiz career off the ground. She told a friend: “My father comes to me in dreams and says: ‘Lisa, when are you going to make me proud?’ “I wake up sobbing, saying: ‘Sorry, Daddy, I’ve let you down.’ “My heart is breaking. I feel my life is falling apart.”

Contacted by The ENQUIRER, Lisa’s spokesman denied she has exhibited suicidal behavior and engaged in self-mutilation. That’s “totally false,” he said.

But the close source declared: “Lisa is so emotionally fragile right now that her friends and family fear she could take her own life.” Lisa’s concerned ex-husband Danny Keough joined her in Clearwater after she was released from the hospital May 30.

Her symptoms – heart palpitations, liver and intestinal problems – are all compatible with an abusive disorder, Dr. Ponce told The ENQUIRER.

“Lisa Marie needs a medical doctor to deal with her health problems, a nutritionist to deal with her nutritional needs and a psychiatrist to deal with her emotional state.”

Said her pal: “If Lisa Marie doesn’t turn her life around soon, friends fear she could wind up like her father.”

3T, TV Hits, 1997


Q: So what about Uncle Michael and Lisa Marie getting a divorce?

TJ: They’ve had so much pressure on them, especially from the press – it must be hard to stay together.

Taryll: The press only report the bad things. They don’t know how much love there is between them.

Taj: Nobody ever said about Michael and Lisa Marie, “oh, that’s nice, I hope it lasts”. Everybody wanted to kill the relationship before it had a chance.

3T, Smash Hits, 1997:


Taj: We only got to meet her twice, but she was great. We all got along fine. It was sad when it ended, because we know how special she was to our uncle. Right from the beginning, everyone wanted to see it fail. A lot of it was media pressure and rumors – maybe she just didn’t want to be under the spotlight.

Lisa Marie joins Michael in London, July 11, 1997


While a pregnant Debbie returns to the states, Michael goes to London where he is joined by his ex wife LIsa Marie.

Lisa Marie attends concerts at Wembley, July 12, 15, 17, 1997


Michael performs 3 concerts at the Wembley Stadium in London . (Katherine and Lisa Marie attend the shows)

Lisa Marie on Oprah:

L: Then that ended. We again, were going to get back together, we spent four more years after we’d divorced getting back together and breaking up and talking about getting back together and breaking up. At some point, I had to push it away because it was not, I wasn’t moving forward with myself.

L: And actually afterwards, he and I were still… I was still flying all over the world still with him to follow.

Jul 16, 1997


Lisa Marie Presley is in London at the invitation of ex-husband Michael Jackson, “who she’s very good friends with,” says Presley rep Paul Bloch. She was expected at Jackson’s Wembley concert Tuesday.

LMP sues National Enquirer over their comments on their claiming her hospitalization was an alleged suicide attempt, July 16 1997


Lisa Marie Presley Sues Enquirer Michael Jackson’s ex-wife, Lisa Marie Presley, filed a lawsuit against the National Enquirer on Monday, claiming a report in the tabloid contained false and fabricated statements about her. The lawsuit charges defamation, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. No dollar amount was specified. Her lawyer, Daniel Petrocelli, who represented Fred Goldman in the successful civil suit against O.J. Simpson, told USA Today that his client “isn’t interested in the money.” Instead, “she just wants to put a stop to the stories being made up about her.” The June 17 article, titled “Lisa Marie Suicide Drama,” alleged that the King’s daughter was “found crumpled on a bathroom floor at her home, sobbing hysterically after scrawling ‘Nobody loves me–I’m ugly’ all over her arms.

Lisa Marie Presley Sues Enquirer Michael Jackson’s ex-wife, Lisa Marie Presley, filed a lawsuit against the National Enquirer on Monday, claiming a report in the tabloid contained false and fabricated statements about her. The lawsuit charges defamation, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. No dollar amount was specified. Her lawyer, Daniel Petrocelli, who represented Fred Goldman in the successful civil suit against O.J. Simpson, told USA Today that his client “isn’t interested in the money.” Instead, “she just wants to put a stop to the stories being made up about her.” The June 17 article, titled “Lisa Marie Suicide Drama,” alleged that the King’s daughter was “found crumpled on a bathroom floor at her home, sobbing hysterically after scrawling ‘Nobody loves me–I’m ugly’ all over her arms.”

Presley contends the article wrongly stated she was suicidal and into self-mutilation. The tabloid quoted unnamed friends as saying Presley was “an emotional mess” and was hospitalized for five days. Her spokesman confirmed she was in the hospital, but said she was there for treatment of bronchial, stomach, and liver infections. The Enquirer has refused to retract the statements, although a recent article claims that the twenty-nine-year-old heiress has “bounced back” and is now “doing great.” In a statement, Steve Coz, the tabloid’s editor, said, “The Enquirer gathered its information from trusted and reliable sources and stands by its story. The Enquirer was the first publication in the world to break the story of Lisa Marie and Michael Jackson’s marriage–despite public denials.”

Jul 17, 1997


There were near riot scenes as Jacko, wearing his face mask, left his London hotel at tea-time with ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley.

They split last year, but Michael Jackson and former wife Lisa Marie Presley were hand-in-hand Tuesday night returning to his hotel after his sell-out London concert. Presley stood at the edge of the stage through the show at Wembley stadium. Afterward, the two returned to the Carlton Towers hotel and Jackson waved to fans.

Press report on Michael seeing Lisa while married to Debbie, Jul 18, 1997


HE’S GONE OFF THE WALL: Who’da thought Michael Jackson would ever show signs of a libido run amok? But there they are: reports that he was cozying up with ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley in London.

Presley stood at the edge of the stage through Jackson’s show at Wembley Stadium. Afterward, the two ambled to the Carlton Towers hotel, hand-in-hand. No sign of Deborah Rowe, you know, Jackson’s wife and the mother of his son. Presley divorced the King of Pop last year after a 20-month marriage.

Reports that Lisa tells friends she’ll always love Michael, Globe, Jul 23, 1997


Lisa Marie Presley is back with ex-hubby Michael Jackson and telling friends she’ll always love the wacky pop star. The two staged a touching reunion after a concert Michael gave in London – as Globe’s exclusive pictures reveal. “Michael is wonderful,” Lisa Marie, 29, told pals

Debbie comments on Michael’s friendship with Lisa, July 26, 1997


Michael Jackson is a hunk in the bunk, according to his wife Debbie Rowe. Speaking for the first time about their bizarre marriage, Debbie said Michael Jackson lives to make love round the clock. Debbie, 38, said she doesn’t give a hoot that he and first wife Lisa Marie Presley spent time together in London recently.

Reports that Lisa wants to marry Michael again, National Enquirer, Aug 20, 1997


Lisa Marie Presley is going to marry Michael Jackson again — and she has the full blessing of Michael’s mom!

That’s the shocking secret behind the couple’s recent reunion in London, reveals a Jackson family member who’s in constant touch with both Michael and Lisa Marie.

Lisa and Michael in Johannesburg, “Afrique Magazine” and Black and White, October 8-12 1997 (printed November)


Michael is in Johannesburg, the second leg of his South African tour. He will give two concerts in this city, 10 and 12 October. To keep him company, a young woman came specially from the United States. Michael knows her well since she is his ex-wife Lisa Marie…

Together again for a few days, Michael and Lisa Marie did not leave. They visited the Johannesburg Zoo, strolled in the parks of the region, parasailed, dined face-to-face…

On October 11, Michael and Lisa Marie [accompanied by her two children] go to Phokeng, a village located 90 km north-west of Johannesburg, in the Bafokeng tribe Ka Bakwena [ “The People of the Crocodile”]

During a solemn ceremony, the Master of Pop was elected an honorary member of the tribe. A few days earlier, Joseph and Katherine Jackson had also received the honorary title.

The Bafokeng are delighted to welcome into their community – one of the richest countries, with the platinum mines – this strange golden jacket on the soft hat and mirrored sunglasses.

Michael had wandered into the village traditional arms of his ex-wife, her face sheltered under an umbrella.

Michael made an honorary member of a tribe in Phoheng, October 11, 1997


Michael is made honorary member of a tribe in Phoheng. His parents Joe and Katherine and his ex wife Lisa Marie attend the event.

Michael buys Lisa perfume made from roses, Flo Anthony, Fox News Channel


Flo Anthony Has Stated That Michael brought for Lisa a $10,000 perfume that was made with roses in a diamond shape bottle! He purchased it after their South African 8 day trip in 98 After attending his Sister’s Concert Tour. He gave it to her the a year later from the trip.

Michael allegedly asks Lisa to marry him again, National Enquirer, October 21, 1997


MICHAEL JACKSON has reportedly begged LISA MARIE PRESLEY to give marriage a second try. The king of pop whisked his ex-wife away for a hush-hush second honeymoon in exotic South Africa. And during the romantic getaway with Lisa Marie’s daughter DANIELLE, Jackson popped the question to her. A source told American tabloid THE STAR, “He’s really excited about the possibility of starting over with Lisa Marie. While they were in Africa they both realized how much they had missed each other.” Michael’s kid sister, a great friend of Lisa Marie, played matchmaker to bring the couple together. And despite Jackson being married, his wife DEBBIE ROWE was unaware of the they secret tryst at the Palace Hotel, in Johannesburg. Jackson and Lisa Marie stunned the world when they married in the Dominican Republic. But 20 months later the fairy tale union ended in divorce. Even though Jackson has fathered a baby with his new wife, Rowe, he has always remained close to ELVIS PRESLEY’s little girl.

Debbie Rowe denies Lisa and Michael are having an affair, confirms pregnancy, November 25, 1997


Debbie Rowe Jackson gives an interview to KNBC in Neverland where she denies tabloid rumors of an affair between Michael and Lisa Marie and announces that she is pregnant with a baby girl that she and Michael want to name Paris Michael Katherine.

Michael, Life Magazine, December 1997





But there is one subject to which Michael repeatedly returns during four hours of conversation and picture-taking: Lisa Marie Presley.

Michael’s voice quickens, even quavers, when he speaks of Lisa Marie. How she enjoys the baby. How they are still close after an amicable divorce. How they frolicked overseas the month before. He seems to pine for her. “Lisa Marie was just with me in Africa,” Michael says. “We (went to) IMAX theaters, simulated-ride safaris, dinner. We went parasailing. It was wonderful.”

Even Debbie has acknowledged that Michael is still smitten. “He cares about her very much, but it didn’t work out and he was devastated,” she has said. “He loved her very much. Still does.”

When asked if Lisa Marie has ever expressed second thoughts about not having been the one to bear his son, Michael insists, “She regrets it. She said so.” Would she still consider having a kid with him? “She’d like to, yes,” he says putting a mischievous finger to his lips. “Shh.”

[…]

And there, on one nightstand, rests a framed photograph of Lisa Marie. Not a recent snapshot. Or even a formal portrait. But a picture apparently cut out of a magazine, placed as a child would place it, cockeyed, in a frame meant to hold a photo twice its size. A picture of Elvis and is little girl, then only five years old.” This is the age,” Michael says, “when I first met Lisa Marie. When her father first came to my concerts. I’ve known her ever since.”

Lisa Marie asked about Michael, Dec 14, 1997


To the older generation, LISA MARIE PRESLEY is known for her famous father. Kids want to know about her ex. where is MICHAEL JACKSON?” 7-year old MARIKA ROEBUCK asked Presley on Friday night during a piped up this weekend during a Scientology Christmas party in Memphis. “I don’t know where he is right now,” Presley said. She and Jackson divorced in 1996.

Lisa back with Michael, National Enquirer, 28 January, 1998


LISA MARIE PRESLEY is back in the clutches of ex-husband MICHAEL JACKSON, sparking fears that he’ll grab control of the multi-million dollar Presley empire. The couple have been spotted spending hours together chatting business and pleasure despite Jackson having a wife and child, with another on the way, back at his Neverland Ranch in California. And family friends of Presley say mom PRISCILLA is freaking out that the singer is only interested in her daughter’s fortune, left to her by ELVIS PRESLEY. A friend told American tabloid NATIONAL EXAMINER, “She’s starstruck over Michael. And he’s convinced her she can trust him over anyone else. She told me ‘I can trust Michael. Michael has all the money he could ever use. He has no reason to try to get part of mine.” Presley is due to inherit the $300 million Elvis estate when she turns 30 on February 1st. A friend said, “Priscilla is scared to death that Michael will take over and fire her. This is the guy who shrewdly bought up the rights to all the Beatles songs. So now PAUL McCARTNEY would have to pay Michael if he wants to record one of his own songs. Priscilla’s petrified Michael is up to the same game with Lisa.”

Michael and Lisa have dinner at the Ivy together, February 7, 1998


Michael has dinner with Lisa Marie at the Ivy Restaurant in L.A.